Busta - you're right, it really doesn't matter much but I thought to set the record straight.
Yes we did practice strafe before we went out and out there we always carried the SUU gun. I discovered why when we came across a trawler with no nets 20nm inside the FIPZ which is a long story I could tell but with little point.
It was amazing that the old strike pilots managed 70%+ scores practising strafe whilst the young AD pilots barely managed 30%. There's just no substitute for experience. As for Sparrow (Skyflash) vs fishing boats, firstly the cost (£0.5m against a tin boat) and secondly the missile would launch in wide speed band (no accurate doppler input) which would guarantee a miss (IMHO). We will, thankfully, never know.
The Sweep