Steve Stone

Avenger Wrath: Warthog in Afghanistan - Aviation Steve Stone

Avenger Wrath is the story of a Hog Driver and his ride during the War in Afghanistan, operating out of Bagram Airbase with the beautiful, if deadly Afghan Mountain range as a backdrop. The A-10 Thunderbolt II saw almost constant use in Afghanistan, proving itself yet again, as formidable and capable weapons platform. This revised and updated version of the book, has become more poignant as the F-35 has the chance to prove that it can take on the A-10s role. The A-10 is due to stay in service until at least 2022, with life extension, maybe until 2040. Fitted with the GAU-8 Avenger a 30mm cannon, designed to cut through tank armour was found to be just as good at tearing through the thick mud walls of compounds were the Taliban often took refuge in to mount ambushes on coalition troops. The A-10 has become an important element of CAS and FAC and is like the grizzled old-school Linebacker of the USAF. It's not an aviation beauty queen, it's not super-fast, it's not full to the brim of state of the art electronics. It just shows up, gets angry, scares the hell out enemy ground forces, and goes home. It's nickname 'Warthog' says it all, angry looking and not the prettiest.