We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/gunhelopr0n.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:20:14 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/gunhelopr0n.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/gunhelopr0n.html Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:31:37 -0600
And if so, can rough seas affect that?
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/gunhelopr0n.html#comment-87476 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/gunhelopr0n.html#comment-87476 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:09:12 -0600
Personally, I'd add a 7-shot rocket pod and carry only two Hellfires under each wing in order to cover the space between the max effective range of the gun and the minimum engagement range of the missile -- rockets do that *fast*, and they give you additional flexibility in deterrence. Cheaper than dropping a Hellfire across someone's bow, too.

Of course, that's just speaking from the point of view of the escort and the escorted (cuz I've been both), and not the Area Commander.
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/gunhelopr0n.html#comment-87447 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/gunhelopr0n.html#comment-87447 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:58:10 -0600 I noticed that, too... I can only guess that this is a standard load for taking off in the situations like this...]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/gunhelopr0n.html#comment-87440 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/gunhelopr0n.html#comment-87440 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:29:45 -0600 I can't help but note that the Marines are still making effective use of "obsolete" aircraft like the Hueys...

Air Force, B-52s, C-130s, KC-135s...
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/gunhelopr0n.html#comment-87429 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/gunhelopr0n.html#comment-87429 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:31:21 -0600
And that Whiskey-model is loaded for taking down a Mother Ship, if need be. Hellfires are a bit of overkill for a skiff...
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/gunhelopr0n.html#comment-87425 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/gunhelopr0n.html#comment-87425 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:39:48 -0600
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/gunhelopr0n.html#comment-87424 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/gunhelopr0n.html#comment-87424 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:38:59 -0600 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/gunhelopr0n.html#comment-87423 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/gunhelopr0n.html#comment-87423 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:27:35 -0600 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/gunhelopr0n.html#comment-87417 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/gunhelopr0n.html#comment-87417 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:34:08 -0600