Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!pasteur!ucbvax!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!att!cbnews!gahooten@ames.arc.nasa.gov
From: gahooten@ames.arc.nasa.gov
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: air defense wires
Message-ID: <5513@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 7 Apr 89 23:12:45 GMT
References: <5480@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Organization: NASA - Ames Research Center
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Approved: military@att.att.com



From: gahooten@ames.arc.nasa.gov

In article <5480@cbnews.ATT.COM> mcgrath@nprdc.navy.mil (James McGrath) writes:
>
>
>From: mcgrath@nprdc.navy.mil (James McGrath)
>Helicopters flying nap-of-the-earth (NOE) have been downed by striking
>power lines and other high wires.  It seems logical that one might
>deliberately string wires across passes, saddles, or even between tall
>trees as a means of defense or interdiction against NOE air operations.
>Does anybody know whether such measures would be effective and whether
>they have ever been used?

I don't know of any incident that has wires to catch NOE
helicopters, but Barrage balloons were (of course) used
effectively during WWI and II to make planes bomb from higher
altitudes.  They were more effective in WWI.  

The use on Helicopters is interesting, it would probably be
easier to use a type of Barrage Balloon rather than stringing
across the gorge or valley.  This eliminates the need to
anchor it in two places and support the full weight of the
cable hanging across the distance.  Prevents sagging, and is
more mobile.  

Milimeter wave radar is being improved to dectect things like
power lines.  This might limit the effectiveness of this
tactic.  It shows up as a wavy line on a HUD in experimental
AC I've seen.

Greg

[mod.note:  This reminds me of various WWII-era rockets, designed to deploy
a series of wires, or ribbons, suspended by a parachute, for AA use.  The
British actually deployed these in the form of their UP (unrotated
projectile) lauchers;  a fire in a UP ammo locker preceded the explosion
of HMS Hood (though it is not believed to have been the cause of same)

Also, a similar (but more summary) reply was received from 
MJackson.Wbst@Xerox.COM, who wrote:
>
>Barrage balloons.
>
>Mark
>

- Bill ]