Oh, my stars! The CSA is sending Cessnas (looks like 172 or 182) and the folks on the kingdom’s eastern border are hearing music. Could that be the redoubtable Wildcat? That would be like flintlock musket infantry (not in any kind of fighting order) going up against well trained, battle hardened troops with modern assault rifles. Wouldn’t even qualify as a slaughter – more like a massacre! If we didn’t already know what we know about the CSA I might be tempted to feel sorry for those pilots. Nah. Not a bit sorry for ’em.
Took a closer look at panel 3. Those look more like 182s than 172s. Not exactly sure where/how you’d mount weapons on a Cessna 182. Have to be on the wings because there’s no room in the nose and rigging an interrupter to keep from shooting the prop off would be a major engineering challenge. Problem with mounting anything in/on the wings is that Cessna wings are VERY lightly built. Essentially no spar. The struts that go between the fuselage and wing are what supports the aircraft’s weight. Without access to the next couple of days’ strips I’m going to guess rifle caliber select fire weapons mounted on the wi gs far enough outboard to clear the prop and rigged to.allow the pilot to fire. Am I close, Catman, Rob??
just saying,, the cessna was used with wing pods in Korea an Vietnam .. O1 Bird Dog.
during WWI pilots used just about any thing that they could carry in the cockpit,,. small bombs, grenades, handguns, rifles, etc..
this is me guessing.. since the cessna can carry more than the WWI plane ,, put a person in back as a “door gunner” that can also act as a bomber.
I have to say I was NOT aware that they had ever armed O-1s. My understanding is that an O-1 is very much like a C-150 but with taildragger vs tricycle gear. I could sorta see how they might attach light unguided a-2-s rockets to the wings to mark targets but I never read about actually ARMING the things. I do not see how the aircraft’s structure could withstand the recoil for a Ma-duce but I can see a rifle caliber (airborn M-60?) MG being deployed. Was the M-60 a belt-fed light machine gun? I know it used 7.62 (then current) NATO round. Anyhow if you could mount automatic weapons on an O-1 then you could for sure southern engineer something like that on a 172 or 182. I still would not want to face a D’Fly in one, though. Would not be pretty. Wish I didn’t have to wait to see the next installments. Both story lines are getting interesting, Catman. You dog, you!
Bill –
The Vietnam L-19D/O-1D (my buddy 57-2839) I had, (dubbed a FBG-19 by an Arty O-4 friend) was made off a Cessna 170.
I cannot seem to get the photo pasted here.
Suffice to say I had two seven-shot rocket pods for 2.75″ FFARs.
The rockets used mortar fuses – armed by the launching force.
Wings were limited to 250 lbs/wing.
It could carry 7.62 mini guns too.
But I could really raise sand with 10lb, Comp B war heads or the flechette warheads which worked best for water targets.
The 10 lb WP (White Phosphorous) warheads were a bit squirrely because they would melt and loose the shaped charge form thus flying like screw balls.
Ned,
C170 was the taildragger predecessor to the more modern 172. The early 172s had a rear fuselage that was a.lot more like the 170’s than later 172s. Based upon what you wrote I can see where a group like the CSA might use 172/182s as improvised attack craft. Still would not want to face a trained opponent in a purpose-built warplane, would you? And a.scify hotrod like the D’fly? No way, Jose.
If you flew one of those in combat situations you got juevos, my friend. Skin on a C170 would not even slow a round from a 7.62×39 down even a.tiny bit. Took some.balls to do that job. I salute you as one vet to another. I was at 8th Air Force NCO leadership School when Saigon fell. Was still there a couple weeks later when the “Mayaguez incident” occurred. We were all from SAC bases and were told to pack our bags in case we nad to bug out back home. Fortunately nothing further happened. My room mate was a BUFF tailgunner. Don’t recall his last name but his first name was Jodie. Damned good man.
But what do we know about them other than Sgt Squirrel’s opinion? Have I missed something? I can imagine lots of things, but that’s all I have so far.
Planes started in WW1 as unarmed reconnaissance craft. Then pilots started carrying pistols and taking pot shots at each other. Then they started doing strafing runs by pouring buckets of nails on massed or marching troops. A plane doesn’t have to be armed to make life miserable below it. Too, there are always grenades.
I’ve never seen it before, but I assume the Z suffix denotes UTC/UT1, which is apparently only quasi-synonymous with GMT. Either way, it’s four hours ahead of EDT, or globally speaking, EDT is four hours behind.
I used to wait until Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings to get my TGW fix but lately I’ve been “cheating” and looking some time post 1900 CDT.That jibes well with Rob’s 2000 EDT. I still come back the next morning to vote on TWC.
I do have to wonder, though, why the Empire or Kingdom of Jerico, whichever entity is doing so, would be interfering in an affair between two sovereign entities, neither of which have asked for help and both of which are apparently hostile, and probably not trading partners.
Partly for the same reason that the USSR wanted to stabilize Afghanistan.
Afghanistan really had nothing that Russia wanted, but a buffer between Pakistan and India to the south.
At the time, there was a real possibility of a nuclear exchange between Paki and Indi.
Simplified, I know, but in essence, the Empire would prefer that nations on it’s borders be internally strong, stable and peaceful.
I might be losing my internet temporarily.
I’ve been using my neighbor’s, with his permission.
But he died, and his relatives might cut it off. https://www.deviantart.com/cat-man-dancing/art/Gordon-at-Home-872722279
Sadly, no one can listen to him any more.
I have a buffer of strips loaded for this comic until 05/21.
I am so sorry for your loss, Petercat – Neighbor or not, he seems more like family per your description of him.
Physical family is most often but an accident of birth.
But Real Family can come in some significantly different ways – too.
– – – all pushing toward the life substance of relationship.
R.I.P., Brother Gordon. I am sure you are being missed by many.
Petercat – May your good memories of Gordon sustain you in these times.
And yeah – he seems to remind me of a Master Chief I once knew.
Two Good Men.
Oh, my stars! The CSA is sending Cessnas (looks like 172 or 182) and the folks on the kingdom’s eastern border are hearing music. Could that be the redoubtable Wildcat? That would be like flintlock musket infantry (not in any kind of fighting order) going up against well trained, battle hardened troops with modern assault rifles. Wouldn’t even qualify as a slaughter – more like a massacre! If we didn’t already know what we know about the CSA I might be tempted to feel sorry for those pilots. Nah. Not a bit sorry for ’em.
Took a closer look at panel 3. Those look more like 182s than 172s. Not exactly sure where/how you’d mount weapons on a Cessna 182. Have to be on the wings because there’s no room in the nose and rigging an interrupter to keep from shooting the prop off would be a major engineering challenge. Problem with mounting anything in/on the wings is that Cessna wings are VERY lightly built. Essentially no spar. The struts that go between the fuselage and wing are what supports the aircraft’s weight. Without access to the next couple of days’ strips I’m going to guess rifle caliber select fire weapons mounted on the wi gs far enough outboard to clear the prop and rigged to.allow the pilot to fire. Am I close, Catman, Rob??
The Cat, as always, sayeth nothing.
But… what were some of the first weapons carried in WWI aircraft?
just saying,, the cessna was used with wing pods in Korea an Vietnam .. O1 Bird Dog.
during WWI pilots used just about any thing that they could carry in the cockpit,,. small bombs, grenades, handguns, rifles, etc..
this is me guessing.. since the cessna can carry more than the WWI plane ,, put a person in back as a “door gunner” that can also act as a bomber.
I have to say I was NOT aware that they had ever armed O-1s. My understanding is that an O-1 is very much like a C-150 but with taildragger vs tricycle gear. I could sorta see how they might attach light unguided a-2-s rockets to the wings to mark targets but I never read about actually ARMING the things. I do not see how the aircraft’s structure could withstand the recoil for a Ma-duce but I can see a rifle caliber (airborn M-60?) MG being deployed. Was the M-60 a belt-fed light machine gun? I know it used 7.62 (then current) NATO round. Anyhow if you could mount automatic weapons on an O-1 then you could for sure southern engineer something like that on a 172 or 182. I still would not want to face a D’Fly in one, though. Would not be pretty. Wish I didn’t have to wait to see the next installments. Both story lines are getting interesting, Catman. You dog, you!
Bill –
The Vietnam L-19D/O-1D (my buddy 57-2839) I had, (dubbed a FBG-19 by an Arty O-4 friend) was made off a Cessna 170.
I cannot seem to get the photo pasted here.
Suffice to say I had two seven-shot rocket pods for 2.75″ FFARs.
The rockets used mortar fuses – armed by the launching force.
Wings were limited to 250 lbs/wing.
It could carry 7.62 mini guns too.
But I could really raise sand with 10lb, Comp B war heads or the flechette warheads which worked best for water targets.
The 10 lb WP (White Phosphorous) warheads were a bit squirrely because they would melt and loose the shaped charge form thus flying like screw balls.
Cessna 182’s had wheel pants and prop spinners.
Ned,
C170 was the taildragger predecessor to the more modern 172. The early 172s had a rear fuselage that was a.lot more like the 170’s than later 172s. Based upon what you wrote I can see where a group like the CSA might use 172/182s as improvised attack craft. Still would not want to face a trained opponent in a purpose-built warplane, would you? And a.scify hotrod like the D’fly? No way, Jose.
If you flew one of those in combat situations you got juevos, my friend. Skin on a C170 would not even slow a round from a 7.62×39 down even a.tiny bit. Took some.balls to do that job. I salute you as one vet to another. I was at 8th Air Force NCO leadership School when Saigon fell. Was still there a couple weeks later when the “Mayaguez incident” occurred. We were all from SAC bases and were told to pack our bags in case we nad to bug out back home. Fortunately nothing further happened. My room mate was a BUFF tailgunner. Don’t recall his last name but his first name was Jodie. Damned good man.
In answer to Petercat’s question – bricks that were dropped on the enemies heads
But what do we know about them other than Sgt Squirrel’s opinion? Have I missed something? I can imagine lots of things, but that’s all I have so far.
Planes started in WW1 as unarmed reconnaissance craft. Then pilots started carrying pistols and taking pot shots at each other. Then they started doing strafing runs by pouring buckets of nails on massed or marching troops. A plane doesn’t have to be armed to make life miserable below it. Too, there are always grenades.
cats will play.
Wildcat will play hardest. Some fun in the air is coming soon.
It should seal the truce or becoming a Kingdom in the Empire deal.
That Captain is properly placed in his lazy chair trike.
that is a scorpion gaming chair… not a trike
I wondered what you meant by scorpion. Kudos.
I had no idea. Not a gamer. It is a serious chair.
Aww, now we have to wait until thursday morning 0200Z to see CSA get their asses handed to them.
Will there be music, Petercat?
..Monday , Wednesday , Friday.. @2000 hundred EST… is when posted…
I think Jan is in Europe.
True, I am – and I looked at the wrong display (local time) when I wrote the post. John Orange is right, 0100Z is when it comes up.
I’ve never seen it before, but I assume the Z suffix denotes UTC/UT1, which is apparently only quasi-synonymous with GMT. Either way, it’s four hours ahead of EDT, or globally speaking, EDT is four hours behind.
My time zone is GMT, to the comic posts around 0100 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from my point of view…
I used to wait until Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings to get my TGW fix but lately I’ve been “cheating” and looking some time post 1900 CDT.That jibes well with Rob’s 2000 EDT. I still come back the next morning to vote on TWC.
Shades of Honor Harrington.
Caught that, did you?
https://honorverse.fandom.com/wiki/Horace_Harkness
Panel 8.
I do have to wonder, though, why the Empire or Kingdom of Jerico, whichever entity is doing so, would be interfering in an affair between two sovereign entities, neither of which have asked for help and both of which are apparently hostile, and probably not trading partners.
Partly for the same reason that the USSR wanted to stabilize Afghanistan.
Afghanistan really had nothing that Russia wanted, but a buffer between Pakistan and India to the south.
At the time, there was a real possibility of a nuclear exchange between Paki and Indi.
Simplified, I know, but in essence, the Empire would prefer that nations on it’s borders be internally strong, stable and peaceful.
I might be losing my internet temporarily.
I’ve been using my neighbor’s, with his permission.
But he died, and his relatives might cut it off.
https://www.deviantart.com/cat-man-dancing/art/Gordon-at-Home-872722279
Sadly, no one can listen to him any more.
I have a buffer of strips loaded for this comic until 05/21.
I am so sorry for your loss, Petercat – Neighbor or not, he seems more like family per your description of him.
Physical family is most often but an accident of birth.
But Real Family can come in some significantly different ways – too.
– – – all pushing toward the life substance of relationship.
R.I.P., Brother Gordon. I am sure you are being missed by many.
Petercat – May your good memories of Gordon sustain you in these times.
And yeah – he seems to remind me of a Master Chief I once knew.
Two Good Men.