Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

360 TACTICAL INTERCEPTS
Advantages and Disadvantages
The pincer is an extremely effective offensive tactic, but pilots must have
considerable training in its use for it to be consistently effective. The
fighters are likely to be separated by several miles at time "2" and can
provide little mutual support/ so these are truly autonomous intercepts.
When the pincer is performed at very high speeds and is limited to FQ
attacks with all-aspect weapons, this temporary loss of mutual support
may be justified, even in the hostile environment, to gain greater offensive
potential. The fighter pilots should generally plan to rejoin after the attack,
however, for better defense, and stern conversions should be avoided
except in well-controlled situations. Again, the pincer is not recommended
against bogeys in a significant trail formation.
A further complication with the pincer is the requirement that each
fighter have radar contact with the bogeys, or at least have dual GCI close
control, prior to the split. All the other tactics described to this point could
be performed reasonably with only one operable radar in the section, or
with close control only for the leader.
Another limitation for this tactic is the ability of the individual fighters
either to defeat the bogeys one-on-one or to escape from a bogey after
meeting from neutral positions. This is because the pincer invites the
bogeys to split up also, which can easily result in two one-versus-one
encounters. If the fighter pilots do not feel confident engaging the enemy
one-on-one in the given situation, they can attempt to isolate and attack
one bogey, as shown in Figure 10-9.
In this example the bogeys split (time "2") in response to the fighters'
bracket attempt. Each fighter pilot continues to run his intercept against
the nearest bogey, while at the same time discussing a plan via radio with
the other pilot. The two pilots decide to neutralize the southern bogey and
attack the northern one. At time "3" each fighter passes its respective
Figure 10-9. Pincer Isolation Tactic