The Unsung War, Story of the "Harrier Angels" Options

[Knossos]

The English Channel, also known as the "Berkut Alley"

It all started out peacefully.

Lieutenant James Barrow, RAF was taking his morning ritual of twice-heated fish and chips and tea when his flight leader, a swarthy man named Morrison, came up to him. "Hey, dear chap," Morrison started as a way of morning greeting, "You ready?"

"Bloody hell, flight leader," Exclaimed Barrow, "I was just eating breakfast!"

"Be on the lane in ten minutes, dear chap, or it's your bloody head." Morrison ended as he left the cafeteria.

****

Five minutes later, Lieutenant Barrow was in the tarmac, wearing his flight suit, looking extremely stressed out. Five days of continuous air patrols didn't make his days any easier, nor the fact that his last plane, an ancient AV-8B Harrier II, designed for ground support but repurposed as a fighter, was nearly shot down by a Grumble while it was doing CAP over the English Channel. The bloody bird didn't even made it to London, he thought; he nearly crashed as he landed in Plymouth, enduring about two broken bones, a dozen scratches and many more sore bumps on every inch of his body. Needless to say, his entire life so far during the war was going fantastic.

He checked with the local crew chief, a small, stout Scot named Alexander, to see what would he be flying today.

"Ah," Alex smiled. "You the guy who did the chicken landing back at Roborough?" Several other pilots laughed privately behind him.

Barrow felt his face go red. "I'd rather not talk about that, crew chief." He said, abashed.

"So, what bird would I be flying, crew chief?"

"Remember that Grumble that nearly sent you six feet below the ground?"

"You're having the chance to pay him back now." Alex said with a mysterious smile. "Come."

[Red Hood]

FIRSTIES

[Knossos]

"Are you bloody serious?!"

The aircraft had a rugged look to it, like the look the Harriers he drove had, but this thing... is another level entirely.

"Yap, today, you're driving an A-10. Hope you're up to it, lad."

***

"Echo-Zero-Niner requesting permission to taxi."

"This is tower, Echo-Zero-Niner, you are cleared for take-off. Make us proud."

Oh, sure why not. Barrow thought.

He felt the heavily-loaded A-10 lurch to the sky as he reviewed his mission once again.

****

Near Pas-de-Calais, Sergeant Ivanov smoked his tobacco as he peered to his radar screen. His battalion of Grumbles, stationed on a high hill, was trying to wrestle air superiority from the Brits since their first day, and so far, they had been unsuccessful. He took a long drag and threw the stubble on his filled ashtray. He stretched his arms as he looked forward to his end of watch.

****

"This is Echo-Zero-Niner on a Whiskey-Whiskey mission, we are feet-dry."

Barrow, together with his escort of precious Typhoons, were a few kilometers inside French airspace. Time to get a little dirty, mates.

"Descending."

He flew very low, about 45 meters above the ground, so that he could sneak past any radar station unseen. His escorts did the same.

"Echo-Zero-Niner, this is India-Echo-One, come in."

"This Zero-Niner, what is it?"

"I'm detecting fire-control radar emissions just two-zero miles from us. Must be Grumbles."

"Sure about that, lad?"

****

Meanwhile, several thousand meters above all of this, three Berkuts patrolled in a racetrack figure, unaware of the deadly eagles moving past them.

****

"One-zero miles."

Barrow fingered the pickle switch on his stick. "Safeties off."

"I see them! thirty degrees left!"


***

Sergeant Ivanov never even knew who killed him.

"Making run."

He centered his sights on the nearest line of Grumble launchers as he triggered his guns and Hydra rockets. Although normally, the A-10 carried Maverick missiles, Hydra rockets work as well in this case.

His run made short work of the launchers, but near the Grumbles were Shilkas and Tunguskas, their guns pointing menacingly to him.

"This Echo-Zero-One, RTBing, over"

He felt his plane shudder as several bullets pinged off his armored plane. He pushed the stick as far as it could go.

"India Echo-One, where are you?!"

"We're at the deck, trying to pull Berkuts off your tail, Zero-One. Gte out of India country as fast as you can, would you?"

****

Come on, come on, Barrow thought as he dodged bullets and missiles left and right. With his controls a little bit lighter, he could do things he couldn't while he was heavily loaded.

Like a barrel roll.

His world turned as he saw tracers chasing after his jet like fireflies. His ECM pod beeped and he jerked off as he dodged another Strela.

Then things went to hell.

A shell hit his belly, nearly throwing the A-10 to the ground. Another hit his port engine as he struggled to bring the plane to level flight. As if these weren't enough, a missile struck beneath his cockpit as he maneuvered, throwing his head to the canopy.

Ah, Christ He thought, as stars started to swim in his eyes, What did I do to deserve this luck...

[(USA)Bruce]

So the Yanks are giving equipment to the brits as well? This is like WW2 all over again!
A brit flying an A-10...Seems interesting, hope to read more

This post has been edited by (USA)Bruce: 24 Feb 2014, 19:34

[Karpet]

You do know that a barrel roll is not a smart move in a dogfight, right?
If you don't, you should know that it's like a corkscrew in a roller coaster ride, which pretty much is useless (the real barrel roll, not the aileron roll you call a barrel roll because of Starfox)

This post has been edited by Karpet: 24 Feb 2014, 20:56

[8igDaddy8lake]

Not to burst any bubbles or anything, but I thought the Harriers were Spanish. The UK retired all of its Harriers a while back. Of course, it is possibly that they had a few loaned to them...

[Knossos]

****

Come on, mate, cooperate!

Barrow cursed silently as the A-10 wallowed through the sky like an epileptic duck. He was 50 miles out from the nearest available landing site, Southampton Airport. We're cutting it a little too close today, aren't we?

He looked at his failing airspeed when a loud sonic boom went over his head. The aircraft markings were vague, but no one could mistake the plane's forward sweep.

So, this is it, then.

Barrow closed his eyes as he waited for the inevitable to come.


***

"Target at two-five-zero degrees, shooting!"

The Berkut pilot kept his eyes on the crippled A-10, ready for his first kill of the day.

He did not notice a fast, sweeping shape move behind him.

***

A bright light flashed through Barrow's eyelids. He dared open his eyes, and he saw that his plane was still in one piece, slowing to almost stall speed.

He looked aft, and he saw the remnants of the Berkut fall like crumpled paper.

Who the hell did that?

"Echo-Zero-One? Echo-Zero-One, respond. over."

"Who the bloody hell are you?!" Barrow screamed over the intercom.

"Echo-Zero-One, this is Archangel flight. Your safe for landing at Southampton. Vamonos, amigo."

The bloody Spanish is here?

***

Admiral Garcia was a proud-looking man. Well over his fifties, his immaculate look and hard expression commanded respect to everyone in the room.

Even General Charles.

"Admiral Garcia," Charles started as he lighted a cigar. "I thank you for your agreement for basing some of your Harriers here at England. I hear they have been doing a magnificent job."

"Si." Garcia said. "We Spanish honor our debts. We do not forget the help you gave us back at Africa, señor."

"I really thank you. You are truly a fine gentleman." General Charles said with utmost sincerity.

[BliTTzZ]

Nice fic, but it looks a bit unrealistic when A-10 take out Grumble system, or even few of them. S-300 AA have five time longer range than A-10's guided missiles.

[(USA)Bruce]

^ Im not an expert or anything but if you fly under the grumbles radar/eyes and ears I think you can squeeze in a danger close strafing run...

[BliTTzZ]

I don't think that A-10 can fly lower than 10m.

[Knossos]

I don't think that A-10 can fly lower than 10m.

I didn't think that the A-10 could fly at 45m, but then I saw this.

[Rohan]

Wow a nice battle fan fic with a huge amount of action and suspense. And since you are giving this in small parts it really increases the hype. My rating is 8/10. Hope to see more ?