Raviar Posted December 26, 2021 Posted December 26, 2021 (edited) Two IQAF(Iraq Air Force) Mirage F1 EQ-5 from 81st Squadron departed from Saddam AB at 31st July 1986, The 1st equiped with two Magic, two AS30L and Patrick laser pod, the 2nd equiped with two Magics, two Super530Fs, Remora/Sycomor pods and 1,160L external fuel tank, due to the mountain topology it was a hard target, approached the bridge from northeast at 820 km/h at 4000m, dived to 2700m and locked the pod on the bridge deck at a distance of 8.7km at 1900m, at 6.4km from the target he fired the AS30L missile. Iraq previously attacked with Su-22 and been able to damaged it lightly. Edited December 30, 2021 by Raviar 6 2
Raviar Posted December 28, 2021 Author Posted December 28, 2021 (edited) OPERATION MOUNTAIN MAST: A NEW STRIKE ON THE BUSHEHR REACTOR The Iraqis had unintentionally attacked the Bushehr nuclear plant with an Exocet back in 1984, several planned strikes had followed between 1985 and 1986 in order to hamper repair works. However, by mid-1987, Iraqi intelligence had received information about the arrival of a West German team of experts from the Kraftwerk Union company with the intention of conducting a preliminary assessment to evaluate damage and determine what would be needed for rebuilding. In response, Saddam had quickly scheduled a meeting with the IQAF command where he ordered Lt. Gen. Hamid Shaaban to plan a massive operation to deliver a definitive blow to the reactor. The Iraqis faced a dilemma though: they did not have a suitable bomb to penetrate the two- meters-thick concrete wall of the reactor's dome. Negotiations carried out in France to obtain the 1,000-kg LGB Arcole had not been successful, as this bomb was still in the process of being tested and its use in Iraq was not feasible. The Iraqis had then contacted several other companies which produced high penetration ordnance and had found the Spanish EXPAL BR-1000 bunker- busting bomb to be a suitable option. This time, aiming at maximizing the damage inflicted on the plant, the Iraqi Mirages would carry out a three-wave attack conducted over a period of two days, scheduled as follows: First wave (17 November 1987, 09:00) A total of 20 Mirages from the 79th and 91st squadrons would take part in the first stage of the operation: A) Take-off Jalibah airport: 8 striking mirage F1.EQ-4s (+2 reserve). loadout: Two BR-1000 LD high penetration bombs (0,25-sec delay fuse), one 2,200L EFT, Remora ECM pod, Sycomor chaff & flare dispenser, two Magics and DEFA 30-mm cannon (250 rounds). -Ten Mirage F.1EQ-4 as tankers. Loadout: Two 1,160 L EFTs, Intertechnique refueling pod, two Magics, Remora ECM pod, Sycomor chaff & flare dispenser and DEFA 30-mm cannon (250 rounds). B) Take-off Artawi airport: Four escorting MiG-23MS. Second wave (17 November 1987, 16:00) -Two striking Mirage F.1EQ-5s (+1 reserve) from the 81st Squadron. Loadout: One AS.3OL missile, ‘Patrick' laser pod, two Sycomor chaff & flare dispensers (gondola version), one 1,160 L EFT, two Magics and DEFA 30-mm cannon (250 rounds). -Two escorting Mirage F.1EQ-4s from the 89th Squadron. Loadout: Two Magics, two Super 530Fs, two Remora ECM pods and one 1,160 L EFT. Third wave (19 November 1987, 07:00) - Four striking Mirage F.1EQ-4s (+1 reserve) from the 79th Squadron. Loadout: as in the first wave. As in the first wave. - Five Mirage F.1EQ-4s as tankers. Loadout: In order to rehearse the mission, Iraqi engineers built up a similar target west of Saddam AB where iraqi pilots usually ran training exercises. On 16 November, the final briefing took place in the base operations room using 1:500000 maps of the target area. Finally, at 09:00 on 17 November 1987, the first wave took off from Jalibah airport. Given the high number of Mirages taking part in the operation, the pilots followed a sequential departure where each attack Mirage took off followed by a tanker in order to minimize delay. After completing the departure process, the planes flew towards Bubiyan Island at an altitude of 20 m and 900 km/h, while two MiG-23MS diverted to Kharg at medium altitude to draw the attention of any possible CAPs controlled Bushehr radar. Thirty seconds before reaching the refueling point, the formation decelerated to 510 km/h and then the refueling process started, during which each the eight strike planes were fed 2,000 L by the tankers. During the refueling, however, No.8 suffered a malfunction and had to be substituted by Capt. N. N. The tankers then returned to Jalibah AB, along with No.8, and the formation continued to fly in total radio silence at 20 m and 960 km/h. Some minutes later, the eight Mirages, led by Maj K. S. M., reached the IP, where they split in two groups of four. They then turned towards the PUP, increased the speed to 1,000 km/h and opened weapon's switches. After reaching the PUP, the first four planes climbed to 1,700 m, one by one, at the same time that the Iranian AAA started to open fire. At this point, the first four planes employed the Sycomor pods, releasing chaff and flares at the same time they dropped the ordnance on Reactor- 2's dome in a 30-degrees' dive maneuver. The bombs started to fall, damaging the incomplete structure which burst into flames. After the last e Mirage (No.4), piloted by Capt. K. H., had released his 1,000-kg bombs, the formation leader ordered the other four Mirages to pull-up, using again the Sycomor to confuse the anti-aircraft. Following the same bombing procedure, this second group dropped their bombs on Reactor-1 at 11:45 and left the area completely unscathed. Then, the eight pilots headed for Basra at 960 km/h at an altitude of less than 30 m above sea level. Approaching Mina Al Bakr, the formation climbed to 3,000 m, rendezvoused with two MiG-23MS' and one MiG- 25PDS and finally landed at Jalibah airport. On the same day, at 16:00, the second wave took off from Al Shuaiba AB towards the Gulf. At front, two EQ-5s from the 81st Squadron flying at just k 20 m over the water. Just a few kilometers behind, two EQ-4s led by Capt. Khalaf Ahmed flying at 200 m while keeping an eye for any possible interception. Approaching Bushehr from the west at 970 km/h and 40 m of altitude, the EQ-5 piloted by Lt. M. N. locked the 'Patrick' at 13 km from the target and then climbed abruptly from 40 to 300 m to get a better view of the objective. The imposing concrete dome of Reactor-1 appeared on the VRT-150 scope encircled by giant cranes and buildings under construction. At a distance of 9.5 km, Lt. M. N. launched his AS30L and smoothly turned to the left to ensure an accurate hit. By the book. A few seconds after, exactly at 16:45, the missile pierced the dome like cheese and exploded inside. No.2, in turn, targeted Reactor-2 and then both jets returned safe to Al Shuaiba AB.70 Two days later, a third wave of four striking Mirage F.1EQ-4s (+1 reserve) would repeat the same strike early in the morning, being escorted by two MiG-23MLs and one MiG-25PDS, first during the refueling process, and then also on their way back to Jalibah airport. Some hours later, reconnaissance imagery from a MiG-25RB would ha show the devastating effects of the attacks Edited December 30, 2021 by Raviar 4 2
Volator Posted December 30, 2021 Posted December 30, 2021 Which sensor / pod and weapons do we see in the videos above? 1./JG71 "Richthofen" - Seven Eleven
Raviar Posted December 30, 2021 Author Posted December 30, 2021 1 hour ago, Pilot Ike said: Which sensor / pod and weapons do we see in the videos above? please read the description of the video OPERATION MOUNTAIN MAST: A NEW STRIKE ON THE BUSHEHR REACTOR The Iraqis had unintentionally attacked the Bushehr nuclear plant with an Exocet back in 1984, several planned strikes had followed between 1985 and 1986 in order to hamper repair works. However, by mid-1987, Iraqi intelligence had received information about the arrival of a West German team of experts from the Kraftwerk Union company with the intention of conducting a preliminary assessment to evaluate damage and determine what would be needed for rebuilding. In response, Saddam had quickly scheduled a meeting with the IQAF command where he ordered Lt. Gen. Hamid Shaaban to plan a massive operation to deliver a definitive blow to the reactor. The Iraqis faced a dilemma though: they did not have a suitable bomb to penetrate the two- meters-thick concrete wall of the reactor's dome. Negotiations carried out in France to obtain the 1,000-kg LGB Arcole had not been successful, as this bomb was still in the process of being tested and its use in Iraq was not feasible. The Iraqis had then contacted several other companies which produced high penetration ordnance and had found the Spanish EXPAL BR-1000 bunker- busting bomb to be a suitable option. This time, aiming at maximizing the damage inflicted on the plant, the Iraqi Mirages would carry out a three-wave attack conducted over a period of two days, scheduled as follows: First wave (17 November 1987, 09:00) A total of 20 Mirages from the 79th and 91st squadrons would take part in the first stage of the operation: A) Take-off Jalibah airport: 8 striking mirage F1.EQ-4s (+2 reserve). loadout: Two BR-1000 LD high penetration bombs (0,25-sec delay fuse), one 2,200L EFT, Remora ECM pod, Sycomor chaff & flare dispenser, two Magics and DEFA 30-mm cannon (250 rounds). -Ten Mirage F.1EQ-4 as tankers. Loadout: Two 1,160 L EFTs, Intertechnique refueling pod, two Magics, Remora ECM pod, Sycomor chaff & flare dispenser and DEFA 30-mm cannon (250 rounds). B) Take-off Artawi airport: Four escorting MiG-23MS. Second wave (17 November 1987, 16:00) -Two striking Mirage F.1EQ-5s (+1 reserve) from the 81st Squadron. Loadout: One AS.3OL missile, ‘Patrick' laser pod, two Sycomor chaff & flare dispensers (gondola version), one 1,160 L EFT, two Magics and DEFA 30-mm cannon (250 rounds). -Two escorting Mirage F.1EQ-4s from the 89th Squadron. Loadout: Two Magics, two Super 530Fs, two Remora ECM pods and one 1,160 L EFT. Third wave (19 November 1987, 07:00) - Four striking Mirage F.1EQ-4s (+1 reserve) from the 79th Squadron. Loadout: as in the first wave. As in the first wave. - Five Mirage F.1EQ-4s as tankers. Loadout: In order to rehearse the mission, Iraqi engineers built up a similar target west of Saddam AB where iraqi pilots usually ran training exercises. On 16 November, the final briefing took place in the base operations room using 1:500000 maps of the target area. Finally, at 09:00 on 17 November 1987, the first wave took off from Jalibah airport. Given the high number of Mirages taking part in the operation, the pilots followed a sequential departure where each attack Mirage took off followed by a tanker in order to minimize delay. After completing the departure process, the planes flew towards Bubiyan Island at an altitude of 20 m and 900 km/h, while two MiG-23MS diverted to Kharg at medium altitude to draw the attention of any possible CAPs controlled Bushehr radar. Thirty seconds before reaching the refueling point, the formation decelerated to 510 km/h and then the refueling process started, during which each the eight strike planes were fed 2,000 L by the tankers. During the refueling, however, No.8 suffered a malfunction and had to be substituted by Capt. N. N. The tankers then returned to Jalibah AB, along with No.8, and the formation continued to fly in total radio silence at 20 m and 960 km/h. Some minutes later, the eight Mirages, led by Maj K. S. M., reached the IP, where they split in two groups of four. They then turned towards the PUP, increased the speed to 1,000 km/h and opened weapon's switches. After reaching the PUP, the first four planes climbed to 1,700 m, one by one, at the same time that the Iranian AAA started to open fire. At this point, the first four planes employed the Sycomor pods, releasing chaff and flares at the same time they dropped the ordnance on Reactor- 2's dome in a 30-degrees' dive maneuver. The bombs started to fall, damaging the incomplete structure which burst into flames. After the last e Mirage (No.4), piloted by Capt. K. H., had released his 1,000-kg bombs, the formation leader ordered the other four Mirages to pull-up, using again the Sycomor to confuse the anti-aircraft. Following the same bombing procedure, this second group dropped their bombs on Reactor-1 at 11:45 and left the area completely unscathed. Then, the eight pilots headed for Basra at 960 km/h at an altitude of less than 30 m above sea level. Approaching Mina Al Bakr, the formation climbed to 3,000 m, rendezvoused with two MiG-23MS' and one MiG- 25PDS and finally landed at Jalibah airport. On the same day, at 16:00, the second wave took off from Al Shuaiba AB towards the Gulf. At front, two EQ-5s from the 81st Squadron flying at just k 20 m over the water. Just a few kilometers behind, two EQ-4s led by Capt. Khalaf Ahmed flying at 200 m while keeping an eye for any possible interception. Approaching Bushehr from the west at 970 km/h and 40 m of altitude, the EQ-5 piloted by Lt. M. N. locked the 'Patrick' at 13 km from the target and then climbed abruptly from 40 to 300 m to get a better view of the objective. The imposing concrete dome of Reactor-1 appeared on the VRT-150 scope encircled by giant cranes and buildings under construction. At a distance of 9.5 km, Lt. M. N. launched his AS30L and smoothly turned to the left to ensure an accurate hit. By the book. A few seconds after, exactly at 16:45, the missile pierced the dome like cheese and exploded inside. No.2, in turn, targeted Reactor-2 and then both jets returned safe to Al Shuaiba AB.70 Two days later, a third wave of four striking Mirage F.1EQ-4s (+1 reserve) would repeat the same strike early in the morning, being escorted by two MiG-23MLs and one MiG-25PDS, first during the refueling process, and then also on their way back to Jalibah airport. Some hours later, reconnaissance imagery from a MiG-25RB would ha show the devastating effects of the attacks 3
FlankerKiller Posted January 3, 2022 Posted January 3, 2022 This pod footage is amazing. I didn't realize that optical technology was that advanced in the 80's. Or that Iraqi had it. I'm really really looking forward to this module. Are we getting a TGP. 3
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