Combat damage assessment team A-10/GAU-8 low angle firings versus simulated Soviet tank company (Array 18) (Aerojet lot number AJD79A181-001) (30 August 1979)

This report describes firings of the A-10/GAU-8 weapon system on 30 August 1979 against a Soviet tank company simulated by 10 combat loaded M-47 tanks. The pilots making the firing passes attacked at low altitude and used correspondingly low dive angles in order to simulate movement through a hostile air defense system. Ammunition used in the attacks comprised Lot Acceptance Verification Program (LAVP) Lot Number AJD 79181-001, Aerojet 30mm armor piercing incendiary (API) rounds, which proved to be effective damage agents against substantial areas of the U.S. MK 47 tanks used as targets. The pilots in eight successful firing passes (two targets were not attacked) fired a total of 484 rounds of which 143 impacted the targets. The projectiles impacting on targets achieved 13 perforations of the armored envelopes. Significant results include: 4 tanks immobilized and 1 tank silenced.