Originally Posted by HTB
As for strafe against ground targets from a Tornada GR (Not the GR1A, though, the cannons gave way to the recce sensors and recording equipment), the profile for target acquisition, aiming and squirting, recovery and running away were better suited to the benign range enviroment. The exposure time and crew focus on shooting and recovering in a hostile scenario would have made the aeroplane quite vulnerable to small arms fire from the hundreds of annoyed troops below.
And you would need the right sort of bullets for the intended target, taking into consideration ricochet and effectiveness (armour/soft skinned); generally more misses than hits (on the range), limited amount of ammunition. Cost/benefit analysis - not really worth the risk and effort.
And yet the 27mm Mauser is often the weapon of choice in Afghanistan and has been for years. It's accurate, minimal collateral damage, cheap and with dive profiles up to 45 degrees available threat exposure is minimal. Ballistics are more accurate to a far greater range than was so on the GR1.
And it's more fun too.
