Thread: B-1B over Afghanistan (Close Air Support)

An expeditionary squadron of B-1B bombers, including a contingency of 400 airmen, recently finished a 6 month deployment in Afghanistan
Over the course of the 6-plus month deployment, the squadron flew more than 770 combat sorties, encompassing over 9,500 hours, to provide 24 hours of coverage every day.

They also responded to more than 500 troops-in-contact situations, with the enemy as close as 300 meters from friendly forces, and another 700 priority air requests, delivering more than 400 weapons on target.

Basically a bomber was airborne and able to provide support to ground troops, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week...for 6 months.

Amazing feat, however at a cost of $35,000 / hour; there are cheaper means in which to provide round the clock close air support to our boys (and girls) on the ground.
Countering this, the B-1B can carry a large array of ordnance compared to unmanned aerial platforms. So I suppose it balances out on the cost effectiveness side, at least in part.

Anyway, job well done by these airmen.

Originally Posted by Herkdriver

An expeditionary squadron of B-1B bombers, including a contingency of 400 airmen, recently finished a 6 month deployment in Afghanistan
Over the course of the 6-plus month deployment, the squadron flew more than 770 combat sorties, encompassing over 9,500 hours, to provide 24 hours of coverage every day.

They also responded to more than 500 troops-in-contact situations, with the enemy as close as 300 meters from friendly forces, and another 700 priority air requests, delivering more than 400 weapons on target.

Basically a bomber was airborne and able to provide support to ground troops, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week...for 6 months.

Amazing feat, however at a cost of $35,000 / hour; there are cheaper means in which to provide round the clock close air support to our boys (and girls) on the ground.
Countering this, the B-1B can carry a large array of ordnance compared to unmanned aerial platforms. So I suppose it balances out on the cost effectiveness side, at least in part.

Anyway, job well done by these airmen.

Indeed- i would never have guessed that a B1 would be used for close support. Any more information on what type of support they were providing? This is a roll I would have expected to be more for the F16. Was is the extended dwell time and range that made them useful in this roll?

Originally Posted by SFJEFF

Indeed- i would never have guessed that a B1 would be used for close support. Any more information on what type of support they were providing? This is a roll I would have expected to be more for the F16. Was is the extended dwell time and range that made them useful in this roll?

http://www.dyess.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123312166

The 9th EBS and 9th EAMU completed a complex B-1 sustainment block upgrade in the midst of combat operations, while avoiding any degradation in support to ongoing missions. The upgrade, completed to all nine aircraft in only six days, fulfilled an Air Forces Central Urgent Operational Needs request to fully integrate the sniper targeting pod onto the B-1, thereby providing machine-to-machine interface between the targeting pod and weapons, and reducing the targeting timeline by 33 percent.

Bone-r. Good find, Herk.

Originally Posted by Herkdriver

Amazing feat, however at a cost of $35,000 / hour; there are cheaper means in which to provide round the clock close air support to our boys (and girls) on the ground.

What? Drones?

Originally Posted by Herkdriver

Amazing feat, however at a cost of $35,000 / hour; there are cheaper means in which to provide round the clock close air support to our boys (and girls) on the ground.

There is.
US forces pay the Taliban not to attack them.

http://www.blacklistednews.com/?news_id=9383

Originally Posted by Herkdriver

Amazing feat, however at a cost of $35,000 / hour; there are cheaper means in which to provide round the clock close air support to our boys (and girls) on the ground.
Countering this, the B-1B can carry a large array of ordnance compared to unmanned aerial platforms. So I suppose it balances out on the cost effectiveness side, at least in part.

I would agree, except I do not place a dollar value on the lives of our servicemembers. And if they manage to save just 2 lives a day, it was a cost well worth it (compare the $840k per day cost, to the insurance of $1 million for every 2 soldiers killed in the line of duty).

Originally Posted by SFJEFF

Indeed- i would never have guessed that a B1 would be used for close support. Any more information on what type of support they were providing? This is a roll I would have expected to be more for the F16. Was is the extended dwell time and range that made them useful in this roll?

Sure they can be used in that manner, as long as there is no significant air threat in their area of operations. However, if the enemy in the area has anti-aircraft weapons more advanced then an M-2, I doube we would be seeing them used in this manner.

And their dwell time is probably the biggest reason why. 24 hour missions are not a big deal for bomber crews, they have trained for such for decades.

Originally Posted by Mushroom

I would agree, except I do not place a dollar value on the lives of our servicemembers. And if they manage to save just 2 lives a day, it was a cost well worth it (compare the $840k per day cost, to the insurance of $1 million for every 2 soldiers killed in the line of duty).

I'm waiting for Herk to clarify on that comment. I'm not sure if he thinks the LGPOS or Mudhen are cheaper, or if he means RPAs. The Mudhen is not any cheaper per hour in flight. I don't know enough about the Bone to say it is more expensive in the hangar.

Originally Posted by Mushroom

24 hour missions are not a big deal for bomber crews, they have trained for such for decades.

Except the part about having to smell your own waste in a can/bag for 24-hours, but bomber pilots might like the smell of their own (*)(*)(*)(*).

Originally Posted by Up On the Governor

Except the part about having to smell your own waste in a can/bag for 24-hours, but bomber pilots might like the smell of their own (*)(*)(*)(*).

Well, as a former grunt, I would have to say that is not a big deal at all. You should smell a Battalion of Mariens who are comming out of the field after 2 summer weeks with no shower (other then being rained on).

Back in the early 1980's, there was a series of books of "Sea Stories" written by 2 (then 1) retired Marine officers that was sold at Marine posts. I had the complete series (Green Side Out, Brown Side Out, Run In Circles, and Scream and Shout). Long out of print, they were just collections of stories that they had experienced or heard of during their careers. And every time I think about the poor guys and gals who live their lives way over my head, I remember one of them.

Basically, this poor Jarhead pilot was on a ferry flight if I remember right, and part way through he realized that his in-flight urination system was not working (I seem to remember it froze up). So being the type of Marine that can improvise, he used a nearby plastic bag. Then once he got to his destination, some pompus customs type asked him if he had anything to declare. He did not, just a ditty bag with a change of uniform and his flight gear. The customs guy was sure there was something to declare, and kept hounding him.

Eventually the Marine got tired of the badgering and said "Yea, I got something to declare, a 50,000 foot headcall", and dumped the contents of the bag on the desk.

Originally Posted by Mushroom

Well, as a former grunt, I would have to say that is not a big deal at all. You should smell a Battalion of Mariens who are comming out of the field after 2 summer weeks with no shower (other then being rained on).

Back in the early 1980's, there was a series of books of "Sea Stories" written by 2 (then 1) retired Marine officers that was sold at Marine posts. I had the complete series (Green Side Out, Brown Side Out, Run In Circles, and Scream and Shout). Long out of print, they were just collections of stories that they had experienced or heard of during their careers. And every time I think about the poor guys and gals who live their lives way over my head, I remember one of them.

Basically, this poor Jarhead pilot was on a ferry flight if I remember right, and part way through he realized that his in-flight urination system was not working (I seem to remember it froze up). So being the type of Marine that can improvise, he used a nearby plastic bag. Then once he got to his destination, some pompus customs type asked him if he had anything to declare. He did not, just a ditty bag with a change of uniform and his flight gear. The customs guy was sure there was something to declare, and kept hounding him.

Eventually the Marine got tired of the badgering and said "Yea, I got something to declare, a 50,000 foot headcall", and dumped the contents of the bag on the desk.

LMAO. That's brilliant. You said they are out of print?

Originally Posted by Up On the Governor

LMAO. That's brilliant. You said they are out of print?

Well, I just learned apparently that they are back in print after all. I will have to order these again, since I only have one of them now, the rest having been lost over the years. These were just coming out when I was finishing boot camp, and was one of the first things I bought at the PX. And for a while these were regularly excerpted from in Leatherneck Magazine.

http://gunnyg.wordpress.com/2008/07/...n-circulation/