A-10 Losses in Operation Desert Storm (Part 2)

[@showtime112]

Tail codes on aircraft shown in this video are not historically accurate as there's only one European Green skin available for A-10A in DCS. Thank you for your understanding!

[@PappaBear_yt]

I wanted to ask you what camo did A-10 fly with during the Desert Storm? Was it European green, US gray or did they already start using desert camo (if at all)? Or the mix of all..? 🤔

[@dominiqueroudier9401]

Seen vidéo...at work. A10 were hit by SAM 13 Gopher.,strella10.. warhead is 5kg high explosive, fragmentation. Guided by hit or proximity by laser.

[@showtime112]

@@PappaBear_yt As far as I can tell, all or almost all of them wore European Green.

[@showtime112]

@@dominiqueroudier9401 I hope my videos don't get you in trouble 😁

[@dominiqueroudier9401]

@@showtime112 absolutely not....send you by mail the 3 crash reports. . Will rewatch tomorrow morning on TV. Other issue with A10 canopy. Must eject canopy before éjection seat. Too hard to broke glass with explosive cord.

[@donparker1823]

I remember just after this war that an A-10 Squadron Commander did a presentation at our base. The A-10 had performed so well that the mission planners started using it for everything. The crews were being worn down pretty hard. He told the staff that although he appreciated the confidence they had in his squadron that perhaps they could give some other squadron some of their confidence until they could reconstitute a little bit.

[@showtime112]

Thanks for sharing that experience! I guess, when you are really good at something, everyone expects you just keep doing it. That's the price of success :)

[@MrFelixset]

Mission creep

[@offshorequest]

Flying missions that it was never designed for, it did an incredible job. Thanks for another great video.

[@showtime112]

Thank you for the positive feedback!

[@bensmith7536]

Your channel mixes simple, easy to listen to narrative with relevant video, that tell a story / make a history lesson. Great job.

[@showtime112]

I'm glad you think so, thank you! What you describes it the general goal of the videos.

[@jaws848]

Was not expecting this today so thank you very much.👍👍👍

[@showtime112]

To be honest, it was supposed to be a single video but I was a little late so I split it in two parts :) Thanks for another comment!

[@jaws848]

@@showtime112 you are most welcome...love your channel.i could binge watch you all day.👍👍👍

[@chrishouseman4781]

The A-10 was great against Sitting Duck targets but now the A10 is now a Sitting Duck against new air defense systems

[@rgp8038]

S400

[@marcomarcon5802]

The A-10 was supposed to be an armoured 'flying tank', in reality it could be taken down by ordinary, first-generation MANPADs like any other low flying plane. This is why the USA preferred medium altitude - i.e. above MANPAD range - bombing missions after SAM batteries have been suppressed

[@showtime112]

True but it still demonstrated great resilience as a whole bunch of them came back. Some were indeed taken by surprise with that change to medium altitude and adjustments had to be made as the war was going on.

[@matthewcaughey8898]

If you come streaking in just off the trees you’ll probably be able to dump a whole mess of cluster bombs or make a good pass before the guy with the MANPADs can even get it up and turned on. Once you drop below his line of sight what’s he supposed to shoot at?

[@tsikavimandry3600]

After the start of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, even the newest Russian planes were shot down by first-generation MANPADS.

[@Eleolius]

​@@matthewcaughey8898The other A10s. The A10's problem was speed, and not having it. Many of these A10s, if not most, were hit on the way out of the target runs- because on climbout, they are slower than most WWII warbirds, and way, way bigger targets. Resilience is impressive. But the relative loss rates of the A10 versus other platforms speaks for itself: It was on the teetering edge of obsolete even back then. I love the A10. But the thing is way too much cost and risk for the capability- 95% of which any other USAF platform had, plus more survibability, even back then.

[@guaporeturns9472]

@@matthewcaughey8898what trees?

[@donparker1823]

Thanks!

[@showtime112]

Thank you for another donation!

[@allgood6760]

Thanks and your channel is awesome! 👍🇳🇿✈️

[@showtime112]

I'm happy to hear it, thank you!

[@matthewcaughey8898]

The problem with the hog was they were flying at medium altitude which was perfect for short range SAMS and MANPADS systems. The A-10 lost its biggest advantage when operating at those altitudes. The intent of the A-10 was to come in screaming at low level treetop heights and its straight wings and twin tails were supposedly there to give it supreme maneuverability at those low levels. Being that low was supposed to make it more difficult for a SAM to get a lock or be pointed in the wrong direction by the time the hog had blitzed in and out. Long range strikes like as portrayed here should have been strike eagle missions cause the F-15 could throttle up or turn violently enough to break a SAM lock plus have the electronic jamming capability to throw it off. Combating ground units with SAMs should involve a jamming aircraft to make it tougher for enemies to hit A-10s or other attackers

[@timonsolus]

Looks like the USAF mission planners held the Iraqi air defences in contempt - and the A-10s paid the price of underestimating the enemy.

[@gort8203]

They were flying at medium altitude to stay above most AAA and MADPADS, which were the biggest theat. Medium to high altitude SAMs were suppressed or destroyed by SEAD; if not the A-10 would not have been able to operate at all. BTW, the A-10 doesn't "scream in" or "blitz in" even when pedaling as hard as it can. And jets that do scream in at treetop level can't see anything until they are on top of it. If you are so low that the enemy can't see you, you can't see them either. It's easier to see an aircraft from the ground than it is to see and object on the ground from the air.

[@darhammora7867]

Hope to see details losses on all types like F-16,F-15, F/A-18, A-6... etc

[@showtime112]

Yes, those might be topics of future videos.

[@starfighter1043]

Wow it really puts the current wars in perspective!

[@showtime112]

The present can often be better understood if you look at the past. Thank you for commenting!

[@oveidasinclair982]

A-10's were rugged, but not invincible

[@showtime112]

True but then again, only F-15 seems to be invincible :)

[@guaporeturns9472]

@@showtime112Not invincible to AAA or SAMs.

[@renefischerbr]

​@@showtime112 only in air-to-air combat... officially... and that's debatable too (Samurra Air Battle)... there were confirmed losses of F-15Es Strike Eagles during Desert Storm too. Maybe a theme for a next video 😉.

[@showtime112]

@@renefischerbr I was being funny. Or trying to be 😁 F-15E might be a topic for another video, sure.

[@renefischerbr]

​@@showtime112 that would be awesome!

[@ThePilot4ever]

Gotta love green warthogs. Curious about the reoccurring stick malfunctions that happened after being hit though. Just throwing it out there. Ever heard about Pink's War? It's the only RAF loss that I can think off between the world wars caused by enemy action. Apparently Bristol F.2b's and D.H.9's were involved. Kinda cool

[@showtime112]

Green is so much more fun than grey :) As for the stick malfunctions, I suppose that hydraulic system was damaged in all the cases and while the manual reversion exists, it is quite tricky to fly the airplane that way and maybe impossible to restore control over it once it starts to spin seriously. I have to say I have never heard of the Pink's War before. Perhaps it would be interesting to cover but the problem is that simulations really don't cover that inter-war period at all and there's no aircraft available.

[@ThePilot4ever]

@@showtime112 I had my money on the autopilot wiring but hydraulics make more sense. Pinks war wasn't a request but i'm happy you considered it. afaik the aircraft involved are all available in Great Battles but the desert/rock environment to replicate Indias border are non existent in the game, so a no go anyway.

[@branka4226]

Nice video!

[@showtime112]

Thanks a lot!

[@hans-joachimtenhoope1744]

2:22 The A10 30mm grenades travel faster than the speed of sound, or, to quote a saying, "If you hear the A10 firing its avenger cannon, you were not the target. 😉"

[@jaydeister9305]

Great video! I went to that war!

[@showtime112]

Thank you for the comment! That footage is from the Iraqi side which might have used a different date stamping :)

[@chulian1819]

Have my like for the VHS/old video effects, keep it up!

[@showtime112]

I'm glad you liked it. I constantly try to improve those effects since I think it contributes to the overall experience.

[@paulstanton7153]

Both part1 and part2 really good

[@showtime112]

I'm glad you think so, thank you!

[@TheLincolnshireFlyer]

Thanks for the video 😊

[@showtime112]

Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@privatesteverogers]

I love this video. You gave great attention to detail to the pilots movements in the cockpit. When you include a picture of the pilot it shows a real person and not some figure in a plane. Also when you see the pilot's hands on the joystick and his head turning left to right searching for the missile it makes the whole video more realistic. Another point is when he ejects and you see the parachute and him landing on the ground it is very lifelike. Therefore it shows the hard work you have put into the video and I am very pleased with your results. Great job! I remember seeing this mission on Modern Marvels : 20:44 m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZrOanVpg7-Wg7c It is good that you chose this subject to reenact because it remembers and honors the American pilots who gave their lives during the conflict. Thank you. If you chose to continue making videos about the Gulf War a great idea would be the dogfight of Capt. Anthony “E.T.” Murphy because he shot down two Iraqi SU-22 fighters in Desert Storm. I would very much like to see this if it is possible. Remember, your objective is to make the videos just like the Dogfights series from the History Channel. That is what you're doing: gaining experience and perfecting your knowledge and skills with each video you post. Keep up the good work!

[@guaporeturns9472]

Good job Showtime

[@showtime112]

Thank you very much!

[@axel665]

When heatblur f-4e releases what mission are you going to do with it

[@showtime112]

A lot of them :) There's a bunch of claims that F-4Es made in Vietnam (20 or so, some with the gun). Then there's the Israeli-Arab War of Atrition and the 1973 War, Iran-Iraq War and even Desert Storm. There's enough material for dozens of videos.

[@khankurblaj3934]

They weren't facing real enemy, that's why loses were so small

[@JohnJones-k9d]

Look at Vietnam as a guide. Us never fights anyone who can fight back

[@khankurblaj3934]

@@JohnJones-k9d amen that

[@showtime112]

Another explanation would be that they were getting ready to fight the Warsaw Pact for decades. And they probably overestimated them as well. So, when they faced Iraqi armed forces, it looked like an easy victory.

[@eduardodeandres3864]

Gracias. Sois unos máquinas

[@showtime112]

Thank you for commenting!

[@juancarlosperezcortes9259]

Great video. It would be nice to have you as History teacher. Aerial Warfare 01

[@showtime112]

Thanks a lot! But I'm not sure I would enjoy teaching history to a bunch of kids 😁 In fact, I have very few viewers under 25.

[@andywells397]

Top cover goes in first and the hogs eats up whats left..plenty of rescue choppers in the air to recover downed pilots.

[@showtime112]

I remember there is a book about SAR operations in Desert Storm, it's on my 'very long term' reading list :)

[@mattfgln]

the F-111s destroyed more tanks than the A-10s in desert storm

[@showtime112]

Maybe, but one interesting thing is that tanks were not A-10's priority. They were instructed to destroy artillery first since Army wasn't too worried about Iraqi tanks. They felt (correctly) they could handle them. But they were afraid of artillery so A-10s went for it first.

[@branka1980]

👍

[@showtime112]

Hvala na komentaru!

[@jdsaldivar5606]

82ND AIRBORNE I served in a Tank Killer unit. (rotary wing ) Thee A-10 is a Tank Killer. JAAT missions. Joint Air Attack Team. The Scouts looked for targets...then call the A-10...Arousing.

[@showtime112]

I'm sure it was :) So, you were helicopter crew?

[@jdsaldivar5606]

@@showtime112 82ND AIRBORNE Yes Sir...OH- 58's.

[@showtime112]

@@jdsaldivar5606 Cool! It's my (long term) plan to try to learn helicopters in DCS. When OH-58 module gets released, I might ask for your help 🙂

[@jdsaldivar5606]

@@showtime112 82ND AIRBORNE I do what I can...for my people.

[@dominiqueroudier9401]

F..k😢., I am at ❤😫work

[@jeannezehner9450]

Pas de chance !!!

[@dominiqueroudier9401]

@@jeannezehner9450 2emme partie vidéo A10 en Irak. Le regard demain matin

[@showtime112]

Not for much longer, I hope :)

[@darhammora7867]

Let's see the details of losses during 2003 OIF

[@showtime112]

It's in long term plans.

[@indigohammer5732]

The fact that F111 aircraft destroyed way more armour than the A10’s is never ever mentioned. What was designed to be a tough aircraft, is now as rugged as hand blown Venetian glass

[@showtime112]

I wouldn't agree that it was never mentioned since I clearly remember hearing about it.

[@knowahnosenothing4862]

90% of the time is was hit with gun system AA it survived, 15% of the time it was hit with SAM's or MANPADS it survived. It makes me wonder if they managed to rig modern tank Active Protective Systems like Trophy to it, would it improve it's survivability to something similar to the gun statistics.

[@PappaBear_yt]

Of course we press like! 😉🙋🏼‍♂️

[@showtime112]

If everyone were like you, I'd be breathing down Mr Beast's neck by now :)

[@PappaBear_yt]

@@showtime112 😁👍🏻

[@eugeneoreilly9356]

An A10 pilot struck a convoy of British warrior APC,s killing around dozen troops.

[@showtime112]

Yes, this was one of the blue on blue incidents in that conflict.

[@JohnJones-k9d]

My grandfather was in artillery in ww2 from 39/45. He said the USAF was the one thing that frightened him the most as they just shot everything up. He said you could tell if the Germans were after you but the yanks just shot up,and bombed anything. And he was hit by German counter battery fire on one occasion.

[@chickenfishhybrid44]

@@JohnJones-k9d sure he did.

[@Archer89201]

A-10s took many losses and even those that survived took too much damage , hence the F-16s and F-15Es took over its role

[@jeannezehner9450]

This next part is always interesting. Despite of the losses about this plane during DESERT STORM, the A-10 stay an excellent attack aircraft, and the US AIR FORCE have no substitute for it at this moment. They try to keep it for a long time.

[@showtime112]

Or some would say that the Air Force is trying to get rid of the A-10 but politicians don't allow them :)

[@jeannezehner9450]

@@showtime112 Anyway, the cell have aged now, it's an old plane.

[@dominiqueroudier9401]

Avec les hélicos , c'était le seul zinc a s'approcher du sol, donc de la DCA et des SAM. Et la ...dinde 🦃 veut le remplacer😂😂

[@jeannezehner9450]

@@dominiqueroudier9401 Mais la Dinde est furtive !!!

[@dominiqueroudier9401]

@@jeannezehner9450 Pour qui veut bien l,'avoir( la voir😉) et quand elle a du plomb dans laile🍗

[@Mezmirize]

We need also tornado losts in dw 1991

[@showtime112]

That would be interesting but it will probably wait for Tornado module in DCS.

[@mrjackpots1326]

This is a good object lesson for people who think sending A-10s to Ukraine is a good idea. They are unlikely to survive in heavily defended airspace and against more advanced missiles than the Iraqis had.

[@burningphoneix]

The Su-25s the Ukrainians had lasted a long time. They're probably better suited to the environment than whatever F-16 variant is shipped out there.

[@joshuameader8898]

Yes the Tornado suffered 6 losses if I'm not wrong. Those RAF airmen were the bravest of the brave. God Bless them. The A-10 flew many many more missions than the Tornado GR1's though and suffered the same loss rate. Just goes to saying. Slow and low tech can still wreck the enemy. Yeah you'll take losses. Thank you all our Coalition airmen who fought in 1991.

[@showtime112]

Thank you for commenting!

[@janlindtner305]

👍👍👍

[@showtime112]

Thanks for the comment!

[@JohnJones-k9d]

Us airforce is great when the other side doesn’t have one

[@showtime112]

The other side had a pretty large air force in this conflict.

[@zhanibeksarkulov5532]

Рахмет🔥🔥👍👍👍

[@showtime112]

Thank you for commenting!

[@JohnWick-yh5kn]

Cionistički avioni

[@showtime112]

A-10?!?

[@JohnWick-yh5kn]

@@showtime112 Svi USA borbeni avioni

[@kindaeasy9797]

just another overhyped western equipment

[@chups1447]

👍

[@showtime112]

Thanks Chups!

[@medokrusko]

👍

[@showtime112]

Hvala još jednom Medo!