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Afghanistan
SF personnel cleared in AFG friendly fire incident.
2014-12-31
Wrong narrative for the USAF of course, but perhaps B-1 cannot simply assume the CAS role of the A-10.
So the B-1 was flying 'too high' to get the signals required from the ground forces. Was there a reason why the B-1 had to be that high? I'm not advocating nap-of-the-earth flying but for goodness sakes one has to be able to communicate with ground forces -- that's the whole point of CAS.
Sounds like a USAF doctrine issue, considering the aircraft's design and original intended purpose.
Posted by:Besoeker

#8  A B-1 is very fast and carries a flexible mix of weapons. With precision weapons, it is perfectly able to conduct CAS from high altitude.

The problem on this mission seems to have been a lack of training, or as it is sometimes expressed, "A failure to communicate ..."
Posted by: rammer   2014-12-31 20:15  

#7  You probably nailed it Skid.
Posted by: Besoeker   2014-12-31 17:29  

#6  Reads to me as if a strategic air crew and airframe needed some OP mission airtime or they were going to be rotated out of the commander's control, and his OER.
Posted by: Skidmark   2014-12-31 17:13  

#5  I'm not military but isn't a stealthy B1 (as in 'I'm not here... you don't seem me...') kind of ill-suited for Close Air Support (as in 'I'm here, I'm in your face and I'm going to kick your ass!').

More like someone used a sledgehammer to screw in a screw and wonder why their finger got smashed...
Posted by: CrazyFool   2014-12-31 15:27  

#4  B-1 in a CAS role is like Al Sharpton defending the pooleece....
Posted by: USN, Ret.   2014-12-31 14:19  

#3  Reads like somebody needed a hammer, and got a power drill and a blindfold.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2014-12-31 13:31  

#2  Gen. Harrigian’s investigation revealed the four crew members showed incompetence in how to conduct CAS as well as in how to use their identification sensors. The Air Force Joint Terminal Attack Controller who was positioned with the Green Berets relayed inaccurate information to the bomber.

Incompetence? WTF? I'll wager heavy equipment drops or the Fulton Recovery System would be also be out of the question for the B-1. But that's just a guess.


Posted by: Besoeker   2014-12-31 13:13  

#1  Radio signals are, for the most part, "line-of-sight."

Must have been some interesting circumstances to not allow comm. Or maybe defense cuts have reduced our SF's to using "Rocket Radios?"
Posted by: Hupineger Glomomp7489   2014-12-31 11:14  

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