Afghanistan A-10C Loadouts c. 2014?

[ESzczesniak]

I am building an A-10C with the Academy Decals for the 75th EFS/455th AEW at Bagram in 2014 (using the GWH kit).  I am down to weathering (in-progress, she's going to be a dirty bird), a few airframe details (mostly painted and ready to glue), and weapons (completely unstarted).

 

General thoughts I've had after looking through pictures:

 

Stations:

11. Empty - seems pretty rare for them to load AIM-9's, a bit more common to see empty LAU-119, but usually just empty

10. Ligthening TGP (or were SNIPERs in service by then?)

9. GBU-38

8. GBU-38

7. GBU-31

6. Empty - seems almost always empty

5. GBU-38

4. GBU-38

3. AGM-65 (Model? L?, they seem to be the gray ones, but not sure which model that would be)

2. APKWS

1. GBU-12

 

I'd welcome any feedback.  Particularly if there were any common loadouts that had more AGM-65, or something more to replace the multiple GBU-38.  Also of note, I don't think I'm knowledgeable enough to tell the difference between GBU-38 and GBU-54 from a picture, so some of these -38's may be -54's.

 

[Niels]

The 81FS 52FW was flying with Sniper as early as 2009, but have also flown with Lightening pods. So you have to check reference photos. 
I did a check of the 74FS photos I have gathered over the years, and the 74FS is mostly seen flying with the Lightening pod, but I have on of 81-0990 from October 2012 with the Sniper pod. 
So again, you have to check your reference photos.  

[A-10 LOADER]

The adapter that carries the AIM-9's is called a DRA, Dual Rail Adapter, Stations 1 or 11 only.

The A-10 community started receiving the Sniper pod @ 2010. Not sure when the 75th started to receive them so a LITENING pod would probably be more accurate.

Station 6 is designated for the fuel tank.

The GBU-38 is a standard GPS / INS guided JDAM.

The GBU-54 is a "Laser JDAM" and is designated for moving targets. Visually you can tell the difference by the 54 has a conduit on the underside of the bomb body, which houses the umbilical wiring for the laser package. There will also be 3 metal straps, which hold the umbilical conduit, around the bomb body as well.

Most Maverick's of choice by 2014 probably would have been the AGM-65 "Laser Maverick" which is also designed to strike high speed moving targets. All the one's I ever loaded were gray.

Like Niels said above, check your references.

Steve

Edited January 13 by A-10 LOADER

[Collin]

14 hours ago, ESzczesniak said:

I am building an A-10C with the Academy Decals for the 75th EFS/455th AEW at Bagram in 2014 (using the GWH kit).  I am down to weathering (in-progress, she's going to be a dirty bird), a few airframe details (mostly painted and ready to glue), and weapons (completely unstarted).

 

General thoughts I've had after looking through pictures:

 

Stations:

11. Empty - seems pretty rare for them to load AIM-9's, a bit more common to see empty LAU-119, but usually just empty

10. Ligthening TGP (or were SNIPERs in service by then?)

9. GBU-38

8. GBU-38

7. GBU-31

6. Empty - seems almost always empty

5. GBU-38

4. GBU-38

3. AGM-65 (Model? L?, they seem to be the gray ones, but not sure which model that would be)

2. APKWS

1. GBU-12

 

I'd welcome any feedback.  Particularly if there were any common loadouts that had more AGM-65, or something more to replace the multiple GBU-38.  Also of note, I don't think I'm knowledgeable enough to tell the difference between GBU-38 and GBU-54 from a picture, so some of these -38's may be -54's.

 

Sounds about right. I was there '12-'13 and that sounds close to the SCL...give or take a station.  Laser Mav was typical.  Guard A-10's might have han Sniper vice Lightening....or vice/versa.  As has been stated...check your refs.  

[Finn]

Don't know the timeframe but how about 3 x GBU-12 on a TER:

 

 

Jari

[Guard Hog]

Hi,

 

For a Hog in Afghanistan during that time period...

 

GBU-31:  no, these didn't start flying on Hogs in combat til 2015 in Syria/Iraq

AGM-65: yes, and it would be an AGM-65L

GBU-38's: yes, both v1 and v4/5

GBU-12's: yes, but I don't recall anyone carrying them on Sta 1 until ops in Syria/Iraq in 2015/16; more likely on Stations 4-8

APKWS (AGR-20): no, these weren't fielded by A-10's in combat til the summer of 2016 when the 190FS was deployed to Turkey

Targeting Pods: check references for the squadron/timeframe. The Guard has alway used LITENING, while, in the earlier days of the A-10C, the SNIPER and LITENING were both used by AD units before, at some point, LITENING became the de facto standard for A-10's.

 

Of note, that pic of the 75th Hog with a TER of -12's was taken in Iraq/Syria in 2015. That loadout would never allow a Hog to get airborne out of Bagram!

 

Just a thought: if you're looking for a more diverse and heavier weapons configuration, you could model a 75th jet in 2015/16 when that squadron was flying OIR missions out of Turkey.

 

There are tons of loadout combos so the best bet is to try and find reference photos for the squadron/deployment you're modeling (I know, easier said than done).  Hope this helps!

 

- Tom

Edited January 16 by Guard Hog

[ESzczesniak]

Thank you all for the responses! It’s been a busier week, so I apologize for not saying anything sooner. 
 

If any of you have recommended sources for such things, I’d love to hear them. My reference is Google and it can be hard to put the photo with a time frame, and if the tail codes aren’t visible match up units. 

[ESzczesniak]

6 hours ago, Guard Hog said:

…

 

Just a thought: if you're looking for a more diverse and heavier weapons configuration, you could model a 75th jet in 2015/16 when that squadron was flying OIR missions out of Turkey.

 

…

Would you have any comments on these markings for that time period (2015/2016). The aircraft is marked up, painted, and maybe about half weathered. So I’m fairly committed at that point. 
 

I was looking for a combat deployed bird in later years (as opposed to 2005 for the combat deployments in GWH). So that’s what lead me to these markings. I do like that I’ve found some pictures of these shark mouth birds rather dirty too. I like dirty birds, but more so like plausible/realistic. The clear dirty bird pictures I found to this aircraft/unit where in the Osprey book for OEF/OIF A-10 units out of Bagram. 

Edited January 17 by ESzczesniak

[Guard Hog]

So I can't speak to specific markings, but the 75FS jets haven't seemed to change much in their appearance over the years. And while it would be difficult to find out specific serial numbers, I'd venture to say there's about a 50% chance that specific one was in Turkey seeing as half the squadron's jets were deployed. I know, none of it is definitive, but I think totally plausible. And I'm not trying to steer you away from your original intent or complicate things. Either deployment would give you the opportunity to field a good weapons configuration.

 

Did you install the Pave Penny pylon? That definitely wouldn't be on the jet in OIR, so maybe there's your decision?

 

 

[A-10 LOADER]

33 minutes ago, Guard Hog said:

So I can't speak to specific markings, but the 75FS jets haven't seemed to change much in their appearance over the years. And while it would be difficult to find out specific serial numbers, I'd venture to say there's about a 50% chance that specific one was in Turkey seeing as half the squadron's jets were deployed. I know, none of it is definitive, but I think totally plausible. And I'm not trying to steer you away from your original intent or complicate things. Either deployment would give you the opportunity to field a good weapons configuration.

 

Did you install the Pave Penny pylon? That definitely wouldn't be on the jet in OIR, so maybe there's your decision?

 

 

Agree.

Steve

[ESzczesniak]

12 hours ago, Guard Hog said:

 

Did you install the Pave Penny pylon? That definitely wouldn't be on the jet in OIR, so maybe there's your decision?

 

 

Thank you for your reply! 
 

For better or worse, I did install the pylon per the kits marking instructions. No pod, but the pylon is there. 
 

It seems the most realistic load would drop the APWKS, maybe put a LAU-131 in its place. And drop the GBU-31. 
 

Looking through an Osprey book for the A-10 in OEF/OIF, the picture of 75th EFS jets in Kandahar has the sniper targeting pod. But once the moved to Bagram, the pictures seem to show the Lightening pod again. So that’s one thing narrowed down. 

[Guard Hog]

Check out this pic, taken during that deployment:

https://www.alamy.com/us-air-force-capt-nick-harris-75th-expeditionary-fighter-squadron-a-10-thunderbolt-ii-pilot-flies-a-combat-sortie-april-2-2014-over-northeast-afghanistan-harris-is-a-denver-colo-native-the-a-10-thunderbolt-ii-is-the-first-air-force-aircraft-specifically-designed-for-close-air-support-of-ground-forces-during-this-sortie-the-a-10-provided-close-air-support-capabilities-to-operation-enduring-freedom-coalition-ground-forces-us-air-force-photo-by-tech-sgt-jason-robertsonreleased-image440058060.html?imageid=274D9089-49A8-47DA-8498-ECE82020DA04&p=1737359&pn=10&searchId=73d9ef2de45f058be43cad6e7068fd2c&searchtype=0

 

That loadout is a LAU-131 with Willy Pete rockets, AGM-65L, two GBU-38's with DSU-33's, a SUU-25 flare pod, and LITENING.

[Guard Hog]

A few more...

 

https://www.alamy.com/us-air-force-a-10-thunderbolt-ii-aircraft-flies-a-combat-sortie-april-image68504962.html?imageid=A71280CA-3A53-444C-AEF3-47921D014ECE&p=145884&pn=1&searchId=538854d7e72bdb0a030b731f01ed7698&searchtype=0

 

https://www.alamy.com/us-air-force-capt-kyle-babbitt-75th-expeditionary-fighter-squadron-a-10-thunderbolt-ii-pilot-flies-a-combat-sortie-april-2-2014-over-northeast-afghanistan-babbitt-is-a-houston-native-the-a-10-thunderbolt-ii-is-the-first-air-force-aircraft-specially-designed-for-close-air-support-of-ground-forces-during-this-sortie-the-a-10-provided-close-air-support-capabilities-to-operation-enduring-freedom-coalition-ground-forces-us-air-force-photo-by-tech-sgt-jason-robertsonreleased-image440057974.html?imageid=B2E09C24-BA43-4E7F-814D-5179E75591C0&p=1737359&pn=1&searchId=538854d7e72bdb0a030b731f01ed7698&searchtype=0

 

 

[ESzczesniak]

Would anyone have thoughts on what the gray bomb is on this aircraft, station 4?  It looks basically like GBU-38 or GBU-54. I can't make out a conduit track, so more likely GBU-38.  But there does some to be some dirty streaking about where the steel bands holding it on would be.  The picture just gets too grainy to be sure.  But the yellow stripe on the actual bomb body seems odd.  And I can't find any photos of gray bomb bodies on USAF birds.  The USN jets with the ablative coating.  But then again the yellow stripe on the body is odd. 

[A-10 LOADER]

GBU-54. A good visual clue is the GBU-38 nose fuses are a tan-ish white, the 54's are black. I don't believe the yellow on that one bomb is striping because the yellow stripes would not be that far back on the bomb body.

Steve

[ESzczesniak]

7 minutes ago, A-10 LOADER said:

GBU-54. A good visual clue is the GBU-38 nose fuses are a tan-ish white, the 54's are black. I don't believe the yellow on that one bomb is striping because the yellow stripes would not be that far back on the bomb body.

Steve

 

Thank you!  I'm definitely don't have the level of knowledge of you guys on these birds and munitions. I was wondering if the yellow could be the identification/manufacturing text, but didn't expect it to be that clear. 

 

Is there any logic to the gray vs green bomb bodies?  As a very generalized rule, I've taken gray since about 2000 to be USN thermally protected munitions and green to be USAF.  Was the gray body fairly common, or just a one off?  It is a nice contrast for visual appeal.

Edited January 26 by ESzczesniak

[A-10 LOADER]

It could be text ??

As far as the bomb body colors, not really sure, I've seen both but, green was more frequent. We just loaded whatever the bomb dump guys would bring us as long as they matched mission requirements.

Steve

Edited January 26 by A-10 LOADER

[ESzczesniak]

Once again thank you!

 

Now to go repaint the GBU-38 fuses. GWH called out black and at that time, I didn’t know as much about -38’s vs -54’s. 

[A-10 LOADER]

Your welcome.

Like I've said in the past, the instructions are merely a "suggestion", this is why we do our research, trust but verify.

Steve

[Guard Hog]

That looks like a GBU-54 on Station 8, with the fairing connecting the nose sensor up front to the guidance tail kit.

 

As for Station 4, I'm guessing it's a GBU-38v4 or v5. That standard -38 is a regular old Mk82 bomb body. The collateral damage concerns in Afghanistan drove the development and use of these versions:

 

GBU-38v4: same old bomb body but significantly less explosive charge (I want to say it's 20 pounds but don't quote me)

GBU-38v5: brand new bomb body made of cellulose and carbon fiber, but with the same explosive charge as the standard bomb -- massive reduction in fragmentation and shrapnel with the same blast effects of the GBU-38v1

 

When I flew there in 2012, we carried a v4 on Station 4. I remember some of them being gray like the one shown in that picture, with a massive "v4" stenciled on the side. I have pictures somewhere....

[Guard Hog]

Here's a pic showing three GBU-38v1's (tan DSU-33's on the nose as A-10 LOADER said), and a GBU-38v5 labeled "BLU-129/B" and a drab nose plug. Now that I think of it, we started that deployment with v4's but got the v5's toward the end.

[ESzczesniak]

25 minutes ago, Guard Hog said:

That looks like a GBU-54 on Station 8, with the fairing connecting the nose sensor up front to the guidance tail kit...

Probably a good call for station 8. I thought that was camera glare. 

[Finn]

One thing to note is there are always various shades of colour as you can see with the various bomb bodies in this pic:

 

 

Jari

[ESzczesniak]

I think this may be my last question.  And thank you all for the help.  I'm trying to place the -21 equipment realistically.  Eventually I'll have a pilot figure on climbing the boarding ladder.  So all the airframe pins and covers are off.  If I'm correct, the seat pins stay with the pilot, so those are remaining. 

 

What I have is to sort out what ordnance/pylons would be pinned.  My final loadout is: LAU-131, SUU-25, GBU-38 x 3, GBU-54, AGM-65L, and an LIGHTENING pod. 

 

Based on what I've read and learned in the past, it could be only the forward firing ordnance that would be pinned to EOR.  In theory this would just be the LAU-131 and AGM-65L.  However, I've also had one feedback that pylons with jettison cartridges would also be pinned.  So  basically all pylons loaded with ordnance (not the LIGHTENING?)

 

I can find some with all the pylons pinned such as this:

 

 

But then also a couple like this were at least the AGM-65 I'm not seeing a pin:

 

 

I think I'm finding more withe the loaded pylons pinned than not.  Is the gun pinned as well?  I know on the Hornets, there's a gun arm door/button that's armed on the cat.  A decent number of the pics there's a tag on a small panel on the left hand side of the nose about halfway between the nose struct and the barrel end.  Is this the arming pin?

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 31 by ESzczesniak

[A-10 LOADER]

9 minutes ago, ESzczesniak said:

I think this may be my last question.  And thank you all for the help.  I'm trying to place the -21 equipment realistically.  Eventually I'll have a pilot figure on climbing the boarding ladder.  So all the airframe pins and covers are off.  If I'm correct, the seat pins stay with the pilot, so those are remaining. 

 

What I have is to sort out what ordnance/pylons would be pinned.  My final loadout is: LAU-131, SUU-25, GBU-38 x 3, GBU-54, AGM-65L, and an LIGHTENING pod. 

 

Based on what I've read and learned in the past, it could be only the forward firing ordnance that would be pinned to EOR.  In theory this would just be the LAU-131 and AGM-65L.  However, I've also had one feedback that pylons with jettison cartridges would also be pinned.  So  basically all pylons loaded with ordnance (not the LIGHTENING?)

 

I can find some with all the pylons pinned such as this:

 

 

But then also a couple like this were at least the AGM-65 I'm not seeing a pin:

 

 

I think I'm finding more withe the loaded pylons pinned than not.  Is the gun pinned as well?  I know on the Hornets, there's a gun arm door/button that's armed on the cat.  A decent number of the pics there's a tag on a small panel on the left hand side of the nose about halfway between the nose struct and the barrel end.  Is this the arming pin?

 

 

 

 

 

The plane's Crew Chief would pull the landing gear pins and the ejection seat pin. Those he would put in a bag of some sort and that would remain at the aircraft's spot from which it taxied from.

The jet would then taxi to EOR ( End of Runway ) where other crew chiefs and the weapons crew would be waiting. Once the jet was marshaled into it's spot and the wheels chocked, the one crew chief would hook up a comm cord to the jet to talk to the pilot, the other two guys would give the jet a "once over", looking for any issues before take-off. Once they were finished they would go to the next jet.

Now the Weapons #1 man would hook up his comm cord to talk to the pilot, he would ask the pilot " switches off, safe, normal, hands clear ?", the pilot would acknowledge with a yes and show his hands keeping them in sight. The one man would give his other two load crew members a thumbs up letting them know it's safe to start arming up the jet, the two man would pull pins on stations # 1 to 6, the three man would pull pins for stations # 7 - 11.  The one man would pull the gun pin and let the pilot know that the gun pin is out and, the gun's "hot". All these pins would be placed in the W-79 panel ( the rounded door that's hinged in the second pic,where the jets get fueled at ) so when the jet came back the de-arm crew could put certain pins back in before the jet went back to the ramp. The one man would then go out to station # 1 and work his way all the way over to station # 11, checking everything weapons related to make sure all the pins were out and the jet was ready to go flying. He would let the pilot know that everything is good to go and have a safe flight, disconnect his come cord, close the small door and walk back out to the edge of the jet. The pilot would then be told to hold brakes (with hand gestures ) while the three man pulls the chocks from the nose gear. Once everyone was clear the one man would let the pilot know that the chocks had been removed with more hand gestures, come to attention and, give the pilot a salute, then move onto the next jet and do this all over again.

In the third pic, that RBF streamer is for the battery. The gun pin would look similar, part of the streamer would be hanging from the door when closed to let you know that the gun was pinned.

So, the bomb rack for the 131, SUU-25, 38's and 54's and, the AGM all get a MAU-40/50 pin with RBF streamer installed. Looking at the jet from the front, the pins go into the RH side of the bomb rack only, installing them from the other side causes damage to the sensing switch inside the bomb rack. There will also be an electrical safing pin with streamer, on the backside of the 131 rocket pod and, the SUU-25. The LITENING pod as well as the DRA are non-jettisonable ( can't be punched off ) so, those bomb racks get a pin ( no streamer ) and the safety pin gets safety wired from the pin to the pylon.

Hope this helps and, sorry for the lengthy explanation.

Steve