Mozart From Luxembourg, joined Aug 2003, 2014 posts, RR: 14 Posted (8 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 2072 times:
Hi, I haven't got a clue about military aviation whatsoever, and this is my first post here.
I have a question: why on earth are B52s sent from Louisiana to Iraq, drop a few bombs and then fly back?? What's the point for those ultra-long flights? Couldn't they be based somewhere closer? There are plenty of bases in Europe or there's Diego Garcia, let alone Qatar which is closer. So why send them in from Louisiana?
N328KF From United States of America, joined May 2004, 6222 posts, RR: 3 Reply 1, posted (8 years 5 months 1 week 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 2031 times:
Mozart:
If they only need them for a few missions, it's a lot easier to just fly them non-stop (with aerial tanking) than it is to move their entire support system.
Anyhow, the main outlying bases for the B-52 that are pre-prepped are Diego Garcia and Guam, but also, sometimes the pilots want to be home after they're done.
When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer 'Present' or 'Not guilty.' T.Roosevelt
IntruderPC From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 82 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (8 years 5 months 1 week 4 days ago) and read 1821 times:
Diego GArcia is roughly 3200 miles from the middle of Irag, Guam 6600 miles, and BArksdale AFB is over 8000 miles. I would think that they could take one set of support equipment to Diego Garcia and then rotate squadrons like every 2 months or so. That way I think they would save a major, major amount on fuel. If you take into account the refueling flights and all of the other support they are putting some REAL BIG BIG BUCKS into just a 2 or 3 plane mission. Logistics and fuel are awesomely expensive!!
Grom365 From United States of America, joined Nov 2004, 27 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (8 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 1765 times:
The B-52s that flew from Barksdale AFB carried CALCMs, which are unique weapons in the inventory. They made the long trip for many of the same reasons B-2s make the trip from MO - because you don't have to worry about non-US personnel, friendly or otherwise, taking pictures or snooping around.
Plus, I think there are treaty restrictions on the placement of nuclear capable cruise missiles outside national borders.
Vzlet From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 820 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (8 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 1779 times:
Was there a series of missions from Barksdale, or are you referring only to the strikes on the opening night of Desert Storm? Those were carried out by seven B-52Gs firing a total of 35 cruise missiles. I'm not at all sure, but there may have been issues (in 1990/91, before later modifications) with the "H" model employing conventional versions of the AGM-86. Adding to N328KF's point, any deployment would likely also have to have included support for the missiles, so it may just have been simpler to launch from and recover at home. ("Simpler" being a relative term. It can't be fun spending 35 hours in any plane, much less a combat aircraft!)
-Mark
"That's so stupid! If they're so secret, why are they out where everyone can see them?" - my kid
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