Trump orders establishment of 'space force' as 6th branch of military

Not so sure about that, but with a simple guidance system, they'd play merry hell with armor and troop formations...

 

Well so what? 1940 we barely had a military at all.

Depends on what you are doing. What's best to use on a mobile force or one that is spread over a large area?

 

No because he heard there were problems in development. The system works.

 

Your info like on the EM launcher on the Ford is way behind.

They've got a Rail Gun good enough for sea trials.

 

The topic in question is on a bunker.

 

No it doesn’t. That’s why they have to overhaul it entirely and no one can say when exactly the Ford will actually be ready.

 

Progress takes time....especially TECHNICAL progress....

 

Sure, but would you say the Ford’s EM system has no kinks?

 

They did sea trials of a laser on the USS Ponce several years ago. Is it ready to go and lacking kinks?

 

Yes you could deploy that weapon, but the Navy is more interested in the 2nd generation Laser System to be used against hypersonic cruise missiles to either compliment or replace SEARAM.

 

Dude, the Steam system has kinks. It requires constant maintenence. Everything on a Carrier has kinks that require constant maintenance which is why you need so many Techs working 24/7 to keep the ship running. It's also dangerous people die all the time at sea.

The question stands is the EM system better than the steam system. The Navy believes that yes it is. I'm sure a Contractor wanting billions to install steam would disagree.

 

Which is why we need a mix of ordinance. What's good for an entrenched enemy in harden bunkers ain't necessarily good for mobile troops in the open. Close air support is exactly that, targeting individual vehicles and troop concentrations at the point of attack. Gotta love the A-10 and Puff the Magic Dragon. And you gotta get your spotter in there to spot targets. The battlefield presents lots of different scenarios and situations. Gotta be flexible.

 

and

That's where you want artillery first and if not in range carpet bombing.

 

Many confuse battlefield air interdiction (BAI) as being close air support (CAS), it's not.

To be CAS there has to be a ground forward air controller (FAC (g) ) on the ground controlling the aircraft above who will be conducting the CAS mission. The CAS mission is when the friendly ground forces are with in rifle range of the enemy target. Which would mean all CAS missions are danger close.

 

Sure. You have a company of infantry on the side of a hill. We pick up two companies of hostile forces maneuvering around either side in a flanking maneuver so we "interdict" with BIF and those forces act independently of the forces on the hill. The enemy forces are left half strength make it around the hill and start an attack on our forces on the hill so our forces call for CAS. Bring in the A-10's!

 

You got it right.

You described two separate air ground support missions being conducted.

The first was a BAI mission and the second was a CAS mission.

 

Been wargaming since I was kid in the backyard sandbox using miniatures and marked strings and dice.

 

If you are going for an area target, then a howitzer firing ICM shells is what you want, it a high velocity field gun.

 

Certainly a good choice if in range.

 

If not in artillery range, the JSOW carrying Sensor Fused Munitions would be the choice.