Originally Posted by
orca
No you completely misunderstand me. The point is that for Blackbuck to have had an effect we would have to demonstrate the fact that FAA jets supposed to be doing one thing were stopped and made to do another.
i.e. Fighters fragged for OCA sweep in support of the strikers would be re-tasked with DCA. The point is that if the fighters couldn't mount an effective sweep (looking for FRS 1 - nor Vulcan!) then there was no point sending them to do it. Thus they could be put on DCA. This is convenient - but it might not have been Blackbuck which forced their hand..
Yes I probably did misunderstand and I think it hinges on the definition of DCA and OCA in this context.
I assume OCA to be the sweep as you say looking to take the air battle to the Navy who would have to deal with both sweep and strike. Am I right in assuming you mean DCA being tasked to cover the mainland?
I would agree that OCA, as an independent mission, would probably have had a low probability of success unless the SHAR went up to play. As escort/sweep then the OCA mission would have had a high probability of contact and probably essential for successful attack by the strikers.
I can now see where you are coming from if you consider AD assets over FI as exclusively OCA whereas I had considered AD assets over the FI to have a DCA mission.