Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report. Guided Bomb Operations in SEA: The Weather Dimension, 1 February - 31 December 1972
Abstract
The introduction of laser guided bombs (LGBs) and electro-optical guided bombs (EOGBs) into the United States Air Force (USAF) inventory revolutionized the air war in Southeast Asia. Targets which had withstood repeated conventional attacks by bombers--such as the Thanh Hoa Bridge in North Vietnam--fell quickly to the new weapons. Statistical studies made of the success rate of these weapons demonstrated that they were many times more effective than conventional weaponry on point targets. In spite of this impressive record, the guided bombs were not as effective as they might have been. While they performed exceedingly well under optimum weather conditions, marginal to unfavorable atmospheric conditions degraded the capability of the aircrew to visually acquire the target. If the targets could be visually acquired by the aircrews at roll-in altitudes, they could be effectively attacked; if they could not be visually acquired, the LGB's effectiveness was eliminated:since delivery was not%possible unless special techniques were employed.* In the opinion of this author, weather was a more significant and detrimental factor than had been previously reflected in mission reports and other studies. In part this was the result of the crews unfamiliarity with the sometimes subtle variances in atmospheric conditions that could degrade their weapon's effectiveness. Increased understanding of the relationships between weather conditions and guided bomb performance on the part of weathermen, crews, and mission planners could possibly increase guided bomb effectiveness in the future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1973
- Accession Number
- ADA486836
Entities
People
- Patrick J. Breitling
Organizations
- Pacific Air Forces