为什么A-10“疣猪”攻击机是完全无敌的：英语精读讲义

November 1983,

1983年11月，

Soviet T-74s roll across the Fulda Gap into West Germany. 文化背景

苏联的T-74坦克穿过富尔达缺口，开进西德。

The West German army is retreating and nothing seems to be able to stop the full might of Warsaw Pact's tank brigades. 文化背景

西德军队节节败退，似乎没有什么能挡住华沙条约组织坦克旅的全部威力。

Suddenly, the sky is filled with the roar of jet engines

突然，喷气发动机的轰鸣声响彻天空

and the buzz of a 30-mm Gatling gun

还夹杂着30毫米加特林机炮的嗡鸣声，

as the A-10 Warthog lays waste to the almost unstoppable T-74s. 習語

A-10“疣猪”攻击机将几乎不可阻挡的T-74坦克摧毁殆尽。

What if there was a virtually invincible plane 語法

假如有一种几乎所向无敌的飞机，

that also could decimate tanks, armored vehicles, and troops in a single flyby?

还能在一次低空掠过中重创坦克、装甲车辆和部队，会怎样？

What if pigs could fly? 習語

假如猪也会飞呢？

Well, there is a pig that flies.

其实，真有一头会飞的“猪”。

Technically, it's known as a Warthog,

严格来说，它叫“疣猪”，

and it's one of the most powerful planes in the United States military arsenal.

是美国军用武器库中威力最强的飞机之一。

Officially called the A-10 Thunderbolt, 表達脈絡

它的正式名称是A-10“雷电”攻击机，

the A-10 Thunderbolt is also known as the Tank Buster,

A-10“雷电”又有“坦克杀手”之称，

an almost invincible plane designed to destroy ground targets with exceptional precision.

是专为极其精准地摧毁地面目标而设计、几乎坚不可摧的飞机。

The A-10 Thunderbolt is considered a flying gun 習語

A-10“雷电”被视为一门会飞的炮，

and is one of those planes that

它属于这样一种飞机：

when you need it, you want it,

需要时，你会想要它；

and when you don't need it,

不需要时，

you still wish you had it. 語法

你仍会希望手里有它。

The plane most feared by tankers around the world has been in operation for decades 語法

这款让全球坦克兵最为畏惧的飞机已经服役了数十年，

and is the most survivable versatile aircraft to take to the sky. 習語

是翱翔天际的飞机中生存能力最强、用途最广的一款。

Popular with pilots because of its power and ability to defeat the enemy

飞行员很喜欢它，因为它威力强大，能击败敌人，

through massive destruction and direct fire air-to-ground bombardment.

靠的是大规模摧毁和直接火力的空对地轰炸。

First introduced in 1977 to the United States Air Force,

1977年，它首次列装美国空军，

the A-10 Thunderbolt was put into the role of close air support, or CAS. 文化背景

A-10“雷电”被赋予近距空中支援，也就是CAS任务。

It's been instrumental in several American conflicts including Grenada, the Balkans, 短語搭配

它在美国参与的多场冲突中发挥了关键作用，包括格林纳达和巴尔干地区，

Afghanistan, Iraq, and the fight against the Islamic State

阿富汗、伊拉克，以及打击“伊斯兰国”的战斗，

in the Middle East during the War on Terror. 文化背景

这些行动发生在反恐战争期间的中东地区。

The mission of the A-10 is to decimate tanks, armored vehicles,

A-10的任务是重创坦克、装甲车辆，

and installations in support of enemy ops.

以及为敌方行动提供支持的设施。

It's suitable for makeshift environments with short or even improvised landing strips 用詞

它适合在简陋环境中起降，能使用短小甚至临时搭建的跑道，

due to its short landing capability and oversized rugged wheels and reinforced landing gear assembly.

这得益于它的短距着陆能力、超大号坚固机轮和加强型起落架组件。

This makes it the premier choice for frontline combat,

这让它成为前线作战的首选，

though it still boasts a range of 800 mi. 用詞

同时它仍拥有800英里的航程。

The maneuverability of the plane allows it to fly low and slow, 短語搭配

这款飞机机动性出色，可以低空慢速飞行，

being able to effectively target enemies of all shapes and sizes and decimate them.

从而有效锁定各种类型和大小的敌方目标并将其摧毁。

Flown by one pilot, the plane is basically an armored tank that flies.

这架飞机只需一名飞行员驾驶，基本就是一辆会飞的装甲坦克。

While powerful, the A-10 Thunderbolt is painfully slow, 短語搭配

A-10“雷电”虽然威力强大，却慢得让人着急，

typically cruising at around 365 kn or about 420 mph in relation to typical commercial passenger jet,

其典型巡航速度约为365节，也就是约每小时420英里；相比之下，普通民航客机

flies at a speed of about 400 to 500 kn or 460 to 575 mph.

的飞行速度约为400至500节，也就是每小时460至575英里。

However, it usually flies most missions at around 300 kn or less,

不过，它执行大多数任务时，通常以约300节或更低的速度飞行，

or around 345 mph or less.

也就是每小时约345英里或更低。

Since the plane is not intended to compete with fighter jets like the F-35, 短語搭配

由于这款飞机并不是为了和F-35之类的战斗机一较高下，

speed is not its main purpose.

速度并非它的主要追求。

The A-10 is a simple airplane made to be flown despite serious damage. 語法

A-10结构简单，即使严重受损也能继续飞行。

A key feature to increase survivability is the fact that its landing gear is only partly retractable.

为提高生存能力，它的一项关键设计是起落架只能部分收起。

Half of each main wheel protrudes from its fairing in flight,

飞行时，每个主轮都有一半露在整流罩外，

a feature instituted because it allows the wings to remain free of wheel wells, 語法

采用这种设计，是为了让机翼无需设置轮舱，

making construction simple, straightforward, and strong.

从而使结构简单直接而又坚固。

It also allows the aircraft to be landed in case of landing gear failure. 短語搭配

即使起落架发生故障，这也能让飞机安全着陆。

The cockpit is also known as the titanium tub 文化背景

驾驶舱也被称为“钛合金浴缸”，

and is made with 3.8 cm thick titanium armor plating that surrounds it,

四周包覆着3.8厘米厚的钛合金装甲板，

which is not forged but instead several plates of titanium bolted together.

它并非一体锻造，而是由多块钛板用螺栓连接而成。

The A-10 also has a huge bulletproof bubble canopy,

A-10还有一个巨大的防弹气泡式座舱盖，

which gives the pilot an all-around good vision and makes it easy for them to target. 語法

能为飞行员提供良好的全向视野，便于瞄准目标。

This makes the A-10 a powerful flying armored machine.

这让A-10成为一台威力强大的空中装甲机器。

In addition, the A-10's cockpit is equipped with a heads-up display targeting system, 講解

此外，A-10的驾驶舱配有平视显示瞄准系统、

radio communication, and tactical air navigation system.

无线电通信设备和战术空中导航系统。

It also carries 11 pylons for external loads including extra fuel, rockets,

它还有11个外挂点，可挂载额外燃油、火箭弹，

and everything it needs to get tank in the sky.

以及变身“空中坦克”所需的一切装备。

However, the 30-mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon has become the A-10's best known weapon.

不过，30毫米GAU-8“复仇者”转管机炮才是A-10最知名的武器。

The 30-mm GAU-8 is a hydraulically driven seven-barrel rotary cannon

30毫米GAU-8是一门液压驱动的七管转管机炮，

invented to beat tanks and other armored vehicles.

专为击败坦克和其他装甲车辆而发明。

The Thunderbolt's 30-mm gun is one of the most powerful aircraft cannons ever made

“雷电”的30毫米机炮是史上威力最强的航空机炮之一，

and fires large armor-piercing shells.

能发射大型穿甲弹。

The armor-piercing rounds contain depleted uranium cores, 文化背景

这些穿甲弹内含贫铀弹芯，

which are extremely dense and thus have enormous impact power.

其密度极高，因此撞击威力巨大。

The rounds are also self-sharpening,

弹药还具有自锐性，

meaning the projectile doesn't flatten as it pierces armor 語法

也就是说，弹丸穿透装甲时不会被压扁，

but fractures and remains relatively pointed,

而是会碎裂并保持相对尖锐的形状，

causing maximum damage upon impact.

从而在撞击时造成最大程度的破坏。

The A-10's 30-mm gun is fired in bursts of roughly 60 to 65 rounds per second 短語搭配

A-10的30毫米机炮以每秒约60至65发的射速进行点射，

that obliterates anything it hits.

足以彻底摧毁任何被它击中的东西。

A popular myth is that the firing of the gun results in recoil so severe 表達脈絡

有一种广为流传的说法称，这门炮开火时后坐力极强，

that it's impossible to stall the airplane.

强到飞机根本不可能失速。

It is true that the gun's recoil is indeed strong enough

这门炮的后坐力确实大得惊人，

that had the GAU-8 been installed off-center, 語法

如果GAU-8没有安装在机身正中，

the resulting yaw would cause the firing pattern of the gun to become erratic rather than precise.

由此产生的偏航会使炮弹散布变得飘忽不定，而非精准集中。

For this reason, the GAU-8 rotating barrel cannon is mounted exactly on the A-10 centerline, 表達脈絡

因此，GAU-8转管机炮被精确安装在A-10的中轴线上，

resulting in the plane's unique stance

也造就了这架飞机独特的布局：

with its nose gear strut mounted to ensure it clears the barrel.

它的前起落架支柱偏置安装，以确保避开炮管。

A-10 enthusiasts argue that the Warthog is cheap to fly,

A-10爱好者认为，“疣猪”飞行成本低，

is extremely survivable, and can put steel on target reliably. 習語

生存能力极强，还能可靠地把火力送到目标上。

An A-10 can put ordnance as close as 20 ft away from ground troops without putting them in danger. 語法

A-10能让弹药落在距离地面部队仅20英尺的位置，而不危及他们。

The plane has electronic guidance and laser support.

这款飞机拥有电子制导和激光辅助系统。

Its armament includes surface-to-air missiles as well as warheads of different kinds

它的武器包括地对空导弹以及各种弹头，

including Sidewinder missiles to take out enemy choppers. 講解

其中还有可击落敌方直升机的“响尾蛇”导弹。

Enemy fighters that get past an A-10's enemy counter-air escorts or leakers 短語動詞

突破A-10制空护航机拦截、侥幸漏网的敌方战斗机，

may be surprised to find that the A-10 may not be easy prey after all in a dogfight. 講解

可能会惊讶地发现，A-10在空战中并不是任人宰割的猎物。

The big plane has a much tighter turning radius than most fighters,

这架大飞机的转弯半径比大多数战斗机小得多，

allowing it to outrun an enemy and bring its nose toward target faster.

因而能甩开敌机，更快地让机头对准目标。

At this point, it's all clear to fire away with Sidewinders.

到这时，就可以放心发射“响尾蛇”了。

Even its 30-mm cannon has a much greater range than most fighters' 20-mm cannons.

就连它的30毫米机炮，射程也远超大多数战斗机的20毫米机炮。

What makes the A-10 Thunderbolt powerful? 表達脈絡

是什么让A-10“雷电”如此强大？

It's the non-afterburning turbofan engines supplied by General Electric 用詞

答案是通用电气提供的非加力式涡扇发动机，

that provide over 9,000 lb of thrust.

能产生超过9000磅的推力。

The location of these engines on the plane allows it to fly

这些发动机在机身上的安装位置让它即使在

even if one engine has been completely destroyed or is not operating. 語法

一台发动机被彻底摧毁或停止运转时也能继续飞行。

The positioning also helps protect the engines from sucking up dust and debris 短語動詞

这样的布局还能防止发动机吸入灰尘和碎屑，

when flying off improvised airfields.

尤其是在临时机场起飞时。

The A-10 Thunderbolt also has some of the best visibility to aid with both precision-guided and unguided munitions

在使用精确制导和非制导弹药时，A-10“雷电”所具备的视野

than any other plane in the United States military.

也优于美国军方几乎任何其他飞机。

It can do way more than any plane 用詞

它能做到远超其他飞机的事情，

and it only needs one pilot to fly.

而且只需一名飞行员就能驾驶。

In addition, the A-10 Thunderbolt has redundant primary structural sections,

此外，A-10“雷电”的主要结构区段采用了冗余设计，

which makes it much more survivable than any other aircraft in any military's arsenal.

因而生存能力远胜任何军队武器库中的其他飞机。

That means that if it takes direct hits from armor-piercing and high-explosive projectiles, 講解

这意味着，即使它被穿甲弹和高爆弹直接命中，

it'll still be able to fly.

依然能够继续飞行。

The Tank Buster features redundant control systems on opposite sides of the plane

“坦克杀手”在机身两侧分别设有冗余操纵系统，

and self-healing fuel tanks that can automatically plug punctures. 用詞

还配备能自动封堵破口的自密封油箱。

It's basically a tank that flies,

它说到底就是一辆会飞的坦克，

and who wouldn't want that in the air? 語氣意圖

谁不想让这种东西飞在天上呢？

Well, the enemy.

当然，敌人不想。

The Warthog is a mission-capable machine that has changed modern warfare, 語法

“疣猪”是一台能胜任任务的战争机器，它改变了现代战争，

saved countless lives, and become feared by the enemies of the US.

挽救了无数生命，也成为美国敌人闻之色变的存在。

The A-10 can achieve air superiority, bomb anything,

A-10能夺取制空权、轰炸任何目标，

and provide close air support for ground troops,

还能为地面部队提供近距空中支援，

making it a multi-mission aircraft that's almost totally invincible. 語法

是多任务飞机中几乎无敌的存在。

So now you know pigs can fly, and that pig is the A-10 Warthog. 表達脈絡

所以现在你知道猪真的会飞了，而这头“猪”就是A-10“疣猪”。

Now go check out why the F-22 Raptor still reigns supreme,

接下来去看看F-22“猛禽”为何至今仍稳居王者宝座，

or click this other video instead.

或者点开另一段视频吧。