RE: air warfare & close combat
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 4:12 pm
aye. it also means that new arrivals to the fight start with an advantage, as they should. as the duel continues and the first engaged planes descend, anybody who reinforces either side will start with a noticeable advantage; they will be out of parameters of most of the combatants and at a higher energy state (due to altitude)
unfortunately for the first combatants, this is a very bad situation to be in, as if they attempt to extend they will probably just be nailed by a heatseeker from any of engaged parties.
it's why dogfights in the strictest sense have long been a bad idea. you're at the mercy of anyone who happens by after the second turn or so. and who knows if it will be the enemy or friendly? especially in certain eras, dogfights are a vortex that are very, very hard to escape once things go south. it's why many doctrines emphasize not getting into them.
of course, if you play your cards right it's an advantage. making sure you have reinforcements close by and then pouncing descending enemies makes for easy kills, especially coupled with the restrictive cockpits of most early jet age fighters.
unfortunately for the first combatants, this is a very bad situation to be in, as if they attempt to extend they will probably just be nailed by a heatseeker from any of engaged parties.
it's why dogfights in the strictest sense have long been a bad idea. you're at the mercy of anyone who happens by after the second turn or so. and who knows if it will be the enemy or friendly? especially in certain eras, dogfights are a vortex that are very, very hard to escape once things go south. it's why many doctrines emphasize not getting into them.
of course, if you play your cards right it's an advantage. making sure you have reinforcements close by and then pouncing descending enemies makes for easy kills, especially coupled with the restrictive cockpits of most early jet age fighters.