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12
At first I was going to make a "double
tap"... fire at both bridges in one pass. However, I
must contact the Spetznaz spotter / designator before I make
the attack.
"Hawk 23, this is Hammer 11,
designate Target Alpha."
"Hammer 11, this is Hawk 23,
designating Target Alpha, however I do see your aircraft,
and you will not properly engage Target Alpha, suggest switch
to Target Bravo."
I had not considered the angle too
well. I shrugged as I screamed towards the bridges, no time
to argue either.
"Designate Target Bravo."
"Designating Target Bravo."
The missile flew true into it's target
and destroyed it.
Then I overshot the destroyed bridge,
pulling an escape maneuver.
After a little, I turned around. I
still searched the sky, despite the maneuver, for mujahid
gunners. Still no smoke trails. Either I am lucky, or they
are waiting for the perfect time to shoot me out of the sky.
"Hawk 23, designate Target
Alpha."
I managed to be clear despite the
G's that were pushing me to the seat.
"Roger, designating Target
Alpha."
I then oriented the aircraft to the
first bridge, and locked onto the laser designator, then fired.
The missile again, flew true to the
target, and destroyed it.
I overflew the target, then oriented
towards Ochamchira, where the last of my targets were. I ejected
chaff and flares, expecting a MANPADs from a mujahid gunner,
but surprisingly, none came towards me.
Perhaps they are sleeping? I was flying
quite a vulnerable profile, and it was apparent my second
Kh-31p did the job it was supposed to.
Heading towards the town, I flew lower
than the normal minimum height for the RBK-250s. I then overrode
that, feeling I was going at a respectable speed to not worry
about that. Besides, they are cluster bomb units, the explosion
is not that of a FAB-500!
I lined up on the first target, and
chose to drop only two to ensure I was aligned properly. I
was not, but I was able to hit the target anyways.
After overflying the city, I was eyeing
the sky, as well as the MLWS, expecting a parting shot from
a mujahid gunner, but no missiles came at me.
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