F-105 Wild Weasel vs SA-2 'Guideline' SAM: Vietnam 1965-73 (Duel)

81 Pages·2011·7.9 MB·English

by  Peter Davies

D
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Thisistheaccountofmachinesofwarpittedagainsteachother •
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andthecombatantswhooperatedthem.Stepontothebattlefield 5
OSPREY
andimmerseyourselfintheexperienceofrealhistoriccombat.
DUEL F
-
1
Engage the Enemy 0
5
F-105 WILD WEASEL
VS
S
SA-2 “GUIDELINE” SAM A
-
2
Vietnam 1965–73
TheVietnamWarsawthefirstextensiveuseofsurface-to-air
anti-aircraftmissiles,heraldinganentirelynewtypeofaerialcombat
thatpittedAmerica’stopfighter-bomber,theF-105WildWeasel,
againsttheNorthVietnameseSA-2SAM,suppliedandinitially F-105 WILD W… AS… L
mannedbytheSoviets.Equippedwiththelatestanti-radiation
missilesandradardetectionequipment,theF-105swererequired
tobe“firstin,lastout”,exposingthemtofarmoresustainedenemy
firethanotherUSaircraft.Theclashpromptedstep-changesin
technologyandtacticsasUSfighterunitsstrovetodefeattheir
ground-basedopponents,whointurnevolvedingeniousdeception SA-2 “GUIDELINE” SAM
techniques.DrawinguponunpublishedNorthVietnamesesources
andfeaturingspeciallycommissionedartworkandmaps,this
PEOPLE’S
NORTHVIETNAM REPUBLICOFCHINA
groundbreakingstudyexplorestheclashofthetwokeyweapons
YenBai(MiG)
PhucYen(MiG) Kep(MiG) usedinthiscrucialandinnovativeaspectoftheVietnamWar. Vietnam 1965–73
Hanoi GiaLam(MiG)
BacMai(MiG) Haiphong
KienAn(MiG)
Gulf
ofTonkin Hainan
Colorartwork Photographs Unrivaleddetail Cutawayartwork
AndersenAFB,Guam(B-52
(F-4) Nakhon (2,900milesfromHanoi)
Phanom
SakonNakhon
DongHoi(MiG)
D ilit i dZ
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SPREY
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PUBLISHING D
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P PETER DAVIES
WWW.OSPREYPUBLISHING.COM R
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DUE 35 Imprint for Ebook.qxd:DUE 35 Weasel and SAM 23/9/11 12:01 Page 2
FirstpublishedinGreatBritainin2011byOspreyPublishing, F-105WildWeaselcoverart
MidlandHouse,WestWay,Botley,Oxford,OX20PH,UK OnMarch10,1967,theUSAFmountedamajorattackontheai
44–0223rdSt,Suite219,LongIslandCity,NY11101,USA Nguyenironandsteelworks35milesfromHanoi.CaptsMerlyn
E-mail:[email protected] Dethlefsen(pilot)andMikeGilroy(ElectronicWarfareOfficer,orEWO),
©2011OspreyPublishingLtd flyingF-105F63-8341ofthe354thTFS/355thTFW,wereinvolvedin
thismission,leadingthesecondelementof“Lincoln”flight(afour-aircraft
Allrightsreserved.Apartfromanyfairdealingforthepurposeofprivatestudy,
WildWeaselflight).eirwingman,MajKenBell,wasflyinganF-105D.
research,criticismorreview,aspermittedundertheCopyright,Designsand
Bothjetswere“trolling”forSAMssothattheycouldattackthesiteafter
PatentsAct,1988,nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedin
firstmakingtheoperatorsturnontheir“FanSong”radar.eflight
aretrievalsystem,ortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronic,
commander,MajDavidEverson(withCaptDonLuna)in“Lincoln01”,
electrical,chemical,mechanical,optical,photocopying,recordingorotherwise,
wasshotdownbyAAAandhiswingman,CaptBillHoeft,hadto
withoutthepriorwrittenpermissionofthecopyrightowner.Inquiriesshould
withdrawafterhisjetsufferedseriousflakdamage.CaptGilroywasableto
beaddressedtothePublishers.
locateaSAMsiteonapassthatleftbothF-105sdamaged,andDethlefsen
ACIPcatalogrecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary. linedupanAGM-45ShrikemissileattackjustastwoMiG-21sfiredat
themfrombehind.Dethlefsendeliberatelyflewintoheavyanti-aircraft
PrintISBN:9781849084710 artillery(AAA)andtheMiGschosenottofollow.SeeingadifferentSAM
PDFe-bookISBN:9781849084727 sitedirectlyahead,hefiredaShrikeatit,puttingtheradarofftheair.On
ePube-bookISBN:9781780962313 theirnextpassbothF-105sbombedthesiteandthenreturnedtostrafeit
with20mmgunfire,leavingmuchofthetargetareaablaze.Onlythendid
EditedbyTonyHolmes
thedamagedWeaselsleaveaftertenminutesinthearea.CaptDethlefsen
CockpitandgunsightartworkbyJimLaurier wasawardedtheMedalofHonorforhisactionsthatday,whileCapt
CoverartworkandbattlescenebyGarethHector GilroyreceivedtheAirForceCrossandMajBelltheSilverStar.
ree-viewsandarmamentscrapviewsbyJimLaurier (ArtworkbyGarethHectorusingamodelsuppliedbyMilviz)
PagelayoutbyKenVailGraphicDesign,Cambridge,UK
IndexbyAlanatcher
TypesetinITCConduitandAdobeGaramond SA-2“Guideline”coverart
MapsbyBounford.com AnSA-2islaunchedbythe61stBatteryofthe236thMissileRegimenton
OriginatedbyPDQDigitalMediaSolutions,Suffolk,UK February14,1968,duringanattackonthePaulDoumerBridge.is
PrintedinChinathroughBookbuilders unit,commandedbyColM.TsyganovoftheSovietArmy,wasthefirstto
usetheSA-2inNorthVietnam.OnJuly24,1965,itshotdownF-4C
PhantomII63-7599ofthe47thTFS/15thTFWnearHanoi,thusgiving
11 12 13 14 15 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
theSA-2itsfirstUSAFkill.eunitalsopioneeredtechniquessuchas
manual/automatic“threepoint”guidancetodefeatjammingbyUS
©OspreyPublishing.Accesstothisbookisnotdigitallyrestricted.Inre-
aircraft.ePaulDoumerBridgemissiononFebruary14includedanF-
turn,weaskyouthatyouuseitforpersonal,non-commercialpurposes
105IronHandflightthatwasfollowingastrikeforceoffthetargetat
only.Pleasedon’tuploadthispdftoapeer-to-peersite,emailittoevery-
8,000ft,havingkepttheSAMbatteriesquietduringtheattack.e61st
oneyouknow,orresellit.OspreyPublishingreservesallrightstoitsdigi-
talcontentandnopartoftheseproductsmaybecopied,storedina Battery’sSA-2hitF-105D60-0418SugarBuggerofthe34thTFS/388th
retrievalsystemortransmittedinanyformbyanymeans,electronic,me- TFW.PilotCaptRobertElliotejectedfromtheblazingWeaselbuthedid
chanical,recordingorotherwise(exceptaspermittedhere),withoutthe notsurvive.HisaircrafthadbeencarryingaGeneralElectricQRC-160-8
writtenpermissionofthepublisher.Pleasesupportourcontinuingbook ECMpod,latermanufacturedastheAN/ALQ-87.Morepowerfulthanthe
publishingprogrammebyusingthispdfresponsibly. basicQRC-160-1carriedbystrikeF-105s,this“special”podwastunedto
jamthecodedsignals“downlink”fromtheSA-2’sFR-15transponderthat
enabled“FanSong”totrackthemissileandthensenditsteering
correctionstoitsimpactpoint.Inthefinalweeksof1967manySA-2s
hadlostcontrolduetothisjamming.epodfromElliot’saircraft
wasrecovered,repairedandstudiedbySovietscientists,leadingto
modificationstotheSA-2’stransponderthatpreventedjamming.
(ArtworkbyGarethHector)
Acknowledgements
Iamgratefultothefollowingfortheirassistancewiththisbook–ColDan
Barry,USAF(Ret.),ColMikeChervenka,USAF(Ret.),MajMurray
Denton,USAF(Ret.),LtColAllenLamb,USAF(Ret.),NguyenVan
Dinh,NguyenXuanDai,NormanE.Taylor,PhamTruongHuy,CaptEd
Sandelius,USAF(Ret.)andDrIstvánToperczer.Finally,thankstowell-
knownVietnamesewriteruyHuongDuong,authorofeMiG-17
andUs,forinterviewingNguyenXuanDaiandPhamTruongHuyfor
thisbook.
DUE 35 Weasel and SAM.qxd:DUE 35 Weasel and SAM 10/1/11 15:57 Page 1
F-105 WILD W…AS…L
SA-2 “GUIDELINE” SAM
Vietnam 1965–73
PETER DAVIES
DUE 35 Weasel and SAM.qxd:DUE 35 Weasel and SAM 10/1/11 14:32 Page 3
CONTENTS
Introduction 4
Chronology 8
Design and Development 10
Technical Specifications 24
The Strategic Situation 35
The Combatants 42
Combat 52
Statistics and Analysis 71
Aftermath 76
Further Reading 78
Index 80
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INTRODUCTION
Pyotr Grushin, who headed the OKB-2 design bureau that conceived the V-750/
SA-2 in 1953, would have been surprised that “his” missile was used in Vietnam
primarily against tactical fighters. Its original purpose was to intercept high-flying
American bombers equipped with nuclear weapons, as Premier Joseph Stalin had
considered them to be the biggest threat to the USSR. Only at the conclusion of the
Vietnam War was it pitted against the B-52 Stratofortress, the opponent that had
motivated Grushin’s team 20 years earlier.
Similarly, Alexander Kartveli, a Russian emigrant from Stalin’s hometown, Tbilisi,
and primary designer of the F-105 Thunderchief nuclear strike fighter in 1952, could
hardly have guessed that his creation would evolve into the USAF’s first dedicated
aircraft for the suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), particularly the SA-2, over
North Vietnam.
Suppressing anti-aircraft fire was an established mission for tactical aircraft, and
its dangers were well known. In support of the massive airborne assault codenamed
Operation Market Gardenin September 1944, four USAAF fighter groups attacked
German flak batteries and the 56th FG lost a third of its P-47 Thunderbolts on one
mission alone. This role continued through the Korean War and into Vietnam, where
anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) was the largest component in the communist North’s air
defense network. Dueling with flak gunners was risky, officially discouraged, but
sometimes inevitable.
The introduction of surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) in the early 1950s demanded
new approaches. Radar-directed missiles were seen as the replacement for air-to-air
guns, being the nemesis of both manned fighters and bombers. Tests indicated that
their probability-of-kill rate was close to 100 per cent even with unreliable thermionic
4 valve technology that existed at the time. The loss of a Lockheed U-2 spyplane over
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the USSR in May 1960 and another over Cuba in October 1962 showed the accuracy The first F-105F-1-RE
of the SA-2 and the difficulties in defeating it. Ten years later, America’s foremost (62-4412) is seen here sat
on Republic’s Farmingdale,
military aircraft were still being destroyed by the same missile over North Vietnam.
Long Island, ramp alongside
In Korea, the USAF was unprepared for the radar-directed AAA which threatened
an early F-105D-5-RE for
its B-29 bombers, forcing it to resort to World War II-vintage radar jammers and comparison. The latter
B-26 Invaders fitted with radar homing. In 1953 the American military responded (58-1155) served as a test
aircraft, ending its service
to the advent of the SA-2 with the funding of urgent electronic warfare research,
career with the 121st TFS ANG.
although fitting SAM warning systems to aircraft like the U-2 still had a low priority.
The two-seat F-105 was a
The Cuban missile threat hastened the development of the Texas Instruments minimum-change project
ASM-N-10 (later designated AGM-45 Shrike) as a US Navy anti-radiation missile that outlived the single-seat
(ARM) in 1962–64, although it did not appear on USAF aircraft until March 1966. variants in frontline service in
roles that were very different
The Bendix Corporation responded quickly to the arrival of SA-2s around Hanoi
from its initial training
with a Radar Homing and Warning (RHAW) system proposal for the F-100 Super
function. (USAF)
Sabre that used existing, tested equipment.
By August 1965, after USAF jets began to fall to SA-2s, Brig Gen Kenneth
Dempster was tasked with energising the anti-SAM program and finding rapid,
operationally practical solutions. His committee recommended a force of hunter-killer
aircraft to extend Korean War tactics by using SAM radar detection equipment to
identify SA-2 sites rather than merely jamming them.
For Project Wild Weasel I, four F-100F Super Sabres carried two systems produced
by Applied Technologies – the Vector IV (APR-25) RHAW set with a cathode ray
tube strobe showing the direction of a SAM threat, and the IR-133 panoramic receiver
which analysed and identified radar emissions. Finally, a WR-300 unit warned of an
imminent SAM launch. 5
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A camouflaged SA-2 (SA-75M) As Wild Weasel pioneers, Maj Garry Willard and his four-aircraft F-100F
is prepared for launching near Detachment interrupted their training at Nellis AFB due to the urgent need (as seen
Hanoi in 1967. An open door
by the Pentagon) for “an immediate RHAW capability to counter the missile threat”
on the SM-63-1 launcher
and headed to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB). Commencing operations
reveals the cranked handle of
the manual back-up traverse on November 24, 1965, the “det” quickly established many of thetactics used by later
system and the large electric F-105F/G crews, including the standard SAM evasion tactic – a “split-S” diving turn
motor normally used for
into the missile’s trajectory, with a last-second break that the missile could not follow.
elevation and traverse.
Capts Allen Lamb and Jack Donovan made the first of nine SAM-site kills on
(via Dr IstvánToperczer)
December 22, 1965, attacking and marking the target with guns and LAU-3 rocket
pods for F-105D bombers. Lamb recalled, “As I pulled off there was a bright flash. I
must have hit the oxidizer supply for the SA-2 rocket motor”.
This engagement introduced a new era of electronic warfare between the crews of
the F-100F’s successor, the F-105 Thunderchief, and teams of North Vietnamese
conscripts and their Soviet advisors. Operating in hot, dark, claustrophobic radar
vans, the missile technicians sat close together on simple metal chairs, grappling with
the crude but tricky manual control wheels of “Fan Song” guidance radars and
learning to penetrate US jamming and countermeasures. They faced the constant risk
of an anti-radiation missile strike on their compartment, or a lacerating cluster-bomb
attack. Other troops drove the SA-2’s cumbersome trans-loader vehicles from the
SAM sites into crowded urban areas to collect new missiles once the SAM battery’s
6 complement of 12 weapons was exhausted.
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In the cockpits of the small numbers of F-105 Wild Weasels, pilots struggled to F-105G-1-RE 62-4428, serving
steer their heavy aircraft through unprecedented levels of AAA, not to mention with the 333rd TFS/355th
multiple SA-2 launches, trying in poor visibility to identify camouflaged SAM sites TFW, boasts a conventional
bomb load in this May 1970
and set up missile attacks on them. Their electronic warfare officers (EWOs, or
photograph. The aircraft had
“bears”) faced an increasing overload of work as they managed the EW systems and
received the TCTO 1F-105F
weapons panels. They also had to watch for MiGs, despite the very limited view from 536 blind bombing
their cockpits, and monitor crowded communications and navigation channels, while modification for “Ryan’s
Raiders”/Commando Nail
enduring constant high-g maneuvering. Their mission was neatly summarized in the
operations that paved the way
388th TFW’s Tactics Manual:
for many F-105F Iron Hand
and Wild Weaseltactics.
The mission of Wild Weaselaircrews generally falls into two roles – Iron Handto suppress It was later upgraded to
an F-105G-1-RE. Variously
and Wild Weaselto destroy. Tactics employed on the Iron Handmissions are primarily
nicknamed June Bug, Rum
designed to suppress the SA-2 and gun-laying radar defenses of North Vietnam during
Runnerand Red Ballwith
the ingress, attack and egress of the main strike force. Shrike missiles are used to kill, or the 388th TFW, it completed
at least harass, the SA-2 and/or “Fire Can” (AAA) radar transmitters. Coincidentally the 5,276 flying hours and ended
its days as a gate guardian
threat represented by the Iron Handflight also diverts the attention of enemy radar
at RAF Croughton, in
operators from the main strike force and this, in itself, is a form of suppression.
Northamptonshire. 62-4428
is the only F-105 presently
On both sides, courage and ingenuity were at least as important as technology. resident in the UK. (USAF)
7
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CHRONOLOGY
1951 1959
Using German wartime technology,
Pavel Kuksenko and Sergei Beria October 7 Five SA-75 batteries, delivered to
plan the Berkut/S-25 SAM system the People’s Republic of China,
for Moscow. shoot down a Republic of China
1952 Air Force (RoCAF) RB-57D
spyplane for the first-ever SAM kill.
September Republic Aviation Corporation
1960
receives an order for F-105A strike
fighters. May 1 A U-2C flown by Francis Gary
1953 Powers is brought down by a single
S-75N, causing a major
November 20 To supplement the Almaz-designed
international incident.
S-25 SAM, the Kremlin orders the
1962
Fakel S-75.
1955 October 27 A 4080th SRW U-2F flown by Maj
Rudy Anderson is shot down over
October 22 First YF-105A flies, followed by the
Cuba by three SA-2s, precipitating
F-105B in May 1956.
the threat of nuclear war between
1956
SKB P-12 Yenisei (“Spoon Rest”) the USA and USSR.
VHF radar enters service in Soviet 1962–70
At least 11 RoCAF U-2s are shot
Union.
down by S-75s over China.
1957
1963
November SA-2 is first shown in public at a
June 11 Two-seat F-105F makes its first
Red Square parade in Moscow.
flight.
December S-75/V-750/SA-75 Dvina SAM
1965
(SA-2 “Guideline”), with RSNA-75
(“Fan Song”) fire control radar, April Soviet PVO-Strany missile
enters Soviet service, with plans for Regiments with SA-75s deploy to
7,220 missiles. North Vietnam. A US Navy RF-8A
photographs the first site.
July 24 USAF F-4C Phantom II is shot
down by the 236th SAM Regiment
near Hanoi. Strategic Air
Command U-2s first photograph
four SA-2 sites near Hanoi that
same day.
Technicians work on prototype F-105F-1-RE 62-4412, which reached
Mach 1.15 on its maiden flight (on June 11, 1963) with test pilot
Carlton B. Ardery Jnr at the controls. Having performed initial test
duties, the aircraft trained pilots with the 4520th CCTW at Nellis AFB
from June 11, 1963 until it was lost in an accident near Tyndall AFB,
8 Florida, on January 17, 1966. (Fairchild Hiller/Republic)
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An SA-2 creates a huge cloud of dust and smoke as it accelerates away from its SM-63-1 launcher.
July 27 First USAF Iron Handattack November Operation Rolling Thunderends
mission against SAM sites loses six but F-105F Wild Weaselsremain
F-105Ds. in Thailand to provide EW support
October First Vector-equipped F-105D tests for B-52s.
“anti-SAM” ECM devices, pioneered 1969
in the F-100F Wild Weasel I.
October 61 “Mod 1” updated F-105Fs
December 22 Vector-equipped F-105D makes
are re-designated F-105G.
the first SAM-site kill.
1970–71
SAM regiments deploy to southern
1966
North Vietnam.
February First of 86 Wild Weasel IIIF-105F
1972
conversions is completed.
April An F-105G detachment re-deploys
April 18 AGM-45 Shrike is fired
to Korat RTAFB and crews
operationally from an Iron Hand
subsequently fly Iron Handand
F-105D for the first time, probably
“hunter-killer” missions throughout
hitting a “Fan Song” radar.
Operation Linebacker, remaining
May Five Wild Weasel IIIF-105Fs deploy
in Thailand on active service until
to Korat RTAFB, Thailand.
October 1974.
June 7 F-105Fs destroy a GCI radar unit
December SA-2 crews down no fewer than 16
and a “Fan Song” van.
B-52s despite comprehensive Wild
1967
Weaselprotection, jamming and
August SA-2 regiments begin to use optical
chaff countermeasures.
and “three-point guidance” to defeat
1973
USAF jamming.
1968 January Thirty-nine of North Vietnam’s 95
SA-2 batteries remain active at the
February Eight Mod 0 (AGM-78 Standard
end of the war.
ARM-capable) F-105Fs are deployed
to Takhli RTAFB. 9