January 1993 airstrikes on Iraq: Difference between revisions
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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. |
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. |
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== Prelude == |
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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=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925163557/http://www.sci.fi/~fta/1992-ops.htm|access-date=2021-12-07|website=web.archive.org}}</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=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925163521/http://www.sci.fi/~fta/1991-ops.htm|access-date=2021-12-07|website=web.archive.org}}</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" /> |
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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> |
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== January 13 Air Strike == |
== January 13 Air Strike == |
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On the evening 13th of January, in response to the moving of SAM sites into Southern Iraq in the |
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=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925163624/http://www.sci.fi/~fta/1993-ops.htm|access-date=2021-02-20|website=web.archive.org}}</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> |
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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" /> |
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" /> |
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Revision as of 06:05, 7 December 2021
| January 1993 Air Strikes on Iraq | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Iraqi no-fly zones conflict and the Persian Gulf Conflicts | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 France |
 Iraq | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
 Colin Powell |
Saddam Hussein | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
1 Kitty Hawk Class Carrier |
Numerous AAA and SAM defenses | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| None | 1 soldier killed | ||||||
| 3 civilians dead and 7 wounded (Iraqi claims) | |||||||
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 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).[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 the August 26, 1992, with CVW-5's F/A-18C Hornets from the 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.[1]
On December 27, 1992 at 10:42am, two Iraqi MiG-25PDS Foxbat-Es entered the No-Fly Zone. 65 seconds later, one of them was shot down by an 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.[1][3]
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 CVW-15 on the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) took off to attack the sites, making a total of 115 aircraft in all.[4][5][6] The USAF aircraft included six F-117As from the 49th FW, eight F-16C Block 42 aircraft from the 33rd FS (363rd FW), four F-111Fs, three EF-111As, six F-4Gs, ten F-15Es from the 335th FS (4th FW) and eight F-15Cs from the 1st FW flying escort. They were joined with six 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.[4][7]
There were also around 35 aircraft from the Kitty Hawk including eight A-6E SWIP aircraft from VA-52 (which employed GBU-10 laser guided bombs),[8] 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-14As from VF-51 and VF-111, three EA-6B Prowlers from VAQ-134, an S-3B from VS-37 for ESM support, and two Hawkeyes from VAW-114.[4][5]
Targets included Radar Stations and Integrated Air Operations Centers at Tallil Air Base (known to house MiG-29s[9]), Al Amara, Najaf, Samawah and four mobile anti-aircraft SAM/AAA sites.[4]
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.[10][8][6] 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.[4] An Iraqi News Agency soon reported that an Iraqi soldier as well as three civilians were killed as well as 7 civilians wounded.[10][11]
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 TLAMs were launched with 37 hitting their intended targets.[12] 1 Tomahawk was hit by AAA and crashed into the Rasheed Hotel in Baghdad, killing 2 civilians.[4]
On that same day, a formation of F-16Cs along with F-4Gs were to conduct reconnaissance operations, provide SAM suppression for British Jaguars investigating a newly discovered 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.[13] 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 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 MiG-29B Fulcrum-A (later confirmed to be a MiG-23 Flogger).[4][14][13] 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 KC-135 tanker.[13]
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 bombs on guns north of Mosul. Iraq then later called a cease fire to celebrate Clinton's inauguration which took place on the 20th of January.[4]
January 21/22 Incident
Around 17 hours after 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 Mirage F1 aircraft configured for Reconnaissance.[4] 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.[4]
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.[4][5]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Gulf War Chronology: 1992 Operations after the war". web.archive.org. 2006-09-25. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ "Gulf War Chronology: 1991 Operations after the war". web.archive.org. 2006-09-25. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ "CVW-5 No19". www.webmodelers.com. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Gulf War Chronology: 1993 Operations after the war". web.archive.org. 2006-09-25. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
- ^ a b c "Kitty Hawk II (CVA-63)". public1.nhhcaws.local. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
- ^ a b Jr, R. W. Apple (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.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "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.
- ^ a b J. McNulty, Timothy (January 14, 1993). "ALLIED STRIKE PUNISHES IRAQ". Chicago Tribune.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Gellman, Barton; Devroy, Ann (January 14, 1993). "U.S. DELIVERS LIMITED AIR STRIKE ON IRAQ". The Washington Post.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Al Nida Establishment / Zaafaraniyah - Iraq Special Weapons Facilities". fas.org. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
- ^ a b c "Fighter Pilot University: Cleared to Lead and Kill MiGs". web.archive.org. 2010-09-29. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
- ^ "Airframe Details for F-16 #86-0262". www.f-16.net. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
- Conflicts in 1993
- Airstrikes conducted by the United States
- Airstrikes conducted by the United Kingdom
- Airstrikes conducted by France
- 20th-century military history of the United States
- Iraq–United States military relations
- January 1993 events in Asia
- Presidency of George H. W. Bush
- Presidency of Bill Clinton
- 1993 in Iraq