Combat damage assessment team A-10/GAU-8 low angle firings versus simulated Soviet tank company (Array 17) (LAVP lot no. AJD 79A181-001, Aerojet) (14 August 1979)

Abstract

This report describes firings of the A-10/GAU-8 weapon system on 14 August 1979 against a Soviet tank company simulated by 10 combat loaded M-47 tanks. The pilots making the firing passes attacked at low altitude and used correspondingly low dive angles in order to simulate movement through a hostile air defense system. Ammunition used in the attacks comprised Aerojet Lot Number AJD 79A181-001 30mm armor piercing incendiary (API) rounds, which proved to be effective damage agents against substantial areas of the U.S. MK-47 tanks used as targets. The pilot in nine firing passes (one target was not fired on, and the pilot missed one intended target) fired a total of 565 rounds, of which 140 impacted the targets. Of the projectiles impacting on targets, 17 achieved perforations of the armored envelope. Significant results include: one tank immobilized and silenced; one tank silenced, mobility seriously degraded; three tanks immobilized only; two tanks immobilized, firepower seriously degraded; one tank light firepower damage; and two tanks suffered no damage. (Author)