Talk:AFOH/@comment-14850713-20150802161443/@comment-14850713-20150803152500

IC:

Again learning from its experience in the Battle of New Britain, the High Command has authorized the production and deployment of the new Griffon A3-IG ground-attack aircraft. After encountering heavily-armored Leopards and the hard time they gave to AFOH armored forces, field commanders were forced to employ Durandal aerospace fighters with their dual 127 mm cannons to stop PANZER spearheads which, though effective, diverted them from their primary mission of escorting Cobras against enemy flying ships.

With these lessons in mind, AFOH designers set about creating an aircraft with a primarily ground-attack role. Built around a rapid-firing (90-100 rpm) 105 mm cannon, the Griffon is intended to devastate enemy armored formations by attacking the weaker turret roof and engine armor of heavy tanks. It is powered by 2 advanced turboprops that give it a transonic dash speed combined with a long loiter time while minimizing its IR and acoustic signature.

AFOH attack squadrons equipped with F4U Corsairs are beginning to transition to the new aircraft. It is envisioned that every 2 of 3 attack squadrons embarked on light/amphibious carriers will fly Griffons while 1 squadron will continue to fly Corsairs in the reconnaissance and infantry-support role (attack squadrons have a complement of 20 planes as compared to 30 for strike and fighter squadrons).