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Post-WW2 Military and Naval Aviation Please use this forum to discuss Military and Naval Aviation after the Second World War. |
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U.S. aircraft in Vietnam appear to have been extremely vulnerable to AAA
I have been reading this book: Vietnam Air Losses: USAF, Navy, and Marine Corps Fixed-Wing Aircraft Losses in SE Asia 1961-1973 and the amount of U.S aircraft lost to small arms, .50/51" and 23/37mm is surprising to me.
Seems northern Laos had heavy concentrations of these weapons which mightily bothered U.S. aircraft. But I note the F-100 suffered heavy casualties in South Vietnam primarily to small arms and .50/51" machine gun fire. I guess single pintle mount for the latter. Were jets from this era unusually vulnerable to small arms and light AA? Where the VC/NV that capable or was it poor tactics? I am guessing the South Vietnam and Laos losses were to optical sights and NV losses to radar directed. I thought U.S. WW2 single/twin engine a/c could absorb more damage. Here is the book I am reading: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/185...ls_o03_s00_i00 Last edited by Felix C; 21st August 2012 at 16:09. |
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