June 17, 1953 - Page 2

Za Rodinu · #26 (**permalink**) April 15th, 2008, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCFalkenbergIII

"Then the 2nd generation jets with TOW guided missiles with 5 mile range would clean up even B-52s."

You do realize that the Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided missile (TOW) as an air to air missle at the very least would not be effective as an aircraft borne weapon. 5 miles of wire in addition to having to keep the enemy aircraft in sight while manuvering.

You are joking, right? Have you ever seen a TOW fly? 3750m of string (ok, wire) and a max flight speed of 300m/s? How can you even reach anything at that speed?

I'm sorry, that's a terribly ignorant very bad example, that's an anti-tank missile, not air-to-air. Excellent for boring long thin holes in B-52s , yes, but sitting in the ground

M-220 Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided missile (TOW) (not wikipedia

)

Oh, and I love it when Terry Gardner rolls his sleeves up and get's to work

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twitch

That's fine T.A. I understand. I'll leave the what-ifs to ya and stay off. Take care.

That's all right, just read and learn something properly and be consistent before you shoot your mouth off. When you walk into a minefield be prepared to be blown up.

Tomcat · #27 (**permalink**) April 15th, 2008, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Za Rodinu

Oh, and I love it when Terry Gardner pulls his sleeves up and get's to work

It is impressive to watch his mind work

Za Rodinu · #28 (**permalink**) April 15th, 2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T. A. Gardner

I look at "what-if's" as a learning tool. I feel they should be thought experiments that derive from original history and work within that history. As such, all-to-often, many become these vague arguments that lack any depth of historical knowledge. Reality is brushed away, as are technical details that could make the argument valid or invalid. It becomes annoying when this happens repetitively with different people throwing up their pet scenario(s).

If all a "what-if" is is nothing more than a game of Liar's Poker then there is no point to the exercise. Anything goes and the whole exercise devolves from an academic exercise into little kids play.

These words ought to be graven in stone.

Za Rodinu · #29 (**permalink**) April 15th, 2008, 10:58 AM

Hey, I found a fine pic of a TOW missile in flight, this time blowing up the house where Saddam's sons hid! Note the pink plumes.

Tomcat · #30 (**permalink**) April 15th, 2008, 10:59 AM

We should get otto to add it to the What if rules. I am sure T.A would be very proud of himself.