Air Superiority Battle In The Middle East, 1967-1973 by Major Clarence E. Olschner III

Author:Major Clarence E. Olschner III [Olschner, Major Clarence E. III]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Military, Special Forces, Middle East, Israel & Palestine, Iraq, United States
ISBN: 9781782894223
Google: qoJvCwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Published: 2014-08-15T05:01:39+00:00

IAF TACTICS AND LOSSES, 6 OCTOBER 1973

Because of heavy initial losses, the IAF stood down for about two hours and reviewed their tactics in an attempt to find a means of working around the enemy capabilities. In the last light of the afternoon the IAF resumed close support over the Golan with minimum altitude tactics. They approached the Golan at tree-top height in a sweeping hook over Jordanian territory to attack the Syrian columns in the flank, then continued in a left turn and egressed to the southwest. The use of napalm and cluster bomb units (CBU) minimized the requirement to “pop-up” for ordnance delivery. Minimum altitude, high speed, and a single pass reduced aircraft vulnerability but increased the difficulties of target acquisition and accurate weapons delivery. These tactics, therefore, did not provide as effective close support, but they reduced the attrition rate and so had to be used until the air defenses could be suppressed.{123}

In an estimated 281 ground support sorties over the Golan on 6 October, the IAF lost 30 to 40 aircraft for a loss rate of 10-14 percent.{124} The loss rate was highest in the first hour and a half and decreased with the revised tactics.

An estimate of the loss rate with modified tactics was “about one Skyhawk down in twelve sorties” or about 8 percent.{125}

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