FLIGHT TRAINING INSTRUCTION T-45 WEAPONS/STRIKE - Cnatra

CHAPTER TEN T-45 WEAPONS/STRIKE
The Goal of Harp Angle Bombing
First of all, the goal of Harp Angle Bombing should be to get to a good start. You want to
exhaust all efforts in obtaining a good initial sight picture at the beginning of the tracking run;
thereby minimizing the need to correct at all. Most of your attention could be focused on lineup
control and target tracking progression and minor adjustments, if any, as you ensure the TPA is
properly set at the checkpoint. The less time you spend correcting for dive angle, the more time
spent scanning the other variables.
If you find yourself with something other than a good initial sight picture, the goal for your
corrections between the Initial Target Placement (rollout) to the checkpoint is to drive the target
to the Harp Angle at the checkpoint. In order to achieve that goal, we should review the Target
Depression Angles.
Target Depression Angles
For the 30-degree and 20-degree dives, if you are on the bombing triangle, the target will be 3
degrees depressed below the planned flight path angle at the beginning of the tracking run. At
checkpoint altitude, the target becomes 5 degrees depressed. At release, the target becomes 7
degrees depressed.
We could even determine the target to be 4 degrees depressed at 6,000’ in this case.
For the 10 degree dive, the target initially will be 2 degrees, then 4 degrees at checkpoint, then 6
degrees at release.
Figure 10-3 Target Depression Angles
If you were established on the 30-degree bombing triangle, the target should be 33 degrees
depressed from the horizon at initial roll-out, 34 degrees at 6,000’, 35 degrees at 4,500’ and 37
degrees at release.
10-4 ADDITIONAL WEAPONS MANEUVERS / TARGET TRACKING