The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
William F. Owen
...However the fact that no one in NATO, that I am aware of, has yet done a unit sized high altitude stand off drop, or is even attempting to develop the capability, suggests to me that the thought in this area may be lacking.
If modern airborne Ops are still focused on dumping sticks of troops along linear DZs at between 250-1,000 ft AGL, then things are not really progressing.
Actually, the troops and units are willing and able (and the technology in the form of MC1-1 and other, newer parachutes is available but the senior leadership, ever overly cautious and worried lest they upset the Mothers of America with a too-high training casualty rate have forbidden the use of the MC1-1 in mass jumps due to fear of in air collisions. That's easily rectified with training but training is (was?) not a US Army priority. not to relieve angst, anyway...:wry:
The 82d experimented with the MC1-1 off and on after its introduction in the late 60s. Bottom line, it worked, casualties were slightly higher (IIRC, the extrapolated jump injury rate went from 7.1 per 100K to 7.8 per 100K) In any event, that's the current problem. My belief is that in a major war, that would not be a problem...
You're sort of stuck with a static line for two reasons; training time and cost for free fall and the ability to put a mass of people on the ground quickly.
To address your linear DZ problem -- and it is one -- multiple DZs at random distance and angles and short sticks are a workable and tested tactical solution but they are not used routinely because they are very difficult to plan and the rehearsal and training time required of the Air Crews upsets the USAF.
Again, given a war, most of that peacetime big deal stuff would be essentially not of concern.
Actually, you're wrong on both counts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
reed11b
Ken I have decided you were probably once a great smart @$$ SPC, I have decided that you are alright. Even if you are wrong:p
I was never an SPC, That rank came in long after I did, in fact, it came in after I retired. I was a double dipping DAC by the time it arrived. Not to say I wasn't a smart ass corporal though. Couple of times... :D
And I'm not wrong on the discussion -- that's proven by the fact that the Eighty Twice and two Airplane BCTS exist. Seems to me you've just fallen for the Army 'Heavy Divisions rule' * party line and a have belief that the will to commit the Country to an all out war no longer exists and thus the airborne option isn't necessary in large numbers. Neither of those things I think are true. No biggie... :cool:
You didn't tell me what those failed strategic drops were???
* They do -- a lot of places and a lot of the time but not all places and at all times. METT-TC...:p