(April 20, 2017 at 1:22 pm)Jehanne Wrote: You seem very knowledgeable. Let's shift gears a bit -- Why didn't the US use a MOAB in Syria? Fear of the plane getting shot down?
Thanks for the kind words, but my knowledge is likely nowhere near Gawdzilla's, who helps run one of the best if not the best) WWII site I've ever come across. GS also, I think, stays more current on modern weapons and doctrine than I do.
As for your question -- it's my understanding that the fighting in Syria occurs more often in urban areas. A weapon such as MOAB, designed for demolition via shockwave, would obviously incur an enormous number of civilian casualties. Fear of the plane getting shot down would factor into the decision afterwards -- but I don't think the decision would get that far along the conference table.
In the rural areas, it would of course be more feasible, and at that point, yes, the 130 delivering it would be vulnerable unless the Air Force designed a good strike package which was strong in defense-suppression planes.
