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Re: Starshina Cowboy arrives at Kalach

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 3:41 pm
by Cowboy
Moggy wrote: Tue Aug 28, 2018 2:29 pm We've got a shortage of P-39 pilots (can't think why) so if you've got the P-39 I'd like you to go to the 298 IAP Cowboy.
Moggy, got the P-39L-1, I'll get some stick time with it this week - looks to be a good fighter/ground attack plane.
I believe I heard you are using the Thrustmaster T16000 flight stick - correct? If so, would you recommend it?

Re: Starshina Cowboy arrives at Kalach

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 5:15 pm
by Moggy
Yes and yes. I've had my T.16000 for 8 years now and would only replace it with another T.16000. Lasted a lot longer than my old Saitek Cyborgs which would break after 18 months to 2 years.

Re: Starshina Cowboy arrives at Kalach

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 6:59 pm
by Cowboy
Good to know, I'll be ordering mine shortly, thanks again.

Re: Starshina Cowboy arrives at Kalach

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2018 5:12 pm
by Dutch
Belated congrats Cowboy.

See you on ops.

Re: Starshina Cowboy arrives at Kalach

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2018 6:22 pm
by Sparky
Cowboy wrote: Wed Aug 29, 2018 3:41 pm ...P-39L...looks to be a good fighter/ground attack plane.
I'm afraid our one TP ground attack mission with the Little Cobra showed why the Russians didn't use it as ground attack. It's very vulnerable to ground fire. Many a/c with engine damage give you a bit of time to fly towards friendly territory. Once Allison pouts, it's 3-2-1 silence.

The West thought the Soviets used Cobras for ground attack because the Soviet mission assigned them, "Coverage of Ground Forces" was interpreted by the West as our own "Close Air Support." Soviet "Coverage of Ground Forces" means 1., shooting down enemy bombers or at least disrupting their attacks on friendly ground targets and making them drop their ordinance and run for home, and 2. killing enemy fighters or at least driving them off.

Soviet use of the P-39 was almost universally air-to-air until the end of the war in 1945 (or in 1944 in some places) when the Germans had no aircraft operating in that area. As with Air Forces everywhere, when there are no enemy aircraft, send the fighter jocks after airfields and logistics targets and close air support and targets of opportunity. IIRC, Cobras participated in the 1945 Soviet offensive verses the Japanese in Manchuria.