At the same time, the AC-130 gunships and the two remaining F-16s at the tail end of the air convoy were approaching the same area.
Hunter reestablished radio contact with his trailing F-16s. Minutes before, Crider had spoken to one of the six A-10 pilots that had been in Spaulding’s flight. The surviving ’Bolts, their ammunition gone and their fuel critically depleted, were now attempting to make it to Rota. The A-10 pilot told Crider of the Thunderbolts’ daredevil action against the Soviet surface ships and also provided him with the last known position of the enemy. Crider quickly relayed the report to Hunter.
Digesting the information, Hunter contacted the AC-130 flight, speaking to the lead ship’s senior Fire Control Officer, an Air Force Reserve lieutenant named Mike Fitch.
They quickly surmised—as Spaulding had before them—that this particular Soviet task force had probably positioned itself in the sea lane beneath the likely Langley-to-Rota air route days before the sneak attack on Western Europe. No doubt other similar Soviet naval groups were scattered strategically around other parts of the Atlantic as well.
The Soviets in this group, then, had somewhat cleverly evaded the AWACS and the F-15s by leaving their active search radars switched off as the first leg of the air convoy passed over, using only the less effective, but “cooler” passive radar systems. They, like the Americans, knew very well that, in war, a “hot” radar set was like hanging a bull’s-eye over one’s self, especially the long-range, juiced-up “active” radars.
Yet, Hunter knew that following the Thunderbolts’ attack, the Soviets had probably shut down most of their surviving active systems again—that was, until another air convoy passed over and the Forgers resumed their deadly stand-off raids. And then more defenseless air transports might be lost.
But it would take more than the cannons riding aboard the F-16s to destroy the heart of the Soviet task force.
So he quickly discussed an idea with his F-16 pilots and with Fitch on the lead AC-130 gunship. They compared current positions, timing and remaining fuel loads, and finally came to the conclusion that Hunter’s plan, though risky, had a chance of succeeding.
Like Spaulding before him, Hunter knew he had to take a gamble. But this one was a double long shot. He was betting not only that all the active radar sets on the Soviet ships were switched off, but also that the shitbox Soviet passive systems couldn’t tell the difference between the gunships and the regular transports, at least not until it was too late.
If the first two guesses were correct, then the third leg of the bet dictated that the Americans had to switch off their own AN/APG-70 digital fire control radar sets, as the “hot” sets would have given themselves away too soon.
The overall result would be that just about everyone involved would be shooting with one hand over one eye …
On board the Soviet aircraft carrier Brezhnev , the Soviet task force commander was feeling somewhat rattled, yet still confident.
His primary mission had been executed: his airplanes had shot down at least two of the American airliners, and damaged several more. And, in the strange air attack that followed, three of the American A-10s had been shot down.
But his task force had also paid a price. The Kirov -cruiser was heavily damaged, still afloat, but all but useless. The destroyer was burning badly and would most likely have to be abandoned. As many as six Forgers unaccounted for. And his own ship was missing its main radar mast after the last A-10 had sheared it off shortly before crashing.
Two airline transports and three A-10s at cost of two battered ships and a half-dozen Yak fighters , he thought. Who won this battle?
He had no time to think any more about it—rather, it was time to resume his mission. Stay hidden, avoid US submarines, wait for another American air convoy, and attack again. All
Hunter reestablished radio contact with his trailing F-16s. Minutes before, Crider had spoken to one of the six A-10 pilots that had been in Spaulding’s flight. The surviving ’Bolts, their ammunition gone and their fuel critically depleted, were now attempting to make it to Rota. The A-10 pilot told Crider of the Thunderbolts’ daredevil action against the Soviet surface ships and also provided him with the last known position of the enemy. Crider quickly relayed the report to Hunter.
Digesting the information, Hunter contacted the AC-130 flight, speaking to the lead ship’s senior Fire Control Officer, an Air Force Reserve lieutenant named Mike Fitch.
They quickly surmised—as Spaulding had before them—that this particular Soviet task force had probably positioned itself in the sea lane beneath the likely Langley-to-Rota air route days before the sneak attack on Western Europe. No doubt other similar Soviet naval groups were scattered strategically around other parts of the Atlantic as well.
The Soviets in this group, then, had somewhat cleverly evaded the AWACS and the F-15s by leaving their active search radars switched off as the first leg of the air convoy passed over, using only the less effective, but “cooler” passive radar systems. They, like the Americans, knew very well that, in war, a “hot” radar set was like hanging a bull’s-eye over one’s self, especially the long-range, juiced-up “active” radars.
Yet, Hunter knew that following the Thunderbolts’ attack, the Soviets had probably shut down most of their surviving active systems again—that was, until another air convoy passed over and the Forgers resumed their deadly stand-off raids. And then more defenseless air transports might be lost.
But it would take more than the cannons riding aboard the F-16s to destroy the heart of the Soviet task force.
So he quickly discussed an idea with his F-16 pilots and with Fitch on the lead AC-130 gunship. They compared current positions, timing and remaining fuel loads, and finally came to the conclusion that Hunter’s plan, though risky, had a chance of succeeding.
Like Spaulding before him, Hunter knew he had to take a gamble. But this one was a double long shot. He was betting not only that all the active radar sets on the Soviet ships were switched off, but also that the shitbox Soviet passive systems couldn’t tell the difference between the gunships and the regular transports, at least not until it was too late.
If the first two guesses were correct, then the third leg of the bet dictated that the Americans had to switch off their own AN/APG-70 digital fire control radar sets, as the “hot” sets would have given themselves away too soon.
The overall result would be that just about everyone involved would be shooting with one hand over one eye …
On board the Soviet aircraft carrier Brezhnev , the Soviet task force commander was feeling somewhat rattled, yet still confident.
His primary mission had been executed: his airplanes had shot down at least two of the American airliners, and damaged several more. And, in the strange air attack that followed, three of the American A-10s had been shot down.
But his task force had also paid a price. The Kirov -cruiser was heavily damaged, still afloat, but all but useless. The destroyer was burning badly and would most likely have to be abandoned. As many as six Forgers unaccounted for. And his own ship was missing its main radar mast after the last A-10 had sheared it off shortly before crashing.
Two airline transports and three A-10s at cost of two battered ships and a half-dozen Yak fighters , he thought. Who won this battle?
He had no time to think any more about it—rather, it was time to resume his mission. Stay hidden, avoid US submarines, wait for another American air convoy, and attack again. All
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