Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

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TACTICAL INTERCEPTS
ment, and the fighters be lucky enough to complete the intercept, it is
imperative that they reform as quickly as possible in a more defensive
arrangement. A turn of about 90° in either direction by the leader after the
pass, and then a reversal, should allow the trailer to close to a good spread
position.
The trail formation can be a good defensive tactic against bogeys known
also to be arranged in trail. This can allow the leader to perform a singleside
offset for attack on the trail bogey with less fear of being attacked by
the lead bogey (as he was in Figure 10-5). This is still a relatively defensive
tactic, however.
Sweep
Description
The sweep intercept is essentially a stern conversion in a trail formation,
as illustrated by Figure 10-7. At time "I" the fighters, in spread formation,
are approaching the conversion point for a stern conversion against the
bogey section. As the leader begins his conversion turn, the wingman, on
the outside of the formation, delays his turn to gain nose-tail separation
(time "2"). At time "3" the leader is approaching stern firing parameters
with his wingman covering from behind.
Advantages and Disadvantages
This tactic can result in an effective offensive start for the fighters if they
can remain undetected until about time "3." They are well set up for
sequential attacks and have a good chance of hiding the trailer, especially if
he has a good altitude split. The hidden trailer gives the fighters better
offensive potential should the bogeys discover the attack and turn to
negate it. Defensively, the sweep allows good mutual support until commencing
the conversion turn. Against bogey trail formations, the fighter
wingman can also provide some protection against the lead bogey as the
lead fighter attacks the bogey wingman.
It is quite obvious, however, that the poor wingman is really hanging it
out during the conversion turn. Assigning two fighters to the trailing
Figure 10-7. The Sweep