Thanks to Muzzlehatch for the info!
You would have thought (like I did) that the ground forces were not planning for small units to have to defend themselves against air attack. By outside appearances it seemed like everyone was happily going along with the fiction that our airpower would sweep the sky and keep us safe from that threat.
Seems like some smart guy in the US Army thought differently and produced a manual in the 1980's, which was updated in 1999, that considered that possibility.
I never knew.
I'm glad to know that
The doctrine is there, but the training is limited. The only time I engaged low flying aircraft with an organic weapon system was in the EST2000 (Engagement Skills Trainer) simulator. I guess that beats training on nothing, but until someone actually puts "air defense gunnery" into the training doctrine that is pretty much all we'll be able to get as it is no additional cost over simply using the EST for any other training.
ReplyDeleteFor an example: here is an excerpt from ATTP 3-21.9, dated 2010.
The Stryker platoon relies on disciplined, passive air defense measures,
and the ability to engage aerial platforms actively with organic weapons systems.
Troops should be familiar with air defense assets, capabilities, operational
procedures, and self-defense measures. Operate the RWS in the hand-held degraded
mode to lead enemy aircraft. (See FM 3-21.8 for details on air defense.)