Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

214 SECTION TACTICS, TWOVERSUS-ONE
carries a higher risk of the fighters becoming separated simply through loss
of sight.
Although some double attack principles were used occasionally during
World War I, the doctrine is generally considered to have been developed
during the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s by Werner Moelders of the
German Condor Legion. The installation of radios in most German
fighters, the increased difficulty of defending against high-speed attacks
from the rear, and the necessity of engaging more maneuverable opponents
led to use of the loose pair, which the Germans called the rotte. This
doctrine provided the Luftwaffe with a considerable advantage over their
foes early in World War II, but eventually it was accepted and employed to
some extent by most of the Allied air forces, and it survives today as
probably the most common air-to-air doctrine in use.
Loose Deuce
Why let rank lead, when ability can do it better?
Commander Randy "Duke" Cunningham, USN
"Loose deuce" is the popular name of a tactical doctrine developed by
the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam conflict. Rather than being an entirely
new doctrine, loose deuce is actually a rather minor variation of double
attack, but its use today is general enough that a discussion of loose deuce
is warranted here.
Similarities with Double Attack
Like double attack, loose deuce is based on a loose, coordinated pair of
fighters in mutual support. Pre-engaged philosophy and cruise formations
are essentially identical in these two doctrines. Combat spread is probably
the most common cruising formation, for all the reasons described earlier.
A pre-engagement leader is designated, but once they are engaged the
pilots revert to engaged fighter—free fighter roles. Variations on the bracket
attack (Figure 5-3) are also the bread and butter of loose deuce. Defensive
loose deuce maneuvering is essentially identical to that of double attack,
and the techniques illustrated in Figures 5-4 through 5-8 are all relevant.
Engaged Maneuvering
In offensive engaged maneuvering philosophy, however, the two doctrines
diverge. The primary responsibility of the loose deuce free-fighter pilot is
to position for his own attack on the bogey, rather than simply covering the
engaged fighter. While the offensive double attack free-fighter pilot is
primarily defensive, and awaits the engaged pilot's call before attacking,
the loose deuce free-fighter pilot is not under any such restrictions. Each
pilot is responsible for visually clearing his wingman and himself. The
engaged pilot devotes most of his attention to offense, however, and the
free pilot's duties are split about fifty-fifty between offense and defense.
The pilot of the engaged fighter in double attack doctrine fights the
bogey one-versus-one until he destroys the target or he faces imminent
loss of the offensive. Ideally, there should never be two fighters offensively