Whilst the Thach weave is a very good tactic to know, and in the right scenario
be effective. For a moment take a thought on what aircraft it was originally
designed for to be used by and against the F4F and A6M(or earlier type), the
F4F only needed a snap shot chance to do any damage to the Japanese aircraft of
the day. Lee has got a very good book on the whole thing which goes into more
detail.
What I don’t like about is there is no directional axis change, the two
friendly aircraft are in opposite bank, it realise on the enemy to turn with
selected target, and a turning high angle defection snapshot is needed. Taking
that you are flying an allied aircraft, would a good 109/190 give you that? A
poor allied pilot in a P-38 or Spitfire might.
But saying all this every defensive manoeuvre has some weakness, to do nothing
is a bad thing. So it is good that you are practising, but if you think as an
attacker, what is it that the defenders can do, that it going to make it
difficult for me?
The biggest point I will make is that to do any defensive manoeuvre, you need
to be able to see the attack coming. Also don’t forget or ignore the vertical,
the enemy are not.
Roblex did you not form up with someone on the bug out?
Colin
Sent from my iPad
On 30 Jan 2020, at 13:43, Michael Colby (Redacted sender michael.colby82 for
DMARC) <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Thanks for your feedback Roblex.
I see the Thach weave training as a double win for us because it also
provides gunnery practise (we love to shoot our guns, lol) and you can shoot
down the CO :)
I was not making things too hard as the attacking fighter last night because
the aim was to start to build up the team tactical manoeuvring skills first,
but it was nice to see that you chaps were also getting your eye in with the
gunsight and guns. Eventually I would like for us to make a real competition
out of this practise. I also think there is an element of fun in training
for this particular combat manoeuvring. It is also quick and easy to set up
and run.
In his book on combat tactics and manoeuvring 'Shaw' suggests that the Thach
weave could be considered the forerunner of a new engaged doctrine for
fighters that we now know as the "loose deuce".
I think that the Thach weave should give the P38's in particular more of a
chance to defend themselves and also buy some time for our fighter escort to
get to us while the enemy is rather distracted and under pressure from a well
orgainsed teamwork defence/attack. Also in favour of the P38 is the 50 cal
nose guns with a high rate of fire and no convergence to worry about :)
Thank you all for your support and for taking part.
Happy landings,
Talisman
