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The A-10 program only survived the 1970s as an anti-tank respin of a Vietnam counter-insurgency specification. The gun was only effective against certain aspec
by dingaling 11y ago
The A-10 program only survived the 1970s as an anti-tank respin of a Vietnam counter-insurgency specification.
The gun was only effective against certain aspects of T-64 armour and only after US Army Cobras had eliminated or reduced ZSU and Gaskin vehicles to allow the A-10 to approach to gun range.
What it does very effectively today in close-support was for what it was originally intended, not tank-busting.
- CapitalistCartr 11y agoThe GAU-8 cannon was designed specifically for the anti-tank role using APDU. The A-10 was designed solely for close air support, including attacking tanks as the link I provided mentions. All close air support requires control of the air space.
- ckozlowski 11y agoWhile the gun had been viewed as effective and economical, by the 80's there were real question as to how realistic the A-10s survivability would be. I apologise for not having a link on hand that discusses this, but the standoff requirement to survive in the environment shifted the A-10's primary anti-tank weapon to the AGM-65 Maverick, and not the cannon, soon after it was introduced.
- hga 11y agoThe gun was only effective against certain aspects of T-64 armour Would these be the sides and top? Which an aircraft is in a much better position to attack than troops on the ground facing it's forward armor.