Military guys' thread, aka, lets un-hijack this other thread

Isn't that teh AEGIS radar system?

lemosley1973 said:

I had asked in the other thread why they don't build more B-52s and Blown88GT replied. Figured I'd put this here, too.

Reasons they don't build more, same reasons they don't build Foxbody's any more. OBSOLETE.
8 jet engines + JATO (rocket assist takeoff engine) for heavy lift payloads.
Huge radar target, easily shot down with most SAMs.

Despite all those drawbacks, the AF keeps finding reasons to use them where (apparently) nothing else works. Weren't they modified to carry cruise missiles at some point? Seems like a great standoff platform if you load it up with AA/AG missiles.

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So most of that is true...the airframe has a ty large RCS--roughly 100X the RCS of the B-1. The number of engines is about to change from 8 to 4 and quite honestly, it's kinda irrelevant anyway. JATO isn't a thing anymore...I saw that he said he's a B52 guy, but I haven't seen a B52 use rocket assisted take off since before H models, and the AF operates ONLY H models with the possible exception of a G model at Edwards or some other such nonsense. As far as the SAM comment, yes, it presents an enormous slow moving non-that-maneuverable target, BUT, for the past 20 years we've been fighting an adversary that largely doesn't possess that capability anyway, so why not use it?

There are arguments to keep the aircraft, and there are many to not bother with it anymore, but one thing that keeps coming back is simply about numbers and force projection...

And in response to your questions at the end of the post:

They are still and have always been capable of carrying cruise missiles...B52s are a terrific standoff platform, but even those have their limits and knowing your battleground is where those answers lie. As far as nothing else being able to do the mission, I'd like to refer to the FACT that B1s operated continuously in the middle eastern theater for 15 years before being called back to garrison...B52s were only there in 2016 because GSC rotated them there and B1s to the Pacific...then B1s made two more rotations in the sandbox before the AF said your services are no longer required...and 52s aren't there either.

FWIW, B1s are in the Pacific...again...and making cameos over northen europe again too...

Ronin38 said:

Yes, they had to change the tower on the older ships when they were upgraded with the newer radar systems. No more big spinner on the roof!
Note they also removed the Harpoon Anti-ship missile launcher, too. They changed the destroyer escorts' role to anti-submarine/anti-torpedo operations. The bigger Arleigh-Burke-Class Destroyers now have the missile batteries.

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Saw an Arleigh Burke or two at Pearl Harbor...especially during RIMPAC-fascinating stuff.

88LX5.Oh said:

OP was QA? Brb I'm running in fear to go grab the TO in hopes that it's actually pulled up to the task I need. Gotta avoid that TDV at all costs

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Lol, yeah, in a past life...I used to take employee numbers, now I just shake my head. All joking aside, I ran into plenty of people who were like that, but I did more hands on training than I did failing...

Good? Or a pushover? Depends on your audience. You know how aircraft mx is man...

I did a lot of what I called "redemption" follow ups...

Ex: I rolled up on a guy once dumping GN2 and hydro on a jet...dude was surrounded by tools, equipment, PPE-all looked decent with the world, so I thought to myself, self, this is a good opportunity to knock out some inspections...ground handling, housekeeping/environmental compliance, APG Mx, Tech order currency and use, AGE operation...boat loads of opportunity for wins

So I walk up to the guy (I knew him) and greet him/have some small talk while I start looking at all his stuff and verify he's doing what it appears he's about to do. I I asked him where his TO was (we still had paper tech data at the time) and he hands me an open book and continues opening the hydro servicing panel. I realize immediately he's handed me the wrong book...it's for servicing, not dumping/depressurizing...different books altogether. I say to him, Dave, where's the task for depressurizing/dumping the system? He looked a little perplexed and slips the book away from me...runs the pages back and forth a little, realizes he handed me the wrong book after a small "talk it through" discussion...by now he's stopped the task he was about to perform and we had a dramatic pause...I tell him, Dave, I think I'm gonna go smoke and hit the restroom, but I'll be back in about 20.

I rolled back out 20 minutes later, he had resumed the task, and with a grin he handed me the correct book...I passed him on a ton of QVIs and made my way about my business...he never gave me any hell before or after that day and always had his straight afterwards.

Now there were OTHER people that didn't care (I know that's everywhere), and quite frankly should've been tossed off a cliff, but you still had to treat them dispassionately.

So I handed out my fair share of STVs, usually because someone was being careless, stupid, argumentative...some combination thereof.