Let's see how this unique plane did on one special day in combat breaking a record for most kills scored during the ENTIRE conflict.
With the Cold War drawing to a close in 1991 and the so-called New World Order starting to make its mark, the U.S. still knew it wouldn't be long before yet another conflict would take place, most likely in the Middle East. But who knew that the next battle, dubbed Operation Desert Storm, would see a remarkable performance by the A-10 Warthog, a close air support plane that had never been tested in combat? Let's see how this unique plane did on one special day in combat breaking a record for most kills scored during the ENTIRE conflict.
One Ugly Plane
The Warthog, technically known as the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, came into being in 1976, a year after the Vietnam War. As far as warplanes go, it was an ugly aircraft, lacking the sleekness of the F-15 Eagle or the F-18 Hornet that also saw action in the first Gulf War.
Appearances asides, the A-10 was designed to function in capacities that weren't possible with previous fighter aircraft used in Vietnam. Those included providing allied troop support at low altitudes, attacking armed mobile vehicle opposition, and providing speedy assistance to soldiers caught in firefights.
Great For Low-Altitude Missions
Powered by two General Electric TF-34-100/A turbo-fan engines, the A-10 had a flight speed of less than 440 mph, but was highly maneuverable, making it a tougher target for ground-based artillery. It was also highly accurate with its weaponry consisting of infrared Maverick missiles and a 30-mm cannon that could fire 3,900 rounds a minute.
One account on Feb. 25 revealed just how deadly the Warthog could be when unleashed on its enemies. That day, two U.S. Air Force A-10 fighters managed to destroy 23 Iraqi tanks, a record achievement during the campaign.
The first mission that day saw the A-10s destroy eight enemy tanks while tracking down a column of Republican Guard forces that had scattered in response to a previous U.S. attack. Later that day, the A-10s disabled eight more tanks near Kuwait City, where two Marine Harriers were shot down (both pilots survived). They obliterated seven more outside the city while assisting Marine ground forces fighting an Iraqi offensive.
And The Final Tally...
After the six-week series of aerial assaults, the A-10s bombed 1,200 artillery units, 2,000 mobile units and 900 tanks. Not bad for a debut. And, it's still going strong after a massive re-winging upgrade.
(Source: https://www.hotcars.com/a-10-warthog-23-tanks-in-one-day-op-desert-storm/)
