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From: fcrary@lightning.Berkeley.EDU (Frank Crary)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Gulf Lessons re length of preliminary bombardment
Message-ID: <1991May23.063012.17660@amd.com>
Date: 21 May 91 06:52:17 GMT
Article-I.D.: amd.1991May23.063012.17660
References: <1991May20.052128.21457@amd.com>
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From: fcrary@lightning.Berkeley.EDU (Frank Crary)


tedrick@triangle.Berkeley.EDU (Tom Tedrick) writes:
>But it may be that the optimal length of time, in certain cases, is a
>month or more. 

Aviation Week reported a similar use of a preliminary "bombardment" being
used to enhance supprise. They said that the use of EF-111 jamming aircraft
to support a F-117 strike was found to hurt rather than help. The AAA
units had a raid warning from the jamming aircraft long before they would
have detected the F-117's (usually detecting a -117 raid means hearing the
bombs go off...). However, the USAF found that a EF-111 jamming operation,
begining well in advance of the actual raid HELPED. The AAA gunners, seeing
the radar jamming, would begin to barage fire their guns. After a short time,
they would use up their ready supply of ammunition and/or jam their guns. 
THEN the F-117 would reach their targets. According to Aviation Week, this
was very effective if timed correctly.

Frank Crary
UC Berkeley