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| CHAPTER 6 |
| Combat Manuvers |
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| Most of our fighting will be done with the Rotte pair system. When flying as part of a formation, the ability to cover each other and provide an enhanced situational awareness (SA) cannot be over emphasied. The best pilot with the finest aircraft is still no match for an effective pair of wingmen. There are no eyes for your backside, no eyes for who is coning below... if you are single, you have too many blind spots for an enemy to sneak in. The first rule of air combat is "YOU FLY ALONE, YOU DIE ALONE." There are several basic combat manuvers listed below that the Rotte pair will use to combat a bandit. |
| 6.1 THE SANDWHICH: |
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| When flying in a line abreast or wedge formation and a bandit moves in on one of the pair an effective manuver would be to "Sandwhich" the attacker between the pair. When the bandit moves in to attack one of the pair, the plane under attack (Blue in this case) turns away from his wingman. The typical radio call in this case would be " Komet 2 - Sandwhich Right!" As the bandit approches his gun range he may follow. If the other Rotte member turns in the same direction (Green in this case) he should turn on to the 6 of the bandit either getting the kill or forcing the bandit over to the defensive. Spacing, communication and timing are key here. |
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| ROTTENFUHRER |
| KATCHMAREK |
| BANDIT |
| ROTTENFUHRER |
| KATCHMAREK |
| BANDIT |
| 5.2 CROSS TURN: |
| Another more agressive move would be a "Cross Turn." A cross turn forces the attacker to commit one way or the other. In the cross turn, both fighters perform a 180 degree hard turn into each other. Once the pair completes the manuver the Rottenfuhrer will then assess what to do next. If the bandit follows one aircraft the second can come on around for a deflection shot or the engaged a/c can drag the con for the other to kill. Advantages: * Better visual protection and coverage throughout the reversal. Disadvantages: * Neither fighter is well positioned to offer more than visual or moral support. * Seperation increase (Can be solved by 1 nose high and 1 nose low turn. |
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| BANDIT |
| KATCHMAREK |
| ROTTENFUHRER |
| 5.3 SPLIT TURN: |
| Anothe defensive manuver would be a "splight turn." After spotting a bandit moving to make his attack the Rotte turns away from each other forcing the attacker to decide which to attack. If he continues his attack on one member of the Rotte the other can come around and kill the con or force him to break off. Advantages: * Usefull to get seperation when attacked from the rear. You achieve a wider bracket against attacking bandits in the rear quarter. Disadvantages: * Out of sight of the wingman during reversal. * Fast fighters can be seperated too much after the reversal looseing visual contact. |
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