January 1993 airstrikes on Iraq: Difference between revisions

January 1993 Air Strikes on Iraq
	Part of the Iraqi no-fly zones conflict and the Persian Gulf Conflicts
	; An F-16C of the 23rd FS in 1992, similar to the one that 1st Lt. Craig Stevenson flew on Jan 17, 1993.
Date	January 13, 1993 – January 22, 1993
Location	Southern Iraq, Northern Iraq
Result	Indecisive Operation Southern Watch continues;
Belligerents
United States ; United Kingdom ; France	Iraq
Commanders and leaders
George H. W. Bush; (Before January 21); Bill Clinton; (After January 21); Colin Powell	Saddam Hussein
Strength
1 Kitty Hawk Class Carrier; 3 Cruisers; 1 Type 42 Destroyer; 1 Frigate; 71 Carrier Aircraft; Numerous Land Based Aircraft;	Numerous AAA and SAM defenses; MiG-23 Flogger (Iraqi Air Force)
Casualties and losses
None	1 MiG-23 Flogger; Various SAMs and AAA; 1 soldier killed
	5 civilians dead and 7 wounded

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During January 1993, numerous coalition airstrikes occurred against Iraq in response to actions by the latter predominantly due to the No-Fly Zone in Southern Iraq.

Prelude

Just after the Gulf War ended, there were fears that Iraq might invade Kuwait again, especially after Iraqi media declared on August 2, 1992 (The 2nd Anniversary of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait) that Kuwait was their 19th province and that they would invade again.^[1] This coupled with some incidents of Iraqi troops making incursions and exchanging fire with Kuwaiti troops^[2] led to the no-fly zone on the 32nd Parallel being enacted on August 26, 1992, with U.S. Navy F/A-18C Hornets of Carrier Air Wing Five from the aircraft carrier USS Independence being the first to fly into the zone. There were at least 70 fixed aircraft of the Iraqi Air Force assumed to be based in the No-Fly Zone at the time.^[1]

On December 27, 1992, at 10:42 am, two Iraqi MiG-25PDS Foxbat-Es entered the No-Fly Zone. 65 seconds later, one of them was shot down by a United States Air Force (USAF) F-16DG Fighting Falcon (90-0778) of the 33rd FS (363rd FW) in what was also the first air-to-air kill for the AIM-120 AMRAAM and the first beyond-visual-range missile kill for the F-16 as well as the first air-to-air kill by an American F-16.^[1]^[3]

As a result of the shoot down, the Kitty Hawk Battlegroup sailed from the coast of Somalia to the Persian Gulf. The Kitty Hawk also dispatched its 18 aircraft from its two F/A-18A squadrons to join USAF aircraft in Saudi Arabia.^[4]^[5]

January 13 air strike

On the evening 13th of January, in response to the moving of surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites into Southern Iraq in the No-Fly Zone, 75 Coalition aircraft, protected by Type 42 Guided Missile Destroyer HMS Nottingham, along with 35 aircraft from CVW-15 on the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) took off to attack the sites, making a total of 115 aircraft in all.^[6]^[4]^[7] The USAF aircraft included six F-117A Nighthawks from the 49th FW, eight F-16C Block 42 aircraft from the 33rd FS (363rd FW), four F-111F Aardvarks, three EF-111A Ravens, six F-4G Phantoms, ten F-15E Strike Eagles from the 335th FS (4th FW) and eight F-15C Eagles from the 1st FW flying escort. They were joined by six Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornado GR.1 aircraft (four had FLIR designators) as well as six French Mirage 2000 aircraft for combat air patrol and numerous support aircraft like AWACS.^[6]^[8]

There were also around 35 aircraft from the Kitty Hawk including eight A-6E SWIP Intruder aircraft from VA-52 (which employed GBU-10 laser guided bombs),^[9] eight F/A-18As from VFA-27 and VFA-97 (including CDR. Kevin J. Thomas, Commanding Officer of VFA-97 who led the air strike as well as two of the F/A-18As for escort and four providing SAM suppression), four F-14A Tomcats from VF-51 and VF-111, three EA-6B Prowlers from VAQ-134, an S-3B Viking from VS-37 for electronic support, and two E-2C Hawkeyes from VAW-114.^[6]^[4] Targets included radar stations and integrated air operations centers at Tallil Air Base (known to house MiG-29s^[10]), Al Amara, Najaf, Samawah and four mobile anti-aircraft SAM/anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) sites.^[6]

At around 6:45 pm, the air strikes began when the Kitty Hawk launched her strike package. During the transit to the target area, the F-14As from CVW-15's strike package had to travel more than 644 km (400 miles) to reach a tanker aircraft to avoid alerting Iraqi Air Defence commanders. Despite this, they were able to support the carrier strike aircraft during mission as well as 40 minutes after the last bomb.^[11]

The air strikes only lasted 30 minutes and only light AAA was encountered.^[12]^[9]^[7] The results of the strike were considered poor with many targets being missed. The Aerospace Daily claimed that of four mobile missile batteries, only one was destroyed. Of the six F-117As, two lost laser lock, one failed to get a positive identification of the target, and one F-117 hit the wrong target. An F-15E also returned to base with its ordnance due to cloud cover preventing a laser-guided drop.^[6] An Iraqi news agency soon reported that an Iraqi soldier as well as three civilians were killed as well as 7 civilians wounded.^[12]^[13]

Action on January 17

A cruise missile strike was launched by the Kitty Hawk Battlegroup on the 17th on the Zafraniyah Nuclear Fabrication Facility, 8 miles or 13 km southwest of Baghdad. Around 44 to 45 Tomahawk missiles were launched from four vessels with 37 of them hitting their intended targets.^[14] One Tomahawk was hit by AAA and crashed into the Rasheed Hotel in Baghdad, killing two civilians.^[6] The US Navy stated that the single loss to AAA was due to the Tomahawks flying the same routes over Baghdad they had used during the Gulf War. They also reported that the warhead didn't explode and rather that it was the impact that caused the civilian casualties.^[15]

On that same day, a formation of F-16Cs along with F-4Gs were to conduct reconnaissance operations, provide SAM suppression for RAF Jaguars investigating a newly discovered SA-6 SAM site, combat air patrol operations until being relieved by another F-4/F-16 Wild Weasel hunter/killer team and return to base. Total sortie length was scheduled for just under five hours.^[16] During the phase that required the taking out of SAM sites, an F-16C Block 30 of the 23rd FS (52nd FW) piloted by 1st Lt. Craig Stevenson saw what was described as the "unmistakable radar return" of an enemy aircraft rolling down the runway, heading in his direction, about 30 nm away. With the help of AWACS, he shot down the enemy aircraft with an AIM-120 AMRAAM (the second air-to-air kill for the AMRAAM and the F-16) which was originally believed to be a MiG-29B Fulcrum-A (later confirmed to be a MiG-23 Flogger).^[6]^[17]^[16] Originally, the first AMRAAM did not fire and stayed on the left wing requiring Stevenson to fire his second one. The live missile on the left wing was a concern for him, posing a risk when he was required to refuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker.^[16]

January 19 incident

On the 19th, an F-4G fired an AGM-88 HARM at an Iraqi SAM site after a 14 nm lock-on east of Mosul. An hour later, an F-16C was fired upon by AAA but not hit. Two hours later a section of F-16C's were fired upon and dropped cluster bombs on guns north of Mosul. Iraq then later called a cease fire to celebrate Clinton's inauguration which took place on 20 January.^[6]

January 21/22 incident

Around 17 hours after President Bill Clinton took office, a hunter/killer team of two F-4Gs and two F-16Cs struck an Iraqi SAM site at on 21 January 1993 at 5:09 am EST (January 22, 1993 - 1:09 am). The two Wild Weasel (F-4G) aircraft were escorting French Air Force Mirage F1 aircraft configured for reconnaissance.^[6] These Mirages were on a "routine monitoring mission" north of the 36th Parallel near Mosul when the aircraft were attacked by ground fire. The aircraft were then painted by an Iraqi SAM radar and in return, one of the F-4Gs launched an AGM-88 HARM missile 12 miles or 19 km north of Mosul.^[6]

January 23 incident

On January 23, 1993, Iraqi AAA allegedly (flashes were reported from the air) fired at an A-6E SWIP Intruder from VA-52 as well as at two F/A-18As (all from the Kitty Hawk). In retaliation, the Intruder dropped a GBU-16 Paveway II laser guided bomb, destroying it.^[6]^[4] This was the last time the A-6 Intruder was used in combat.^[18]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Gulf War Chronology: 1992 Operations after the war". 2006-09-25. Archived from the original on 2006-09-25. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
^ "Gulf War Chronology: 1991 Operations after the war". 2006-09-25. Archived from the original on 2006-09-25. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
^ "CVW-5 No19". www.webmodelers.com. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Kitty Hawk II (CVA-63)". NHHC. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
^ "The U.S. Navy in Review". U.S. Naval Institute. 1994-05-01. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "Gulf War Chronology: 1993 Operations after the war". 2006-09-25. Archived from the original on 2006-09-25. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
^ ^a ^b Apple, R. W. Jr. (1993-01-14). "RAID ON IRAQ; U.S. AND ALLIED PLANES HIT IRAQ, BOMBING MISSILE SITES IN SOUTH IN REPLY TO HUSSEIN'S DEFIANCE (Published 1993)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
^ "1993: Allies bomb Iraq". 1993-01-13. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
^ ^a ^b Ward Anderson, John (January 14, 1993). "U.S. PILOTS CALL AIR STRIKE A SUCCESS". The Washington Post.
^ "Colours of the MiG-29. Mikoyan & Gurevich MiG-29 camouflage and painting schemes. European countries, Russia, Asia. MiG-29, MiG-29UB, MiG-29SMT, MiG-29K/KUB, MiG-35". www.mig.mariwoj.pl. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
^ "Comment & Discussion". U.S. Naval Institute. 1993-05-01. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
^ ^a ^b J. McNulty, Timothy (January 14, 1993). "ALLIED STRIKE PUNISHES IRAQ". Chicago Tribune.
^ Gellman, Barton; Devroy, Ann (January 14, 1993). "U.S. DELIVERS LIMITED AIR STRIKE ON IRAQ". The Washington Post.
^ "Al Nida Establishment / Zaafaraniyah - Iraq Special Weapons Facilities". fas.org. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
^ "Speak Softly and…". U.S. Naval Institute. 1994-10-01. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Fighter Pilot University: Cleared to Lead and Kill MiGs". 2010-09-29. Archived from the original on 2010-09-29. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
^ "Airframe Details for F-16 #86-0262". www.f-16.net. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
^ Morgan, Rick. COMBAT AIRCRAFT 121: A-6 INTRUDER UNITS 1974-96. Osprey Publishing.

[:6-1] "Gulf War Chronology: 1992 Operations after the war". 2006-09-25. Archived from the original on 2006-09-25. Retrieved 2021-12-07.

[2] "Gulf War Chronology: 1991 Operations after the war". 2006-09-25. Archived from the original on 2006-09-25. Retrieved 2021-12-07.

[3] "CVW-5 No19". www.webmodelers.com. Retrieved 2021-12-07.

[:0-4] "Kitty Hawk II (CVA-63)". NHHC. Retrieved 2021-02-20.

[5] "The U.S. Navy in Review". U.S. Naval Institute. 1994-05-01. Retrieved 2023-02-16.

[:2-6] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "Gulf War Chronology: 1993 Operations after the war". 2006-09-25. Archived from the original on 2006-09-25. Retrieved 2021-02-20.

[:1-7] Apple, R. W. Jr. (1993-01-14). "RAID ON IRAQ; U.S. AND ALLIED PLANES HIT IRAQ, BOMBING MISSILE SITES IN SOUTH IN REPLY TO HUSSEIN'S DEFIANCE (Published 1993)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-02-20.

[8] "1993: Allies bomb Iraq". 1993-01-13. Retrieved 2021-02-20.

[:4-9] Ward Anderson, John (January 14, 1993). "U.S. PILOTS CALL AIR STRIKE A SUCCESS". The Washington Post.

[10] "Colours of the MiG-29. Mikoyan & Gurevich MiG-29 camouflage and painting schemes. European countries, Russia, Asia. MiG-29, MiG-29UB, MiG-29SMT, MiG-29K/KUB, MiG-35". www.mig.mariwoj.pl. Retrieved 2021-02-21.

[11] "Comment & Discussion". U.S. Naval Institute. 1993-05-01. Retrieved 2023-01-14.

[:5-12] J. McNulty, Timothy (January 14, 1993). "ALLIED STRIKE PUNISHES IRAQ". Chicago Tribune.

[13] Gellman, Barton; Devroy, Ann (January 14, 1993). "U.S. DELIVERS LIMITED AIR STRIKE ON IRAQ". The Washington Post.

[14] "Al Nida Establishment / Zaafaraniyah - Iraq Special Weapons Facilities". fas.org. Retrieved 2021-02-20.

[15] "Speak Softly and…". U.S. Naval Institute. 1994-10-01. Retrieved 2023-02-18.

[:3-16] "Fighter Pilot University: Cleared to Lead and Kill MiGs". 2010-09-29. Archived from the original on 2010-09-29. Retrieved 2021-02-20.

[17] "Airframe Details for F-16 #86-0262". www.f-16.net. Retrieved 2021-02-20.

[18] Morgan, Rick. COMBAT AIRCRAFT 121: A-6 INTRUDER UNITS 1974-96. Osprey Publishing.

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@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{Infobox military conflict
 | conflict          = January 1993 Air Strikes on Iraq
-| partof            = the [[Iraqi no-fly zones conflict]] and the [[Gulf War (disambiguation)|Persian Gulf Conflicts]]
+| partof            = the [[Iraqi no-fly zones conflict]] and the Persian Gulf Conflicts
-| date              = January 13, 1993 - January 22, 1993
+| date              = January 13, 1993 – January 22, 1993
 | place             = Southern Iraq, Northern Iraq
 | casus             =
-| result            = Indecisive ([[Operation Southern Watch]] Continues)
+| result            = Indecisive
+*[[Operation Southern Watch]] continues
-| combatant1        = {{flag|United States}} <br>
+| combatant1        = {{flag|United States}} <br> {{flag|United Kingdom}} <br> {{flag|France}}
-{{flag|United Kingdom}} <br>
-{{flag|France}}
 | combatant2        = {{flagicon|Iraq|1991}} [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq]]
-| commander1        = {{flagicon|US}} [[George H. W. Bush]]<br> (Before January 21)<br/>
+| commander1        = {{flagicon|US}} [[George H. W. Bush]]<br> (Before January 21)<br/> {{flagicon|US}} [[Bill Clinton]]<br> (After January 21)<br/> {{flagicon|US}} [[Colin Powell]]
-{{flagicon|US}} [[Bill Clinton]]<br> (After January 21)<br/>
-{{flagicon|US}} [[Colin Powell]]
 | commander2        = {{flagicon|Iraq|1991}} [[Saddam Hussein]]
-| strength1         = 1 [[USS_Kitty_Hawk_(CV-63)|Kitty Hawk Class Carrier]]<br/>
+| strength1         = 1 [[USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)|Kitty Hawk Class Carrier]]<br/>
-Cruisers<br/>
+Cruisers<br/>1 [[HMS Nottingham (D91)|Type 42 Destroyer]]<br/>
 [[USS Jarrett|Frigate]]<br/>
 Carrier Aircraft<br/>
@@ Line 23: / Line 20: @@
 [[MiG-23 Flogger]] ([[Iraqi Air Force]])
 | casualties1       = None
-| casualties2       = 1 soldier killed
+| casualties2       = 1 MiG-23 Flogger<br>
+Various SAMs and AAA<br>
-| casualties3       = 3 civilians dead and 7 wounded (Iraqi claims)
+soldier killed
+| casualties3       = 5 civilians dead and 7 wounded
 | image             = 23d Fighter Squadron - General Dynamics F-16C Block 50D Fighting Falcon - 91-0415.jpg
 | campaignbox       = {{Campaignbox Iraqi no-fly zones conflict}}
@@ Line 33: / Line 32: @@
 == Prelude ==
-Just after the Gulf War ended, there were fears that Iraq might invade Kuwait again, especially after Iraqi TV/Radio declared on August 2, 1992 that Kuwait was their 19th province and that they would invade again. (The 2nd Anniversary of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait).<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|date=2006-09-25|title=Gulf War Chronology: 1992 Operations after the war|url=http://www.sci.fi/~fta/1992-ops.htm|access-date=2021-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925163557/http://www.sci.fi/~fta/1992-ops.htm|archive-date=2006-09-25}}</ref>  This coupled with some incidents of Iraqi troops making incursions and exchanging fire with Kuwaiti troops<ref>{{Cite web|date=2006-09-25|title=Gulf War Chronology: 1991 Operations after the war|url=http://www.sci.fi/~fta/1991-ops.htm|access-date=2021-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925163521/http://www.sci.fi/~fta/1991-ops.htm|archive-date=2006-09-25}}</ref> led to the [[Operation Southern Watch|No-Fly Zone]] on the [[32nd parallel north|32nd Parallel]] being enacted on the August 26, 1992, with [[Carrier Air Wing Five|CVW-5's]] [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet|F/A-18C Hornets]] from the [[USS Independence (CV-62)|USS ''Independence'' CV-62]] being the first to fly into the zone. There were at least 70 fixed aircraft of the Iraqi Air Force assumed to be based in the No-Fly Zone at the time.<ref name=":6" />
+Just after the [[Gulf War]] ended, there were fears that Iraq might invade [[Kuwait]] again, especially after Iraqi media declared on August 2, 1992 (The 2nd Anniversary of the [[Iraqi invasion of Kuwait]]) that Kuwait was their 19th province and that they would invade again.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|date=2006-09-25|title=Gulf War Chronology: 1992 Operations after the war|url=http://www.sci.fi/~fta/1992-ops.htm|access-date=2021-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925163557/http://www.sci.fi/~fta/1992-ops.htm|archive-date=2006-09-25}}</ref>  This coupled with some incidents of Iraqi troops making incursions and exchanging fire with Kuwaiti troops<ref>{{Cite web|date=2006-09-25|title=Gulf War Chronology: 1991 Operations after the war|url=http://www.sci.fi/~fta/1991-ops.htm|access-date=2021-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925163521/http://www.sci.fi/~fta/1991-ops.htm|archive-date=2006-09-25}}</ref> led to the [[Operation Southern Watch|no-fly zone]] on the [[32nd parallel north|32nd Parallel]] being enacted on August 26, 1992, with [[U.S. Navy]] [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet|F/A-18C Hornets]] of [[Carrier Air Wing Five]] from the aircraft carrier [[USS Independence (CV-62)|USS Independence]] being the first to fly into the zone. There were at least 70 fixed aircraft of the [[Iraqi Air Force]] assumed to be based in the No-Fly Zone at the time.<ref name=":6" />
-On December 27, 1992 at 10:42am, two Iraqi [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25|MiG-25PDS Foxbat-Es]] entered the No-Fly Zone. 65 seconds later, one of them was shot down by an [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16DG]] (90-0778) of the 33rd FS (363rd FW) in what was also the first air to air kill for the [[AIM-120 AMRAAM]] and the first BVR kill for the F-16 and the first air to air kill by an American F-16.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=CVW-5 No19|url=https://www.webmodelers.com/201302CV5no19.html|access-date=2021-12-07|website=www.webmodelers.com}}</ref>
+On December 27, 1992, at 10:42&nbsp;am, two Iraqi [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25|MiG-25PDS Foxbat-Es]] entered the No-Fly Zone. 65 seconds later, one of them was shot down by a [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16DG Fighting Falcon]] (90-0778) of the 33rd FS (363rd FW) in what was also the first air-to-air kill for the [[AIM-120 AMRAAM]] and the first [[beyond-visual-range missile]] kill for the F-16 as well as the first air-to-air kill by an American F-16.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=CVW-5 No19|url=https://www.webmodelers.com/201302CV5no19.html|access-date=2021-12-07|website=www.webmodelers.com}}</ref>
+As a result of the shoot down, the ''Kitty Hawk'' Battlegroup sailed from the coast of Somalia to the Persian Gulf. The Kitty Hawk also dispatched its 18 aircraft from its two F/A-18A squadrons to join USAF aircraft in Saudi Arabia.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=1994-05-01 |title=The U.S. Navy in Review |url=https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1994/may/us-navy-review |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=U.S. Naval Institute |language=en}}</ref>
-== January 13 Air Strike ==
-On the evening 13th of January, in response to the moving of SAM sites into Southern Iraq in the No-Fly Zone, 75 Coalition along with 35 aircraft from [[Carrier Air Wing Fifteen|CVW-15]] on the [[USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)]] took off to attack the sites, making a total of 115 aircraft in all.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Kitty Hawk II (CVA-63)|url=http://public1.nhhcaws.local/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/k/kitty-hawk-cva-63-ii.html|access-date=2021-02-20|website=public1.nhhcaws.local|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Jr|first=R. W. Apple|date=1993-01-14|title=RAID ON IRAQ; U.S. AND ALLIED PLANES HIT IRAQ, BOMBING MISSILE SITES IN SOUTH IN REPLY TO HUSSEIN'S DEFIANCE (Published 1993)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/14/world/raid-iraq-us-allied-planes-hit-iraq-bombing-missile-sites-south-reply-hussein-s.html|access-date=2021-02-20|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The [[United States Air Force|USAF]] aircraft included six [[Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk|F-117As]] from the [[49th Wing|49th FW]], eight [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16C]] Block 42 aircraft from the [[33rd Fighter Squadron|33rd FS]] ([[363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing|363rd FW]]), four [[General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark|F-111Fs]], three [[General Dynamics–Grumman EF-111A Raven|EF-111As]], six [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II|F-4Gs]], ten [[McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle|F-15Es]] from the [[335th Fighter Squadron|335th FS]] ([[4th Fighter Wing|4th FW]]) and eight [[McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle|F-15Cs]] from the [[1st Fighter Wing|1st FW]] flying escort. They were joined with six [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] [[Panavia Tornado|Tornado GR.1]] aircraft (four had [[TIALD|FLIR designators]]) as well as six [[French Air and Space Force|French]] [[Dassault Mirage 2000|Mirage 2000]] aircraft for Combat Air Patrol and numerous support aircraft like [[Boeing E-3 Sentry|AWACS]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=2006-09-25|title=Gulf War Chronology: 1993 Operations after the war|url=http://www.sci.fi/~fta/1993-ops.htm|access-date=2021-02-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925163624/http://www.sci.fi/~fta/1993-ops.htm|archive-date=2006-09-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=1993-01-13|title=1993: Allies bomb Iraq|language=en-GB|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/13/newsid_2554000/2554275.stm|access-date=2021-02-20}}</ref>
-[[File:McDonnell Douglas F-A-18A Hornet US Navy VFA-27 NL405 (WESTPAC 1992-1993) BuNo 162883 - SEAD - OSW - Jan 13 1993.png|alt=NL-405, one of the aircraft of VFA-27 that took part in the January 13, 1993 air strike, was loaded with Mk.83 bombs.|left|thumb|257x257px|NL-405, one of the aircraft of [[VFA-27]] that took part in the January 13, 1993 air strike, was loaded with [[Mark 83 bomb|Mk.83 bombs]].]]
-There were also around 35 aircraft from the Kitty Hawk including eight [[Grumman A-6 Intruder|A-6E SWIP]] aircraft from [[VA-52 (U.S. Navy)|VA-52]] (which employed GBU-10 laser guided bombs),<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Ward Anderson|first=John|date=January 14, 1993|title=U.S. PILOTS CALL AIR STRIKE A SUCCESS|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1993/01/14/us-pilots-call-air-strike-a-success/d5a58b6c-8169-4374-9998-ac9e1fa21a37/|url-status=live|website=The Washington Post}}</ref> eight [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet|F/A-18As]] from [[VFA-27]] and [[VFA-97]] (including CDR. Kevin J. Thomas, Commanding Officer of VFA-97 who led the air strike as well as two of the F/A-18As for escort and four providing SAM Suppression), four [[Grumman F-14 Tomcat|F-14As]] from [[VF-51]] and [[VF-111 (1956-95)|VF-111]], three [[Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler|EA-6B Prowlers]] from [[VAQ-134]], an [[Lockheed S-3 Viking|S-3B]] from [[VS-37]] for ESM support, and two [[Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye|Hawkeyes]] from [[VAW-114]].<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /> Targets included Radar Stations and Integrated Air Operations Centers at [[Nasiriyah Airport|Tallil Air Base]] (known to house MiG-29s<ref>{{Cite web|title=Colours of the MiG-29. Mikoyan & Gurevich MiG-29 camouflage and painting schemes. European countries, Russia, Asia. MiG-29, MiG-29UB, MiG-29SMT, MiG-29K/KUB, MiG-35|url=http://www.mig.mariwoj.pl/mig-29-iq.htm|access-date=2021-02-21|website=www.mig.mariwoj.pl}}</ref>), Al Amara, Najaf, Samawah and four mobile anti-aircraft SAM/AAA sites.<ref name=":2" />
+== January 13 air strike ==
-At around 6:45PM, the Air Strikes began when the Kitty Hawk launched her strike package. The air strikes only lasted 30 minutes and only light AAA was encountered.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=J. McNulty|first=Timothy|date=January 14, 1993|title=ALLIED STRIKE PUNISHES IRAQ|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-01-14-9303161958-story.html|url-status=live|website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1" /> The results of the strike were considered poor with many targets being missed. The Aerospace Daily claimed that of four mobile missile batteries, only one was destroyed. Of the six F-117As, two lost laser lock, one failed to get a positive identification of the target, and one F-117 hit the wrong target. An F-15E also returned back to base with its ordnance due to cloud cover preventing a laser-guided drop.<ref name=":2" /> An Iraqi News Agency soon reported that an Iraqi soldier as well as three civilians were killed as well as 7 civilians wounded.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Gellman|first1=Barton|last2=Devroy|first2=Ann|date=January 14, 1993|title=U.S. DELIVERS LIMITED AIR STRIKE ON IRAQ|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1993/01/14/us-delivers-limited-air-strike-on-iraq/1f0dad2d-dbf7-4452-84a6-24459c5e3923/|url-status=live|website=The Washington Post}}</ref>
+On the evening 13th of January, in response to the moving of [[surface-to-air missile]] (SAM) sites into Southern Iraq in the No-Fly Zone, 75 Coalition aircraft, protected by Type 42 Guided Missile Destroyer HMS ''Nottingham'', along with 35 aircraft from [[Carrier Air Wing Fifteen|CVW-15]] on the [[USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)|USS ''Kitty Hawk'' (CV-63)]] took off to attack the sites, making a total of 115 aircraft in all.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Kitty Hawk II (CVA-63)|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/k/kitty-hawk-cva-63-ii.html|access-date=2021-02-20|website=NHHC|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Apple|first=R. W. Jr.|date=1993-01-14|title=RAID ON IRAQ; U.S. AND ALLIED PLANES HIT IRAQ, BOMBING MISSILE SITES IN SOUTH IN REPLY TO HUSSEIN'S DEFIANCE (Published 1993)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/14/world/raid-iraq-us-allied-planes-hit-iraq-bombing-missile-sites-south-reply-hussein-s.html|access-date=2021-02-20|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The USAF aircraft included six [[Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk|F-117A Nighthawks]] from the [[49th Wing|49th FW]], eight F-16C Block 42 aircraft from the [[33rd Fighter Squadron|33rd FS]] ([[363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing|363rd FW]]), four [[General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark|F-111F Aardvarks]], three [[General Dynamics–Grumman EF-111A Raven|EF-111A Ravens]], six [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II|F-4G Phantoms]], ten [[McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle|F-15E Strike Eagles]] from the [[335th Fighter Squadron|335th FS]] ([[4th Fighter Wing|4th FW]]) and eight [[McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle|F-15C Eagles]] from the [[1st Fighter Wing|1st FW]] flying escort. They were joined by six [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) [[Panavia Tornado|Tornado GR.1]] aircraft (four had [[TIALD|FLIR designators]]) as well as six [[French Air and Space Force|French]] [[Dassault Mirage 2000|Mirage 2000]] aircraft for [[combat air patrol]] and numerous support aircraft like [[Boeing E-3 Sentry|AWACS]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=2006-09-25|title=Gulf War Chronology: 1993 Operations after the war|url=http://www.sci.fi/~fta/1993-ops.htm|access-date=2021-02-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925163624/http://www.sci.fi/~fta/1993-ops.htm|archive-date=2006-09-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=1993-01-13|title=1993: Allies bomb Iraq|language=en-GB|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/13/newsid_2554000/2554275.stm|access-date=2021-02-20}}</ref>
+[[File:McDonnell Douglas F-A-18A Hornet US Navy VFA-27 NL405 (WESTPAC 1992-1993) BuNo 162883 - SEAD - OSW - Jan 13 1993.png|alt=NL-405, one of the aircraft of VFA-27 that took part in the January 13, 1993 air strike, was loaded with Mk.83 bombs.|left|thumb|257x257px|NL-405, one of the aircraft of [[VFA-27]] that took part in the January 13, 1993, air strike, was loaded with [[Mark 83 bomb|Mk.83 bombs]].]]
+There were also around 35 aircraft from the ''Kitty Hawk'' including eight [[Grumman A-6 Intruder|A-6E SWIP Intruder]] aircraft from [[VA-52 (U.S. Navy)|VA-52]] (which employed [[GBU-10]] [[laser guided bombs]]),<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|last=Ward Anderson|first=John|date=January 14, 1993|title=U.S. PILOTS CALL AIR STRIKE A SUCCESS|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1993/01/14/us-pilots-call-air-strike-a-success/d5a58b6c-8169-4374-9998-ac9e1fa21a37/|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> eight F/A-18As from [[VFA-27]] and [[VFA-97]] (including CDR. Kevin J. Thomas, Commanding Officer of VFA-97 who led the air strike as well as two of the F/A-18As for escort and four providing [[Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses|SAM suppression]]), four [[Grumman F-14 Tomcat|F-14A Tomcats]] from [[VF-51]] and [[VF-111 (1956-95)|VF-111]], three [[Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler|EA-6B Prowlers]] from [[VAQ-134]], an [[Lockheed S-3 Viking|S-3B Viking]] from [[VS-37]] for [[electronic support measures|electronic support]], and two [[Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye|E-2C Hawkeye]]s from [[VAW-114]].<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /> Targets included radar stations and integrated air operations centers at [[Nasiriyah Airport|Tallil Air Base]] (known to house MiG-29s<ref>{{Cite web|title=Colours of the MiG-29. Mikoyan & Gurevich MiG-29 camouflage and painting schemes. European countries, Russia, Asia. MiG-29, MiG-29UB, MiG-29SMT, MiG-29K/KUB, MiG-35|url=http://www.mig.mariwoj.pl/mig-29-iq.htm|access-date=2021-02-21|website=www.mig.mariwoj.pl}}</ref>), Al Amara, Najaf, Samawah and four mobile anti-aircraft SAM/anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) sites.<ref name=":2" />
+At around 6:45&nbsp;pm, the air strikes began when the ''Kitty Hawk'' launched her strike package. During the transit to the target area, the F-14As from CVW-15's strike package had to travel more than 644&nbsp;km (400 miles) to reach a tanker aircraft to avoid alerting Iraqi Air Defence commanders. Despite this, they were able to support the carrier strike aircraft during mission as well as 40 minutes after the last bomb.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1993-05-01 |title=Comment & Discussion |url=https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1993/may/comment-discussion |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=U.S. Naval Institute |language=en}}</ref>
+The air strikes only lasted 30 minutes and only light AAA was encountered.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=J. McNulty|first=Timothy|date=January 14, 1993|title=ALLIED STRIKE PUNISHES IRAQ|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-01-14-9303161958-story.html|website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1" /> The results of the strike were considered poor with many targets being missed. The ''Aerospace Daily'' claimed that of four mobile missile batteries, only one was destroyed. Of the six F-117As, two lost laser lock, one failed to get a positive identification of the target, and one F-117 hit the wrong target. An F-15E also returned to base with its ordnance due to cloud cover preventing a laser-guided drop.<ref name=":2" /> An Iraqi news agency soon reported that an Iraqi soldier as well as three civilians were killed as well as 7 civilians wounded.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Gellman|first1=Barton|last2=Devroy|first2=Ann|date=January 14, 1993|title=U.S. DELIVERS LIMITED AIR STRIKE ON IRAQ|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1993/01/14/us-delivers-limited-air-strike-on-iraq/1f0dad2d-dbf7-4452-84a6-24459c5e3923/|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>
 == Action on January 17 ==
-A cruise missile strike was launched by the Kitty Hawk Battlegroup on the 17th on the Zafraniyah Nuclear Fabrication Facility, 8 miles or 13km southwest of [[Baghdad]]. Around 44 to 45 [[Tomahawk (missile)|TLAMs]] were launched with 37 hitting their intended targets.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Al Nida Establishment / Zaafaraniyah - Iraq Special Weapons Facilities|url=https://fas.org/nuke/guide/iraq/facility/zaafaraniyah.htm|access-date=2021-02-20|website=fas.org}}</ref> 1 Tomahawk was hit by AAA and crashed into the [[Royal Tulip Al Rasheed Hotel|Rasheed Hotel]] in Baghdad, killing 2 civilians.<ref name=":2" />
+A [[cruise missile]] strike was launched by the ''Kitty Hawk'' Battlegroup on the 17th on the Zafraniyah Nuclear Fabrication Facility, 8 miles or 13&nbsp;km southwest of [[Baghdad]]. Around 44 to 45 [[Tomahawk (missile family)|Tomahawk missiles]] were launched from four vessels with 37 of them hitting their intended targets.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Al Nida Establishment / Zaafaraniyah - Iraq Special Weapons Facilities|url=https://fas.org/nuke/guide/iraq/facility/zaafaraniyah.htm|access-date=2021-02-20|website=fas.org}}</ref> One Tomahawk was hit by AAA and crashed into the [[Royal Tulip Al Rasheed Hotel|Rasheed Hotel]] in Baghdad, killing two civilians.<ref name=":2" /> The US Navy stated that the single loss to AAA was due to the Tomahawks flying the same routes over Baghdad they had used during the [[Gulf War]]. They also reported that the warhead didn't explode and rather that it was the impact that caused the civilian casualties.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1994-10-01 |title=Speak Softly and… |url=https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1994/october/speak-softly-and |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=U.S. Naval Institute |language=en}}</ref>
-On that same day, a formation of F-16Cs along with F-4Gs were to conduct reconnaissance operations, provide [[Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses|SAM suppression]] for British [[SEPECAT Jaguar|Jaguars]] investigating a newly discovered [[2K12 Kub|SA-6]] SAM site, Combat Air Patrol operations until being relieved by another F-4/F-16 Wild Weasel team and return to base. Total sortie length was scheduled for just under five hours.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=2010-09-29|title=Fighter Pilot University: Cleared to Lead and Kill MiGs|url=http://www.fighterpilotuniversity.com/index.cfm/2008/1/17/Cleared-to-Lead-and-Kill-MiGs|access-date=2021-02-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100929080958/http://www.fighterpilotuniversity.com/index.cfm/2008/1/17/Cleared-to-Lead-and-Kill-MiGs|archive-date=2010-09-29}}</ref> During the phase that required the taking out of SAM sites, an F-16C Block 30 of the [[23rd Fighter Squadron|23rd FS]] ([[52nd Fighter Wing|52nd FW]]) piloted by 1st Lt. Craig Stevenson saw the unmistakable radar return of an enemy aircraft rolling down the runway, heading in his direction, about 30nm away. With the help AWACS, he shoot down the enemy aircraft with an [[AIM-120 AMRAAM]] (the second air to air kill for the AMRAAM and the F-16) which was originally believed to be a [[Mikoyan MiG-29|MiG-29B Fulcrum-A]] (later confirmed to be a [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23|MiG-23 Flogger]]).<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Airframe Details for F-16 #86-0262|url=https://www.f-16.net/aircraft-database/F-16/airframe-profile/2045|access-date=2021-02-20|website=www.f-16.net}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> Originally, the first AMRAAM didn't fire and stayed on the left wing requiring Stevenson to fire his second one. The live missile on the left wing was a concern for him, posing a risk to when he required to refuel from a [[Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker|KC-135]] tanker.<ref name=":3" />
+On that same day, a formation of F-16Cs along with F-4Gs were to conduct reconnaissance operations, provide SAM suppression for RAF [[SEPECAT Jaguar|Jaguars]] investigating a newly discovered [[2K12 Kub|SA-6]] SAM site, combat air patrol operations until being relieved by another F-4/F-16 [[Wild Weasel]] hunter/killer team and return to base. Total sortie length was scheduled for just under five hours.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=2010-09-29|title=Fighter Pilot University: Cleared to Lead and Kill MiGs|url=http://www.fighterpilotuniversity.com/index.cfm/2008/1/17/Cleared-to-Lead-and-Kill-MiGs|access-date=2021-02-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100929080958/http://www.fighterpilotuniversity.com/index.cfm/2008/1/17/Cleared-to-Lead-and-Kill-MiGs|archive-date=2010-09-29}}</ref> During the phase that required the taking out of SAM sites, an F-16C Block 30 of the [[23rd Fighter Squadron|23rd FS]] ([[52nd Fighter Wing|52nd FW]]) piloted by 1st Lt. Craig Stevenson saw what was described as the "unmistakable radar return" of an enemy aircraft rolling down the runway, heading in his direction, about 30&nbsp;nm away. With the help of AWACS, he shot down the enemy aircraft with an AIM-120 AMRAAM (the second air-to-air kill for the [[AIM-120 AMRAAM|AMRAAM]] and the F-16) which was originally believed to be a [[Mikoyan MiG-29|MiG-29B Fulcrum-A]] (later confirmed to be a [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23|MiG-23 Flogger]]).<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Airframe Details for F-16 #86-0262|url=https://www.f-16.net/aircraft-database/F-16/airframe-profile/2045|access-date=2021-02-20|website=www.f-16.net}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> Originally, the first AMRAAM did not fire and stayed on the left wing requiring Stevenson to fire his second one. The live missile on the left wing was a concern for him, posing a risk when he was required to refuel from a [[Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker|KC-135 Stratotanker]].<ref name=":3" />
-== January 19 Incident ==
+== January 19 incident ==
-On the 19th, an F-4G fired an [[AGM-88 HARM]] at an Iraqi SAM after a 14 nm lock-on east of [[Mosul]]. 1 hour later, an F-16C was fired on by AAA but not hit. 2 hours later a section of F-16C's were fired on and dropped [[Cluster munition|cluster bombs]] on guns north of Mosul. Iraq then later called a cease fire to celebrate [[First inauguration of Bill Clinton|Clinton's inauguration]] which took place on the 20th of January.<ref name=":2" />
+On the 19th, an F-4G fired an [[AGM-88 HARM]] at an Iraqi SAM site after a 14&nbsp;nm lock-on east of [[Mosul]]. An hour later, an F-16C was fired upon by AAA but not hit. Two hours later a section of F-16C's were fired upon and dropped [[Cluster munition|cluster bombs]] on guns north of Mosul. Iraq then later called a cease fire to celebrate [[First inauguration of Bill Clinton|Clinton's inauguration]] which took place on 20 January.<ref name=":2" />
-== January 21/22 Incident ==
+== January 21/22 incident ==
-Around 17 hours after [[Bill Clinton|President Bill Clinton]] took office, a hunter kill team of 2 F-4Gs and 2 F-16Cs struck an Iraqi SAM site at on the 21st of January 1993 at 5:09AM EST (January 22, 1993 - 1:09AM). The two Wild Weasel (F-4G) aircraft were escorting French Air Force [[Dassault Mirage F1|Mirage F1]] aircraft configured for Reconnaissance.<ref name=":2" /> These Mirages were on a "routine monitoring mission" north of the 36th Parallel near Mosul when the aircraft attacked by ground fire. The aircraft were then painted by an Iraqi SAM radar and in return, one of the F-4Gs launched an AGM-88 HARM missile 12 miles or 19 km north of Mosul.<ref name=":2" />
+Around 17 hours after [[Bill Clinton|President Bill Clinton]] took office, a hunter/killer team of two F-4Gs and two F-16Cs struck an Iraqi SAM site at on 21 January 1993 at 5:09&nbsp;am EST (January 22, 1993 - 1:09&nbsp;am). The two Wild Weasel (F-4G) aircraft were escorting French Air Force [[Dassault Mirage F1|Mirage F1]] aircraft configured for reconnaissance.<ref name=":2" /> These Mirages were on a "routine monitoring mission" north of the 36th Parallel near Mosul when the aircraft were attacked by ground fire. The aircraft were then painted by an Iraqi SAM radar and in return, one of the F-4Gs launched an [[AGM-88 HARM]] missile 12 miles or 19&nbsp;km north of Mosul.<ref name=":2" />
-== January 23 Incident ==
+== January 23 incident ==
-On January 23, 1993, Iraqi AAA allegedly (flashes were reported from the air) fired at an Intruder from VA-52 as well as two F/A-18As (all from the Kitty Hawk). In retaliation, the Intruder dropped a [[GBU-16 Paveway II]] LGB, destroying it.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" />
+On January 23, 1993, Iraqi AAA allegedly (flashes were reported from the air) fired at an A-6E SWIP Intruder from VA-52 as well as at two F/A-18As (all from the ''Kitty Hawk''). In retaliation, the Intruder dropped a [[GBU-16 Paveway II]] laser guided bomb, destroying it.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /> This was the last time the A-6 Intruder was used in combat.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Morgan |first=Rick |title=COMBAT AIRCRAFT 121: A-6 INTRUDER UNITS 1974-96 |publisher=Osprey Publishing}}</ref>
 == See also ==
@@ Line 66: / Line 69: @@
 == References ==
 <references />
+{{coord missing|Iraq}}
 [[Category:Conflicts in 1993]]
@@ Line 72: / Line 77: @@
 [[Category:Airstrikes conducted by France]]
 [[Category:20th-century military history of the United States]]
-[[Category:Iraq–United States military relations]]
+[[Category:Airstrikes during the Iraqi no-fly zones conflict]]
-[[Category:January 1993 events in Asia]]
+[[Category:January 1993 events in Iraq]]
 [[Category:Presidency of George H. W. Bush]]
 [[Category:Presidency of Bill Clinton]]
 [[Category:1993 in Iraq]]
+[[Category:Building bombings in Baghdad]]
+[[Category:Naval bombing operations and battles]]
+[[Category:Cluster bomb attacks]]
+[[Category:1993 building bombings]]
+[[Category:Hotel bombings in Iraq]]
+[[Category:1990s in Baghdad]]
+[[Category:History of Dhi Qar Governorate]]
+[[Category:20th century in Nineveh Governorate]]
+[[Category:Attacks on military installations in 1993]]
+[[Category:1993 in aviation]]
+[[Category:Baghdad airstrikes]]
+[[Category:Attacks on government buildings and structures in Baghdad]]
+[[Category:Attacks on military installations in Iraq]]