Your Nation's Air Force Mark II:

[Allanea]

Just get it hovering at 300 meters and RPGs become useless.

[Lemanrussland]

Just get it hovering at 300 meters and RPGs become useless.

Not necessarily.

The RPG-7 has a range of around 900 meters (can't remember exactly the range off the top of my head, 915 meters or something), after which the warhead self destructs.

This characteristic has apparently been used to fire at things like helicopters, flak style.

Similar weapons like the Carl Gustav have air bursting HE fragmentation warheads with adjustable range, which could be used in a similar manner. Not the most effective weapon, but still a vague threat.

[Allanea]

The RPG might have a hypothetical range of 900 missiles, but the fin-like design means RPG rockets often get blown sufficiently off-course by wind to make it useless.

Further, RPG's self-destruct range is 2,000 meters.


The chief usefulness of this feature is not to shoot down helicopters, but to intimidate the crews into taking evasive maneuvers (the explosion can be confused visually to a MANPAD warhead detonating), dumping decoys, etc.

[Lemanrussland]

The RPG might have a hypothetical range of 900 missiles, but the fin-like design means RPG rockets often get blown sufficiently off-course by wind to make it useless.

Further, RPG's self-destruct range is 2,000 meters.


The chief usefulness of this feature is not to shoot down helicopters, but to intimidate the crews into taking evasive maneuvers (the explosion can be confused visually to a MANPAD warhead detonating), dumping decoys, etc.

2,000 meters?

As far as I understand, there is a 4.5 second fuze which is armed during the flight of the rocket, which means the rocket flys around 915-920 meters before self destructing.

[United states of brazilian nations]

The RPG might have a hypothetical range of 900 missiles, but the fin-like design means RPG rockets often get blown sufficiently off-course by wind to make it useless.

Further, RPG's self-destruct range is 2,000 meters.


The chief usefulness of this feature is not to shoot down helicopters, but to intimidate the crews into taking evasive maneuvers (the explosion can be confused visually to a MANPAD warhead detonating), dumping decoys, etc.

2,000 meters?

As far as I understand, there is a 4.5 second fuze which is armed during the flight of the rocket, which means the rocket flys around 915-920 meters before self destructing.

i suppose it would depend on the warhead. there is a ton of different warheads you can attach to the RPG-7.

[Purpelia]

My point was that if you have nothing but time on your hands and a supply of equipment, any equipment you can always figure out a way to shoot down a slow moving or static large flying object.

[Allanea]

The RPG might have a hypothetical range of 900 missiles, but the fin-like design means RPG rockets often get blown sufficiently off-course by wind to make it useless.

Further, RPG's self-destruct range is 2,000 meters.


The chief usefulness of this feature is not to shoot down helicopters, but to intimidate the crews into taking evasive maneuvers (the explosion can be confused visually to a MANPAD warhead detonating), dumping decoys, etc.

2,000 meters?

As far as I understand, there is a 4.5 second fuze which is armed during the flight of the rocket, which means the rocket flys around 915-920 meters before self destructing.

At least that's what I've read in articles about the tactical use of the RPG-7.

[America Florida coast]

My air force is the best we will win any war we get in to

[Allanea]

A lovely first post.

[United states of brazilian nations]

2,000 meters?

As far as I understand, there is a 4.5 second fuze which is armed during the flight of the rocket, which means the rocket flys around 915-920 meters before self destructing.

i suppose it would depend on the warhead. there is a ton of different warheads you can attach to the RPG-7.

also, if it is an airship, it could be probably be shot down by rapid-firing AA guns. and depending on the size of the ariship and the condition of the launchers used by the guerrila forces, it could probably be shot down by a rocket launcher indeed. damn, maybe a .50 cal DShK or M2 mounted on a technical if it manages to get close enough.

[Allanea]

There's no doubt you can shoot down dirigibles. On the other hand, reconnaissance dirigibles have been used repeatedly and with success by COIN forces.

[Purpelia]

There's no doubt you can shoot down dirigibles. On the other hand, reconnaissance dirigibles have been used repeatedly and with success by COIN forces.

How far ago? Also, under what conditions? I am genuinely curious now as all things considered it sounds like something that would be too expensive compared to just a few regular UAV's.

[Allanea]

There's various reconnaissance blimps/zeppelins used by the US in Iraqanistan, as well as fielded by Russia.

[Triplebaconation]

Doubtful.

[Allanea]

Also here.

[Lemanrussland]

There's various reconnaissance blimps/zeppelins used by the US in Iraqanistan, as well as fielded by Russia.

I've heard of the blimps in Afghanistan. They are useful for persistent surveillance because they're relatively low cost and have high endurance.

[Triplebaconation]

Blue Devil didn't work lol.

It certainly weren't used in Iraq or Afghanistan, and the Russian prototype hasn't seen combat use either.

There's various reconnaissance blimps/zeppelins used by the US in Iraqanistan, as well as fielded by Russia.

I've heard of the blimps in Afghanistan. They are useful for persistent surveillance because they're relatively low cost and have high endurance.

They're just balloons.

[Lemanrussland]

Blue Devil didn't work lol.

It certainly weren't used in Iraq or Afghanistan, and the Russian prototype hasn't seen combat use either.

I've heard of the blimps in Afghanistan. They are useful for persistent surveillance because they're relatively low cost and have high endurance.

They're just balloons.

Well yes, they are technically moored balloons, it's common to just call them blimps.

I'm aware of the failure of the LEMV program as well.

[Allanea]

Wasn't it canceled for cost, rather than failing?

Also, wouldn't moored balloons be even more vulnerable to gunfire than Zeps?

[Yukonastan]

Question to the thread:
At what level do you have SPAAGs in your forces?
Yukonastan's SPAAGs are a separate unit in the Air Force, from which SPAAGs get attached to Army units as needed.

[Allanea]

SPAAGs belong on the brigade or the division level, IMO.

[Triplebaconation]

Wasn't it canceled for cost, rather than failing?

Also, wouldn't moored balloons be even more vulnerable to gunfire than Zeps?

Both. No.

[Lemanrussland]

Question to the thread:
At what level do you have SPAAGs in your forces?
Yukonastan's SPAAGs are a separate unit in the Air Force, from which SPAAGs get attached to Army units as needed.

We have them at brigade level, with one battery in the brigade's artillery battalion.

[Allanea]

In what ways did it fail?

Why are Zeps more vulnerable than moored balloons?

[Voltrovia]

Question to the thread:
At what level do you have SPAAGs in your forces?
Yukonastan's SPAAGs are a separate unit in the Air Force, from which SPAAGs get attached to Army units as needed.

Usually at the brigade level, but I have some attached to a few of my dedicated coastal defence units at a battalion level.