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From: hychejw@infonode.ingr.com (Jeff W. Hyche)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: B-52, B-1, B-2, and F-14 in Des. Storm
Message-ID: <1991Jan24.040034.22536@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 24 Jan 91 04:00:34 GMT
References: <1991Jan21.033250.29291@cbnews.att.com> <1991Jan22.013657.17708@cbnews.att.com>
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From: hychejw@infonode.ingr.com (Jeff W. Hyche)

In article <1991Jan22.013657.17708@cbnews.att.com> miked%syscon@nstar.rn.com (Mike DeMetz) writes:
>
>>From: ccc@anomaly.SBS.COM (Cole Calistra)
>>Hello,
>
>>3. Can the F-14 be used as a bomber, if necessary?  Either way, are there
>>   any other armaments besides the Sidewinder, Pheonix, Sparrow missles, and
>>   the cannon that would work or fit on the F-14?  What is the F-14's main
>>   role in Desert Storm since the engagement of Iraqi planes has been 
>>   limited at best?  Is it just CAP and escort for the bombers that are there?
>
>The F-14 was designed for one purpose and that is CAP for the fleet.Probably
>not setup for worth the risk of ground attack. That is the role of the F-18
>and A-6s.Some Nam navy pilots question the F-18 trying to do both escort
>and attack.
	Althought the F-14 is designed to protect the fleet, I would not
rule them out as a ground attack aircraft.  I remember hearing about
Mustangs in WWII, who's job it was to protect Allied bombers on the way
to a bomb run, causing considable havok with just the machine guns on
the return trips.  I figure the the 20mm cannon on a Tomcat could make
life for ground troops a little more intresting.  What ever happened to
the good old strafing run anyway?  But said pilot had better watch his
ass for a F-14 does make a good target for a hand held anti-aircraft
missile.
	Also the F-14 is a multirole fighter, designed with fleet
support in mind.  I know the F-14 carrys one of the largest assortment of
armaments for an aircraft.  I would tend to think that that would
include air to surface missiles for use against ships.  So shouln't you
beable to use a air to surface missile against a land based target?

	Whats 	k	kA
-- 
                               // Jeff Hyche           
                           \\ //  Usenet: hychejw@infonode.ingr.com
                            \X/   GEnie: J.HYCHE