A-10: the best tank destroyer in history

 

The first A-10 Thunderbolt II saw the sky back in 1972: they were designed to fight Soviet tanks in the alleged attack of European territories. This machine has so far been actively exploited by the United States in modern combat operations: behind the "Warthog" (Warthog - warthog, is the unofficial nickname of the aircraft) both the Iraqi wars, the Afghan and Balkan campaigns. The A-10 is also used in the U.S. operation against the Islamic State terrorist group. But the White House considered the "Warthog" outdated: Chuck Norris himself opposed the decision to remove the plane from service, calling the A-10 his favorite way to protect capitalism.

The A-10 Thunderbolt II was the first American aircraft of a clear purpose: to destroy enemy armored vehicles. For a long time, the attack aircraft could not take orot in the army: ugly, clumsy in appearance, he simply did not enjoy the love of the pilots. Even the nickname of the stormtrooper - "The warthog" - was due to its appearance.

A-10 Thunderbolt II

Crew: 1 pilot Length: 16.26 m Wingspan: 17.53 m Weight of the currbe: 10,515 kg Maximum permissible speed: 834 km/h Volume of fuel tanks: 6,200 l Combat radius: 463 km Practical ceiling: 13,380 m

However, the first participation in the fighting changed the situation. The A-10 Thunderbolt II performed perfectly in the Persian Gulf campaign: maneuverable, capable of hitting targets at the lowest possible speed, the attack aircraft was also extremely durable. There is a case when the pilot dragged the literally rissed "Warthog" to the base, where the plane was set up in just a few days.