Best Method of use of A-10 Warthog

[DWReese]

The A-10 is a beast. It's like a flying tank. It's a fun plane to use, and in CMO, it can wreak havoc.

That said, I continuously get everyone one of mine shot down, usually by some guy with a MANPAD. Since the MANPAD can't usually be seen until it shoots at the A-10, the plane seems to be very vulnerable. One hit usually destroys the plane.

In real life these planes are known to attack from very low altitude, so how do you keep them from being shot down by some guy waiting with a MANPAD? (I guess the same thing applies to helicopters as well.) I know that you can fly at 13k feet so that the MANPAD can't reach the A-10, but that isn't realistic, so what tactics (if any) should be taken to make this less vulnerable.

[Nikel]

The armor is light in the 3 places considered relevant in the db. All the versions of A-10s are the same in this aspect.

Perhaps it is wrong and should survive more attacks.

the A-10 was given a “bathtub” of titanium armor to shield the pilot and critical parts. Most systems are redundant and protected.

it has shown itself to be exceptionally tough, surviving multiple direct hits—even loss of control surfaces—while remaining flyable.

can fly without one engine, one tail, one elevator, and half a wing

sports 1,200 lb of titanium armor shielding cockpit and vital systems

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/M ... assics.pdf



It may survive right now though, but I think it is not very common. Like this example, returning to base after been hit by an Iranian Zoubin missile, that are quite deadly.

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[DWReese]

The two engines gives it a chance to survive, but the engine loss slows it down so a second engine hit (which usually comes almost immediately, kills it off. It's usually the engine loss and not the fuselage or cockpit being penetrated that does it in.

I've been trying to flay faster, and lower because that sems to be the real life tactics, but I'm still being killed quite a bit. Right now, the most effective way to use it around MANPADS is to fly over their ceiling, but hat just isn't realistic, hence the dilemma.

[Nikel]

Interesting reading in this link.

A-10 Pilot explains how the Mighty Warthog Stacks Up Against MANPADS

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/a-10-pi ... t-manpads/


In the game the flares save you in a 20% of the cases.

And if they fail, then there are a lot of stuff taken into account

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[Eboreg]

Rule 1) Don't send A-10 Warthogs into areas where MANPADS are present.
Rule 2) If you want to send A-10s in anyways, blow up the MANPADS first.
Rule 3) If you don't see any MANPADS: drones, strike fighters with targeting pods, and even Maverick seeker heads can help you see them.

The way I see it: the greatest form of defense is making sure that the enemy doesn't have any offense and this is definitely your best option here.

[Nikel]

2 more examples.

Hit and destroyed by fire and fuel explosion

And a survival to 2 hits with little damage.

What I do not see is the armor cited.

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