Fighter Combat

TACTICAL INTERCEPTS 373Figure 10-15. The Cross-Blockan unseen fighter. Each fighter should have an unobserved belly-side or RQshot on its target while meeting the other bogey nearly head-on. Thebogeys, on the other hand, are bracketed at the pass; neither enemy pilot islikely to have sight of his wingman, and each probably does have a tally onone fighter—but not the fighter posing the greater threat. Obviously this isa very favorable situation for the friendly fighters!Advantages and DisadvantagesThe cross-block, like most other stunt tactics, is a complex interceptrequiring highly proficient aircrews and a good deal of luck. In addition,this procedure depends on two operable radars. Offensively the cross-blockcan be very effective against a pincer attack. Defensively it is not as poor asmany other tactics. The fighters can stay in a defensive spread formationuntil late in the intercept, and although they are essentially independentduring the terminal phase of the maneuver, they usually are not so farseparated that they are unable to offer mutual support quickly if it isneeded. A serious problem can occur, however, if one fighter loses contactwith its bogey in the terminal phase. If this happens, the other pilot shouldcontinue his intercept while the pilot without contact attempts to regain avisual cover position for his wingman.The cross-block offers an effective offensive response to a pincer attackby superior bogeys, even in a hostile environment. With superior fightersin a more controlled environment the pincer isolation tactic shown inFigure 10-9 might be a preferable alternative, since dealing with one bogeyat a time is generally less hazardous. A simpler, more defensive optionmight be a single-side offset to either side in an attempt to get outside theenemy's bracket. This alternative, however, offers little offensive potentialand likely will not be highly effective against superior bogeys; but itcan be executed with only one radar.Division InterceptsAs stated previously, any of the intercept tactics described so far in thischapter for use by one or two fighters can be employed by greater numbers.Some major advantages are provided by more fighters, including improvedmutual support for fighters in trail formations and for fighters using interceptsthat rely on wide offensive splits. This can allow the fighters tochoose more offensive tactics without incurring unacceptable degradation