Description

A highly detailed, illustrated history of the A-7 Corsair II and its service from the end of the Vietnam War through to Desert Storm.

At the A-7 Corsair II's peak in the mid-1980s, some 30 US Navy squadrons flew various versions of the aircraft, including six Naval Air Reserve units, and many of these units saw action across the Middle East. By the time the jet saw combat in Operation Desert Storm (1991), there remained only two fleet squadrons--many fleet squadrons having either disestablished or transitioned to the F/A­18 Hornet--but both of these units (VA-46 and VA-72) played a major role in the campaign to free Kuwait.

The book details the technological development and improvements that were introduced to the airframe post-Vietnam (the FLIR targeting pod from 1979 and AGM-88 HARM missile from 1983 being the most important), and how they shaped operational employment of the aircraft. The jet's combat experiences in conflicts during the 1970s (Cambodia), 1980s (Lebanon, Grenada, Libya, and Iran), and 1990s (Iraq) are explained in detail, and Peter Mersky's expert analysis is supported by numerous first-hand accounts from naval aviators that saw action with the A-7 during these campaigns.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. The Last Battle
2. Peace After Vietnam
3. The turbulent 1980s
4/ More Action in the Middle East
5. Libya and Iran
6. Desert Shield/Storm
Appendices
- Colour Plates Commentary
Index

Product details

Published Feb 23 2021
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781472840639
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Dimensions 10 x 7 inches
Series Combat Aircraft
Short code COM 135
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Peter Mersky

Peter Mersky is a retired Navy Commander with 23 y…

Illustrator

Jim Laurier

Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives i…

Illustrator

Gareth Hector

Gareth Hector is a digital artist of international…

Contributor

Tony Holmes

Having initially worked for Osprey as an author in…

Contributor

Mike Crutch

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