Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

372 TACTICAL INTERCEPTS
low, trailing wingman is vulnerable after the split. A well-controlled
situation is a prerequisite for this tactic, since an unexpected attack by
enemy fighters before the break-away would probably be disastrous.
As a fighter pilot I knew from my own experiences how decisive surprise and
luck can be for a success, which in the long run only comes to the one who
combines daring with cool thinking.
Lt. General Adolph Galland, Luftwaffe
The situations in which the advantages outweigh the risks of this tactic
include a permissive environment in which the enemy's radar system and
aircraft performance are decidedly superior to those of the friendly fighters.
When facing a definite mismatch, good execution of sound tactics may not
be enough. In boxing terminology, "A good big man will beat a good little
man most of the time." In this case a good offense may be the only defense,
and some exotic stunts may be justified if they result in enemy confusion
and degraded awareness at the pass. Obviously, however, such tactics
require considerable pilot training and a high level of proficiency before
they can be relied on in combat; even then they cannot be expected to work
as a steady diet, since the enemy will soon figure them out.
There are many variations on the break-away tactic, but most begin
with an initial close formation and employ a radical formation change at
close range to sow confusion among the enemy. As with most hook and
bracket-type attacks, the break-away is not recommended against an
enemy in a significant trail formation.
Cross-Block
Description
The cross-block, also called the weave, is another stunt tactic that is often
successful against superior fighters that have a propensity for independent
attacks. Figure 10-15 shows this tactic.
At time "I" the fighters and bogeys detect each other about head-on,
and the bogeys commence a pincer attack in an attempt to bracket the
fighters. The fighter pilots detect this move and continue straight ahead in
combat spread until they reach a point at which the bogeys can be expected
to have individual radar locks on the fighters on their respective sides of
the formation for the terminal phase of attack. Once again, this usually
occurs by one minute to go in the intercept, and the fighters' RWR gear
may provide further clues.
At this point, time "2," the fighter pilots also take individual locks, but
on the bogey on the opposite side of the enemy formation. This process is
known as "cross-locking." The fighters then turn toward each other,
crossing flight paths, in an effort to get outside the bogey each has locked,
time "3." If the bogeys continue their intercepts on their originally intended
victims, they too can be expected to turn inward in response to the
fighters' maneuvers. The geometry of the situation tends to draw the
bogeys together as they approach the merge (time "4"), making it easier for
each fighter pilot to tally both bogeys, and dragging each bogey in front of