Battle of Blood biggest fight in the sky Vietnam
May 12-1972, air defense missile forces Vietnam has come for the bombers to the air force of the U.S. strategic heavy losses.VKO posted the article, has been writing and evaluation from the mid-1970s, including the team's generals and senior officers of the air defense forces and the Soviet Air Force under the leadership of the upper Minister Anatoly Hyupenen with statistics about the combat activities of air defense forces and air force Vietnam in May 12-1972.
Anti-Air and Air Force Vietnam
In the staffing of the units of the air defense forces - Vietnam's Air Force armament, war means derived primarily from the Soviet Union and China. In particular, forces air defense missile groups equipped with SA-75M missiles, the MiG fighters 17, MiG 21, MiG 19 Soviet and Chinese origin, the radar team consists of the radar station P-10, P-12, P-15, P-30, P-35, PRV-11, China's radar type 406, 513, 514, 843 and P-35 radars of Hungary. The unit is equipped with anti-aircraft guns 37, 57, 85 and 100 production from the Soviet Union and China.
During the spring and summer of 1972, Anti -Air - Vietnam Air Force has attempted to fight the powerful strikes of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy Air Force. When these forces from the month 2-1972 conducted raids targeted all vital importance of North Vietnam. During this period, Vietnam's air force has been actively and effectively conducting dogfights to prevent and destroy enemy aircraft. The Air Force has conducted 200 dogfight and shot down 80 American aircraft. An extremely important position in the room is not the force caliber flak, flak destroyed 150 enemy aircraft, but the most important position in the defense forces is not the unit antiaircraft missiles. By early January 12-1972, missiles destroyed nearly 350 enemy aircraft, which means almost 60% of enemy aircraft shot down over northern sky before May 12-1972.
American pilots shot down over Vietnam sky.
In a fierce battle with the U.S. Air Force in this period, the Air Force Vietnam also have significant losses: Vietnam Air Force lost 50 aircraft and 15 pilots sacrificed. The battlefield missile, which was attacked several times by bombs and Shrike anti-radar missiles, at nearly 50% of the combined weight malfunctioning rocket, no fighting ability. Enemy has destroyed nearly 200 SA-75M missiles on the battlefield and in the technical area. The radar transceivers unit was attacked with rocket Shrike to 137 times and attacked dozens of times by bombs, damage or damaged more than 10 radar-guided missile types.
Along with the loss of facilities and capabilities of combat units and unit level combat readiness of missile units and Air Force fighter diminished.
Previous Linebacker II battle, to protect the capital, Hanoi sky made by non-Division 1 mixture of 3 and 5 missile regiment artillery regiment. Complex air defense forces are divided into 9 battalions and 15 missile air defense guns. Mixed Division air defense protection cluster Hanoi is the most powerful air defense troops of all arms unit composed of non-military service. Centralized air defense forces and defense blocking two main direction is to the northwest and west of the city, the main direction will likely attack the enemy with great intensity.
In general terms antiaircraft defense troops Hanoi main task is to protect the target against any attack from all different directions. To strengthen defense Hanoi, Airforce - Air Force tried to establish the new missile regiments, equipped with low-range missiles S-125. But at the start of the campaign, these units could not deploy and could not participate. Thus the loss of the U.S. Air Force so also allayed somewhat. The port city of Hai Phong is protected by air defense divisions including light 2 missile regiment and a regiment of anti-aircraft artillery. A total of 7 battalions of combat-ready missile and air defense guns 5. Air defense forces focus mainly on the direction of South, Southeast and East.
Military Zone 4 focuses a large air defense forces, including 2 air defense divisions on the payroll of the two divisions have 4 rooms with 16 regiments missile battalion (8 battalions fought their inability to do failure status after the battle of weapons, technology), 8 anti-aircraft artillery regiments (48 guns of caliber). Complex air defense forces to protect shipping routes from North to South, the underground lines, warehouses, ammunition, military vehicle and infrastructure, logistics engineering, concentrated in the provinces of Thanh Hoa , Nghe An and Quang Binh.
Waiting for the enemy arrayed
All Air Force Regiment fighter with the task of protecting the important objectives in the area of Hanoi and Haiphong, the unit selected to conduct the fighter pilots with combat experience and high number of combat flight hours. Group fighter pilots are trained to combat readiness goals with B-52 aircraft (drone warfare with the IL-18), taking off from the airfield runway Short rocket up speed, landing on the empty beach is equipped similar to the airport .....
The unit focuses radars warfare training, exercises done to ensure navigational combat, target designation, and instructions for exporting missile missile, and air force units in the flak dense noise conditions (coverage to 94%) thanks to the combination of radio links of the radars on the wing of different teams.
The communication unit: standardized and detailed diagrams synchronized communication system dual (wireless - wireline) which is the dominant radio. Perform seamless two-way communication between the radar and the division on the battlefield rockets.
In all the sub-teams unit conducted operations of cells, all weapons maintenance equipment periodically, additional replacement parts, detailed provision, infrastructure ensures War match on the ceiling. In the battle units of the missile battalion to ensure adequate number of rounds (6 rounds missile launchers, 6 ammunition loaded missiles on the car).
On the battlefield missiles and anti-aircraft guns, the unit was reinforced shelter for troops, reinforced thickness of a car radio with hand applied as bamboo, wood, land cover sand .... in order to reduce penetrating ability of cluster bombs, shrapnel and Shrike missiles. In the Air Force has aircraft deployed to disperse the airfield or in the dugout, a solid position from 15-20 km (with seat up to 120 km) from the airport grounds.
Although the Non-commander - Air Force took advantage of the time to prepare forces are not willing to pay round training intensity and destructive power of the largest U.S. Air Force, but also can not out of all the preparatory work for the entire force in the management and the ability to achieve 100% combat readiness of the units under. According to the statistics show that 18-12 days, 66% of missile battalion is in a state of combat readiness, and 38% fighter force. The number of experienced pilots and night flying capability is 18, with 13 MiG-21 and MiG 17's with 5 people.
Fundamental basis of combat operations interception and broke the aerial attack of the U.S. Air Force is done by the command of the Joint Chiefs Vietnam People's Army: Missile Forces responsible top priority is to destroy strategic bombers B-52, anti-aircraft artillery force - destroying the aircraft and tactical air forces - navy, air force fighter - a top target Strategic bombers 'Flying Fortress' B-52, the Air Force tactical aircraft and naval forces are assumed by the air force patrols.
On 17-12, a day before major air attack in history from the U.S. Air Force after World War II began, the Joint Chiefs Vietnam People's Army have grasped the plan of military air strike U.S. team. Air defense forces - Air Force was put into a state of high combat readiness. After the implementation of the unit content for the combat readiness, unit commander of the missile - flak was concentrated at the Command Center, operating combat, defense forces chief commander no - Direct Air informed the enemy situation, identify and resolve combat tasks assigned to the army. Protection Division Hanoi rooms are assigned using only rockets fired B-52, the other divisional air defense missile command used to shoot all the targets of enemy aircraft, the detection convenient target to destroy ammunition room, with particular emphasis on the B-52 shot, in addition, based on the enemy situation - before our eyes, the unit was ordered to fire missiles savings.
The unit and the flak division, located in the payroll division air defense protection Hanoi, was tasked to destroy the dive planes attacked targets, low flying aircraft, especially the bombers, F-111, while protecting the SAM sites and airfields fighters.
Chief Commander of the Air Force fighter the task force using permanent combat readiness and military forces are mainly tasked to destroy bombers B-52.
Try fire
At the end of 18-12 days, the Ministry of Non-commander - Air Force known carrier "Saratoga" move west of the Gulf of Tonkin. At 1830 units range reconnaissance radar stationed on the border of Vietnam - Laos detect an F-111A on the top range is 250 km, height is 9.000m, flying towards the border with Vietnam. After 15-18 minutes to detect the F-4 squadron on the payroll of air force one high intensity waves.
By 19h50 the same day, the entire battlefield air defense missiles - deployed artillery, promoting firepower interception massive raids with very high intensity of the U.S. Air Force. Fight the attacks of enemy air raids, the air defense units of 35 night launched SA-75M range missiles, hundreds of rounds caliber anti-aircraft guns, two MiG aircraft sorties, resulting 7 downed aircraft, including 52 B-3 aircraft and an F-111A aircraft. The team launched 69 rockets bullets.
Guards air defense missile - Air Force linebacker Vietnam War II before the payroll 36 missile battalions, equipped mainly missile complexes SA-75M "Dvina" rocket combustion chamber V-3 750M (11D) radar reconnaissance and navigation, target designation R-12, 9 battalions of missile technology. Payroll organized into 9 air defense missile regiment, the regiment was given a 4-room divisions.
Main force units as missile defense Hanoi, the battlefields are located in areas such as Noi Bai airport, Gia Lam, Kep, area train stations and the Yen Vien Dong Anh , Port and the area ngiep Hai Phong city, and are arranged in the line, underground crossing, the road transport artery, the regional concentration of military forces in the four provinces. Thanh Hoa and Nghe An. The air defense missile units focusing firepower into three main clusters: Cluster Hanoi antiaircraft fire, antiaircraft fire clusters and cluster Haiphong Army antiaircraft fire zone 4. The missile battalion in the cluster missile firepower dominate the battlefield missiles, at a distance from the target to protect from 7 km to 15 km. The battlefield missile air defense apart in terms of Hanoi is 8-18 km, Hai Phong 7-12 km and 6-20 km per zone 4 is.
The combat-ready units to date 18-12 of 36 battalions, 24 battalions missiles, accounting for 66.6% of the total. In particular, the rate of combat-ready units in Hanoi and Hai Phong are 75% and 86%, the percentage of combat-ready units in the military zone 4 is much lower, 50%.
During the air campaign, in areas of active combat powerful (mostly War phrases antiaircraft Hanoi and Haiphong) air force up to 1,800 combat aircraft of all kinds, including 390 B-52 aircraft, 1200 cool fighter and tactical level naval air force, nearly 70 aircraft bombing F-111A, 150 reconnaissance aircraft SR-71, 147J, and RF-4C RA-5C.
During the period of the missile strikes have hit pay 25 strikes with massively high intensity, 181 views launcher conducted, the results obtained are shot down 54 aircraft, including 34 aircraft B -52, 13 F4, 10 A-6 and A-7. Objective B-52 aircraft conducted 135 views Launcher (74% of total visits and rocket launchers), the missile is launched 244 shells. The coefficient of efficiency in target shooting B-52 average is 0.23 for both campaigns. Consumption on average rocket 1 B-52 aircraft missiles to shoot 7.9.
Note: The numbers on the number of missiles fired B-52 aircraft, the bottom is the number of missiles fired tactical aircraft.
According target tactical aircraft and naval aircraft conducted 46 visits launcher (accounting for 26% of total arrivals release) all 77 rounds fired missiles, destroying 23 aircraft. The coefficient of performance of 0.5 shot, in which every one need be destroyed aircraft missiles 3.3.
In all the battles, conducted by air defense missile forces, the battle featured two most typical, it's the battle of the air defense divisions 19-12 days from 4h40 to 5h46 and division Ha Noi, rooms 26-12 (22h15 to 23h24).
Massive air strikes
Strikes massively intense participation of 66 aircraft, 24 B-52 aircraft. The objective is to Bach Mai airport and 3 area, located in the north-west and west of the city, the center from 10 to 12 km. Raids from the west has deployed Вac Hanoi on a wide corridor 20-25 km. Density ambush the fleet of all the U.S. is 0.6 air / min.
This battle with the participation of 9 air defense missile battalions of divisional air defense protection Hanoi. The mission was moved to combat battalions under the radar information from the scouts, indicator parameters, target enemy aircraft were transferred to the system of long-range and azimuth (azimuth - range ) placement headquarters coordinates air defense regiment. Calculate the element firing was conducted at the battalion battlefield rockets. To determine the coordinates and motion parameters of targets in dense noise conditions, at regimental headquarters were identified as 3-point method, which was used as the parameters of the 2-3 battle missile battalion, azimuth calculations are carried out in a time span of 10 seconds. The large number of missile battalion, had provided information to more complex activities and objectives soldiers graphic map, which in turn increases the error in determining the coordinates and parameters transferred of goals.
To determine the exact target and the relevant parameters, the base commander air defense missile regiments were added using information received from the divisional headquarters room, the information received from radio long-range surveillance radar, reports from the battlefield missiles from reports by optical observation.
After determining the type of target coordinates and parameters of the movement speed of the target, the regiment headquarters identified and communicated combat missions for the battalion, indicates the number of missiles will reporter, in some special cases of directed distance (long-range goals) when rocket.
In this battle, the division launched missiles shot 19 times, firing 35 missiles, but only destroy a B-52 aircraft. By the time the air strikes started with great intensity of the U.S. Air Force, and the soldiers monitoring the target map of the division, regiment and battalion level have not yet been fully experience conducting combat operations against an air force strategic level with high intensity in terms of the complex situation in the air and dense noise.
The soldiers monitoring the radar does not act confident and precise, the occurrence of unnecessary shortcomings when conducting objective pursued. No maturity when using active mode transceiver and passive radar guidance and missile target designation.
Nearly 70% of rocket launches were conducted on the range from 32 to 40 km, the target tracking capability in terms of clusters are dense jamming hard. Thereby leading to potentially lead bullets are not accurate.
When assigned to the division, regimental headquarters was not the best conditions, situations when the number of rounds fired and the reserve division on the battlefield rockets. Most of the battalion ammunition reserves between 7-8 missiles, which were limited by the number of bullets and ammunition reporters in each release. From 19 times zoom shot 3 times with only 1 missile launch, the remaining 2 missiles. Number of missiles in each launcher is limited by the regiment level indicator, thus hinder the autonomy of the commanding officer missile, thereby reducing the effective shot. The first stage, under the command of divisions, each assigned to a missile target, but when the regiment had fired 60% of the reserves of ammunition, decided to shoot two missiles in each launcher . Simultaneously with the discovery of the malpractice and determine target type, the result is 5 times launcher radiation outside the restricted area on the target's size tactical aircraft, being mistaken for a fleet of B- 52.
Tasting blow
Effective air defense operations is higher than the battles he fought back intense sessions size of the unit divisional air defense missile Hanoi on 26-12 night time from 22h15 to 23h24. during this episode is not aimed at targets within the protected area of air defense divisions Hanoi, strength training involved aerial phase, 80 aircraft, including 36 B-52 aircraft. The goal is attack Gia Lam airport, train station East England, Yen Vien station located in the western suburbs of Hanoi and the Hanoi region in 8-10km south of Ha Noi. Air raid by B-52 strategic conducted in 3 directions: From the northwest by 10 km wide corridor from the west by 15 km wide corridor and from the southeast corridor of 10 km . Time bomb is 24 minutes, power density set to 1.5 aircraft / min.
Before the start of the episode did not, 2 air defense battalion of Hai Phong clusters (missile battalion 71 and 72) are moving into the area of Hanoi and defense personnel in combat squad. Thus the structure of staffing divisions Hanoi room rises to 13 missile combat battalions. Calculating the actual reserves of ammunition and ammunition already on track, Hanoi air defense forces capable of killing 6 strategic aircraft B-52, and if you count the ability to reload with the ability to kill 8 aircraft.
Indeed, in this battle, the unit has missile launcher 24 times, firing 45 missiles kill 6 and B-52 aircraft. Thus, the ability to destroy targets firepower of the division is to realize up to 75%. The coefficient of efficiency was 0.25 launcher, the average level of consumption for a B-52 aircraft was reduced to 7.5. The results achieved through the coordination chemistry, rhythmic synergistic effect of all levels and monitoring the combat experience is enhanced through the night but fought constantly. .
Distribution of battlefield missile air defense forces Hanoi on 18/12/1972.
The survey on vehicles operating regimental combat and monitoring on vehicles missile control actions in this battle really confident and resolute achieve high accuracy when selecting targets open fire, very good use of the technical features of the radar controller to detect targets based on dense background noise, capable of maturing choose the playback mode of the active and passive missile control stations. Reporters on the long-range target ammunition optimal. Of the 45 rockets were launched 36 rockets have been launched at the target range is 25-35 km. In discharges bullets, leading to destroy targets, expel a projectile a distance of 28 km to 32 km.
But in this battle also revealed several shortcomings. Two squadrons of B-52s had been wrongly identified as F-4 squadrons and attacked by missiles. Some units launched missiles once one bullet, although in terms of complex combat situations and the reserve ammunition may proceed as low as 3 launches. Principle free bullets still kill targets are violated. For example: From 24 times zoom bullet had only four launches a rocket, which is 2 times the target launcher chase. Only a 3 missile launch, the remaining 2 missiles per launch.
One of the features of the combat activities of air defense missile units in the battle to pay the massive air strikes by intense air forces carried out the U.S. strategy is to concentrate firepower of many SAM sites for a large target (target groups). Missile firepower focus of a battle group missile has achieved very high performance fighter. In room 23 times to 13 bullets were shot down B-52 aircraft, 98 missiles consumption. Performance in the launcher reaches 0.56 times, 2.5 times higher than the general performance of the launcher all the time radioactive targets click strategic aircraft, missiles consumption levels decreased more level than the average consumption by missiles fired normal conditions. The ability to expel a projectile from 3 units to focus fire (SAM sites) is not primarily the result of the operational quality of the low SAM sites.
The SAM sites attacked several times by conventional bombs, cluster munitions and Shrike anti-radar missiles. In only 9 times that hit enemy targets (8 times the SAM sites being hit by bombs and cluster bombs - 1 times with Shrike missiles). There are 6 missile battalion lost combat power temporarily, with 3 antennas staging PA-11 and PA-12, PA control a vehicle, generator DES 5 -75, 9 missile launchers, 15 missiles, a trailer ATS-59, with 3 battalions broke down control cables.
Battle of missile battalion lost by 73 Shrike missile defense by monitoring team was a big mistake, do not comply with the regime of navigation radar and target designation, has continuously monitoring the 80s in positive mode detection target (with a huge generation capacity) so the Shrike missile had struck radar. The attacks by other Shrike anti-radar missiles, the crew monitored by the strict adherence to the regime, it is the most explosive rocket battle to expel a projectile from 2-3 km.
One of the conditions to ensure the safety of the Sustainability missile units, the radio station before the attack of the Shrike anti-radar missiles in compliance playback mode active high capacity. The fighting turned the monitor pulse radar mode limited only 15-20 seconds. When the missile attack, the operating mode of the short active radar missiles will make Shrike lost the ability to lead, will self-destruct. To enhance the ability to detect anti-radar missile lock on the oscilloscope screen and hold objectives, monitoring the use of passive scanning mode mixed development initiative, the lead target ammo to use playback mode active rapid simultaneous detection Shrike missile target. It can not be excluded situations, interference with opponents using density shielding for B-52 aircraft, the maximum mode noise this made it difficult for tactical aircraft for the detection of primary and attack missile control stations and SAM sites.
'Dien Bien Phu in the air'
In combat operations fought back with massive airstrikes intense U.S. Strategic Air Force, major tasks and placed most heavily on the shoulders of the army unit air defense missile. There's remark that. Each night, the rocket unit to perform 10-12 rounds or more discharges. During the 12 days of war nights Linebacker II, the missile had destroyed 54 enemy aircraft, accounting for 66% of the total number of aircraft destroyed, including 34 bombers, B-52. Operational effectiveness to achieve the highest 26-12 days, 36 hours after Christmas, Americans continued massive bombing campaign, 63 B-52 aircraft and airstrike 3 Hanoi, Hai Phong and Thai Nguyen. Force air defense missile launcher was shot down 27 times and 7 B-52 aircraft and two F-4 aircraft.
Fighter aircraft of the Air Force Vietnam has carried out 31 sorties turn, hitting 8 dogfights, shot down seven enemy planes (9% of the total number of aircraft downed during the campaign), which has 2 B-52 aircraft. The dogfights typically encountered by military forces of the enemy fighters, Strike 2 MiG 21 sorties. Downed B-52, the Air Force has made single click. The air force fighters like MiG 17, MiG 19 noncombatants.
An enormous significance in the defense campaign against air attack massively intense the United States, paying particular type of attack tactical ground-attack aircraft and fighter - bomber customs military, all of the fighter F-111A bomber force is the caliber anti-aircraft artillery and air defense forces in the city militia. This forces have shot down 20 aircraft (25% of the downed aircraft) including 5 F-111A aircraft.
But also the fact that, between the main air defense forces of division Hanoi room with militia forces, the synergistic and coordinated fight very weak. Force units are very large militia, (including the elderly and women), equipped with rifles and machine guns, air defense guns and 12.7mm caliber automatic machine gun 14.5 mm. When the enemy began to air, (from the time the alarm room) until the message alone (retreating enemy aircraft), these units almost nobody management and operations of war, any aircraft appear in the field of view of the commander are considered U.S. aircraft and immediately opened fire.
Generally, though no U.S. troops captured the sky master position, and the war of the kind of weapons of great destruction and means of modern warfare. But with the power of justice, the courage, the air defense units - air force and air defense forces beat people fully air raid in history biggest war since the War First World II, shot down 81 U.S. aircraft, including 34 B-52 aircraft and 5 F-111A, causing heavy losses to the enemy air force. This glorious victory was the Vietnam battle dubbed 'Dien Bien Phu in the air'.
