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Andrea Doria-class cruiser

Andrea Doria (C 553), Caio Duilio (C 554)

Design

Ordered in the 1957-58 Naval Programme, the Andrea Doria class were designed to operate the RIM-2 Terrier surface-to-air missile (SAM) system and Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King helicopters as both a platform for anti-air and anti-submarine warfare. The hull was based on the Impavido class, with a length of 149.3 metres (489 ft 10 in) and an enlarged beam to allow for the installation of a flight deck and hangar, measuring 17.3 metres (56 ft 9 in). The vessels had a draught of 5.0 m (16 ft 5 in) and displaced 5,000 tons standard and 6,500 tons loaded.[1]

The flight deck measured 30 by 16 metres (98 by 52 ft) and was placed aft of the superstructure. It was cantilevered out at the stern to provide extra operational space.[1]

The Andrea Doria class was intended to provide long range anti-aircraft and anti submarine protection, and as such was armed with a single Mark 10 twin rail launcher for the American Terrier surface-to-air missile forward and a large helicopter deck and hangar at the aft end of the ship.[1] It was planned to carry three Sea King helicopters, but these proved too large for the ship, and four Agusta-Bell AB-212 helicopters were carried instead.[1][4]

Close-in anti-aircraft protection was provided by eight 76mm/L62 Allargato rapid fire guns mounted on pedestals around the ship's superstructure, while two sets of triple torpedo tubes for lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes provided short range anti-submarine armament.[1][2]

Armament

For anti-air warfare the Andrea Dorias were equipped with one Mk 10 twin-arm launcher with 40 RIM-2 Terrier missiles placed forward. The ships were also provided with eight Oto Melara 76 mm/62 MMI guns to be used for point-blank anti-aircraft defence. The class was originally intended to be armed with the SMP 3 76 mm/62 gun found on the Albatros-class corvette, however that gun was rated poorly and was replaced. The choice to arm the cruisers with the 76 mm guns was based on a decision taken in 1958 that only guns of that size were adequate in point blank air defence.[1] The guns were placed in six single turrets amidships abreast the funnel and the bridge.[2]

The cruisers were also equipped with six 324-millimetre (13 in) Mk32 torpedo tubes in two triple mounts. These were for use against submarines.[2] In conjunction with the torpedo systems, the Andrea Dorias could embark up to four helicopters. The Sea Kings were found to be too large for the class and the Italians instead chose to use Agusta-Bell AB 212 helicopters modified for anti-submarine warfare.[2]

Electronics

Initially, the Andrea Doria class was equipped with SPS-12 and SPS-39A radars for air search and surveillance and SPQ-2 for navigation. They also carried SQS-39 sonar.[1] The guns were automatically controlled by the Italian-designed NA-9 Orion fire control system guided by the SPG-70 radar.[1]

History

The class consisted of two vessels both commissioned in 1964 and in service into the late 1980s. A third, Enrico Dandolo (C555), was cancelled. Andrea Doria was modernised in 1976-78, exchanging the RIM-2 missiles for the SM-1ER surface-to-air missile.[2] The ship received an updated electronics package, mounting SPS-40 2-D air search radar, SPG-55C fire control radar and SQS-23 sonar.[1]

Caio Duilio received only a marginal modernisation in 1979-80 and instead was modified to become a training ship. Its aft hangar was removed and replaced with classrooms and two of its 76mm mounts were removed aft. In 1980 it replaced San Giorgio as the fleet's training vessel.[2] Both ships mounted new electronic warfare packages, SPS-768 long-range search radars and SPR-4 intercept and SLQ-D jammers.[1]

During the late 1970s, Caio Duilio was upgraded to carry the improved SM-1ER Standard missile, with improved radars and sonar also being fitted.[5][1]

In 1979–1980, Caio Duilio was converted to a training cruiser to replace the old Capitani Romani-class cruiser San Giorgio. The ship's original hangar was turned into classrooms and additional accommodation, with a new, smaller, hangar being built on the forward part on the helicopter deck, reducing the ship's aviation capacity to two helicopters. The aft two 76 mm guns were also removed, together with their associated fire control radars.[5][2]

330px-Andrea_Doria_85-Terrier.jpg
Andrea Doria while launching a Terrier SAM in Sardinia in 1985, seen from the frigate Grecale.
History
60px-Naval_ensign_of_Italy.svg.pngItaly
Name Andrea Doria
Namesake Andrea Doria
Builder Cantieri del Tirreno, Riva Trigoso
Laid down 11 May 1958
Launched 27 February 1963
Commissioned 23 February 1964
Decommissioned 30 September 1992[1]
Fate Scrapped
General characteristics
Class & type Andrea Doria-class cruiser
Displacement 6,500 long tons (6,604 t)
Length 149.2 m (489 ft 6 in)
Beam 17.2 m (56 ft 5 in)
Draught 5 m (16 ft 5 in)
Propulsion Steam turbines, 4 boilers, 2 shafts, 60,000 shp (45 MW)
Speed 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range 3,500 nmi (6,500 km)
Complement 485
Armament
Aircraft carried 4 helicopters

 

330px-CaioDuilio1985.jpg
Caio Duilio after conversion into a training cruiser
History
60px-Naval_ensign_of_Italy.svg.pngItaly
Name Caio Duilio
Namesake Gaius Duilius
Builder Navalmeccanica , Castellammare di Stabia
Laid down 16 May 1958
Launched 22 December 1962
Commissioned 30 November 1964
Decommissioned 15 November 1989
Stricken 19 July 1991
Fate Sold for scrap 31 December 1992
General characteristics [1]
Class & type Andrea Doria-class cruiser
Displacement 6,500 long tons (6,604 t)
Length
  • 144.0 m (472 ft 5 in) pp
  • 149.2 m (489 ft 6 in) overall
Beam 17.3 m (56 ft 9 in)
Draught 5.0 m (16 ft 5 in)
Propulsion Steam turbines, 4 boilers, 2 shafts, 60,000 shp (45 MW)
Speed 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range 5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 7 kn (13 km/h; 8.1 mph)
Complement 485
Sensors &
processing systems
  • 1× SPS-12 air search radar
  • 1× SPS-39 3D air search radar
  •  SPQ-2 air/surface search radar
  • 2× SPG-55 missile fire control radar
  • 4× RTN 10X gun fire control radar[2]
  • SQS-39 sonar
Armament
Aircraft carried 4 helicopters

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Doria-class_cruiser

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_cruiser_Andrea_Doria

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_cruiser_Caio_Duilio

Edited by Jaroslav
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Posted

Cruiser Vittorio Veneto

This ship has the same general layout as the smaller Andrea Doria-class helicopter cruisers, but with two elevators in the flight deck and the hangar below, rather than with the hangar as part of the superstructure.[2]

Design

Vittorio Veneto has a displacement of 7,500 tons standard and 8,850 tons fully loaded.[3] Unlike the Andrea Dorias, which had separate funnels, it has two combination mast/funnels. The second major difference in design is the location of the helicopter facilities. Vittorio Veneto has a raised rear deck to accommodate a hangar beneath the helicopter platform, rather than a frigate/destroyer style hangar in the superstructure. There are two elevators to transfer the helicopters between the hangar and the deck.[2]

Originally the ship carried armament similar to the Andrea Dorias comprising a Terrier anti-aircraft system situated in front of the bridge, which could also be used to launch ASROC antisubmarine rockets. Compared to the Andrea Dorias, Vittorio Veneto's missile magazine has a third drum, increasing magazine capacity by a half to sixty rounds.[2] The secondary armament comprised eight dual-purpose 76 mm (3 in) guns[2] in a ring around the superstructure, similar to the Andrea Dorias. Finally, the vessel was armed with two triple 324 mm torpedo launchers.[2] Vittorio Veneto could operate up to nine light helicopters, of the types Agusta-Bell AB-204[4] or later AB-212[4] or six heavy helicopters of the type AB-61,[4] which could be housed in the hangar beneath the long rear deck.

The electronics were rather advanced for the time, comprising a three-dimensional AN/SPS-52 B radar and an SPS-768 (RAN 3L) air search radar. For anti-submarine warfare an AN/SQS-23 sonar set was installed.

Modifications

The ship underwent an extensive update between 1981 and 1984. The electronics were updated, and launchers for Otomat missiles were installed,[2] together with three OTO Melara twin 40 mm (1.6 in) DARDO CIWS compact gun mounts for AA defence[2] and Standard SM-1ER SAM missiles to replace the Terrier SAM.[2] The engine feeding system was shifted from nafta to diesel fuel for standardisation and environmental reasons.

History

Although the Andrea Doria-class helicopter cruisers proved a useful addition to the fleet, it was judged that a larger ship was necessary. Such a vessel would be able operate a larger airwing and provide helicopter support in bad weather conditions. These considerations led to the Vittorio Veneto class, of which two ships were originally planned, though only one was actually built.

History
60px-Naval_ensign_of_Italy.svg.pngItaly
Name Vittorio Veneto
Namesake Vittorio Veneto
Builder Italcantieri
Laid down 10 June 1965
Launched 5 February 1967
Commissioned 12 July 1969
Decommissioned
  • Placed into reserve 1 November 2003
  • Decommissioned 29 June 2006
Homeport Taranto
Identification
Motto Victoria nobis vita
Fate Scrapped at Aliaga Turkey 2021
General characteristics
Type Helicopter cruiser
Displacement
  • 7,500 tons standard
  • 9,550 tons full loaded
Length 179.6 m (589 ft)
Beam 19.4 m (64 ft)
Draught 6.0 m (19.7 ft)
Installed power 4 Foster Wheeler boilers, 73,000 shp (54,000 kW)
Propulsion 2 shaft geared turbines
Speed 30.5 knots (56.5 km/h; 35.1 mph)
Range 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement 557
Sensors &
processing systems
  • 1 × SPS-52 early warning radar
  • 1 × SPS-768 long range radar
  • 1 × SPQ-2 surface radar
  • 2 × SPG-55 missile fire control radar
  • 4 × Orion 10X fire control radar
  • 2 × Orion 20X fire control radar
  • 1 × navigation radar
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • 2 × SCLAR decoy launcher
  • 1 × ECM system
  • 1 × TACAN
Armament
Aircraft carried 9 Augusta AB204 or Augusta AB 212 helicopters or 6 AB-61 helicopters

V.Veneto_1985.jpg

Missile cruiser Vittorio Veneto off Sardinia coast during a missile exercise in 1985.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_cruiser_Vittorio_Veneto

Posted

USS America (CV-66)

USS America (hull number CVA/CV-66) was one of three Kitty Hawk-class supercarriers built for the United States Navy in the 1960s. Commissioned in 1965, she spent most of her career in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, but did make three Pacific deployments serving in the Vietnam War. She also served in the Persian Gulf War's operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Construction and shakedown

Originally ordered as an Enterprise-class nuclear carrier, the ballooning costs of Enterprise during construction caused the cancellation of the nuclear CVAN-66 and her reordering as a conventionally powered Kitty Hawk-class carrier.[citation needed] She was laid down on 1 January 1961 at Newport News, Virginia, by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Corp.; launched on 1 February 1964.

History
60px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.pngUnited States
Name America
Namesake United States of America
Ordered 25 November 1960
Builder Newport News Shipbuilding
Laid down 9 January 1961
Launched 1 February 1964
Sponsored by Catherine McDonald
Christened 1 February 1964
Acquired 13 January 1965
Commissioned 23 January 1965
Decommissioned 9 August 1996
Reclassified CV-66, 30 June 1975
Stricken 9 August 1996
Homeport Norfolk, Virginia
Motto Don't Tread on Me
Nickname(s) The Big "A"
Fate Scuttled after live-fire testing 14 May 2005
Badge 120px-USS_America_%28CV-66%29_insignia_1963.png
General characteristics
Class & type Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carrier
Displacement 61,174 long tons (62,156 t) (light), 83,573 long tons (84,914 t) (full load)
Length 990 ft (300 m) (waterline), 1,048 ft (319 m) overall
Beam 248 ft (76 m) extreme, 129 ft (39 m) waterline
Draft 38 ft (12 m) (maximum), 37 ft (11 m) (limit)
Installed power 280,000 hp (210 MW)
Propulsion
  • 4 × steam turbines
  • 8 × boilers
  • 4 × shafts
Speed 34 kn (39 mph; 63 km/h)
Complement 502 officers, 4684 men
Sensors &
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
AN/SLQ-32
Armament
Aircraft carried about 79

Aircraft_carriers_USS_America_(CV-66)_an

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_America_(CV-66)#

Posted
On 7/5/2025 at 10:42 AM, Jaroslav said:

Italian forces:

Rapid Intervention Force (Forza di Intervento Rapido)
FIR was formed in 1986 to respond to regional crises out of the northeastern theatre. While it was not organized in peacetime, it consisted of a command tasked with planning and intervention drills in case of 
sudden crisis; it was expected to control the Folgore Airborne Brigade, the Friuli Motorized Brigade, the San Marco Operational Group (company strength), the 11th Signal Battalion Leonessa with the support of 1st RALE Antares, 46th Air Transport Brigade and Navy 3rd Naval division with amphibious units San Giorgio and San Giusto.

 

Folgore Para Brigade - Livorno:
1st Carabinieri Para Battalion Tuscanica - Livorno: 3 Para Cos in trucks and 13 VCC-1, 3 81mm mortar
2nd Para (Paracadutisti) Battalion Tarquinia - Livorno: 3 Para Cos, 1 Mech Para Co: 13 VCC-1, 8 81mm mrt, 24-36 Milan
SMiPar (Military Parachutism School) – Pisa:
3rd Air-drop Training Battalion Poggio Rusco - Pisa: training unit for Folgore 
5th Para Battalion El Alamein - Siena: 3 Para Cos, 1 Mech Para Coy: 13 VCC-1, 8 81mm mrt, 24-36 Milan
9th Assault Para Battalion Col Moschin - Livorno: 2 commando cos, 1 training co, total of 4 81mm mortars, 6 Milan
185th Para Field Artillery Group Viterbo - Livorno: HQ Bty, 3 Howitzer Bty 18 M56 105/14 towed howitzers or 18 120mm mortars, 1 SAM Bty 18-24 Stinger
Folgore Parachute Combat Engineer Coy – Lucca: 9 squads, little heavy equipment
Folgore Logistic Battalion - Pisa
26th ALE Squadrons Group Giove - Pisa S.Giusto:
426th EM Sq: 6 AB-205
526th ERI Sq: 6 AB-206


Friuli Motorized Infantry Brigade - Firenze: 4 M577
78th Motorized Infantry Battalion Lupi di Toscana - Scandicci: 3 Rifle Cos, 6 120mm mortars, 18 Milan, 9 Folgore
87th Motorized Infantry Battalion Senio - Pistoia: 3 Rifle Cos, 6-9 120mm mortars, 18 Milan, 9 Folgore
35th Motorized Infantry Battalion Pistoia (cadre) – Pistoia:
225th Infantry Battalion BAR Arezzo – Arezzo: 3 Rifle Cos, 9 M40A1/106 rcl, 9 81mm mortars
19th Armored Battalion MO Tumiati - Firenze: 26 Leopard 1A2, 16 M113, 3 M1064, 18 AR-59 M40A1/106 rcl, 2 Leopard BgPz 2
35th Field Artillery Group Riolo - Pistoia: 12 M114 155/23 towed howitzers, 6 M-56 105/14 towed howitzers, 12 Stinger POST teams
Friuli Anti Tank Coy - Scandicci: 12 AR-76 TOW
Friuli Combat Engineer Coy – Firenze: 9 squads in trucks
Friuli Logistics Battalion - Firenze

 

San Marco Marine Battalion –belongs to the Navy and was assigned to the AMF: 30 VCC-1, 24 LVTP-7, 8 106mm RCL, 6 Milan; the Navy’s marine infantry.

 

Amphibious Troops Command - Venezia Lido:
1st Lagunari Battalion Serenissima - Venezia Malcontenta: 40 VCC-2, 9 M106, 18 AR75 jeep w/Milan
Amtracks Battalion Sile - Venezia S.Andrea: 1 LVTC, 15 LVTP-7, 1 BgPz 2, various boats

 

Any advices would be appriciated.

All data is from Johnson / Callahan NATO OOB 1989. V8.6

Does anyone knows how many peoples were in this units?

Posted
On 7/5/2025 at 10:21 AM, Jaroslav said:

Spanish forces:

Light Airportable Infantry Brigade (BRILAT):
a. RIAT 29 “Isabel La Católica”
1.- I/29 Zamora Light Infantry Battalion
2.- II/29 Zaragoza Light Infantry Battalion
b. RIAT 3 “Príncipe”
1.- III/3 Toledo Light Infantry Battalion
2.- IV/3 San Quintin Light Infantry Battalion
c. Anti-tank Company
d. Airportable Artillery Group
e. Airportable Engineer Battalion
f. Airportable Logistic Group


Parachute Brigade (BRIPAC): Created from Legión units and maintaining close links, its battalions are designated “banderas”. Was designated as part of the General Reserve.
a. I Roger de Flor Parachute Battalion (Bandera Paracaidísta): 3 rifle cos (9 rifle squads, 3 MMG, 6 C-90 ATGL, 2 81mm mortars each), 1 support co (4 Land Rover w/Milan, 4 Land Rover w/106mm RR, 4 
LR-towed 20mm Oerlikon AA guns, 4 truck-towed 120mm mortars, Recon pltn)
b. II Roger de Lauria Parachute Battalion: same as above
c. III Órtiz de Zarate Parachute Battalion: same as above
d. Parachute Anti-tank Company: 12 Land Rover w/Milan
e. Parachute Artillery Group: 12 105mm M56 howitzers
f. Parachute Engineer Battalion: Two companies, light equipment
g. Parachute Radar Platoon: 3 Rasura radars

 

Tercio de Armada – (Marine Brigade)
A.HQ & HQ Co, Service Platoon, Police Platoon
B. Landing Group (Agrupacion de Desembarco – AD)
1. Batallon de Desmbarco 1
a. HQ & Service Co.
b. Recon Platoon: 3 Recon squads: 6 Land Rovers; 6 Recon teams, Radar squad, FO squad
c. Anti-tank. Platoon: 6 106mm RR 
d. Weapons Co: 8 81mm mortars on Land Rover, 6 12.7mm MGs on Land Rover
e. 3 x Infantry Cos, each: 2 60mm Mortars, 3 Dragon ATGM, 9 Infantry squads
2. Batallon de Desmbarco 2
a. HQ & Service Co.
b. Recon Platoon: 3 Recon squads: 6 Land Rovers; 6 Recon teams, Radar squad, FO squad
c. Anti-tank. Platoon: 6 106mm RR 
d. Weapons Co: 8 81mm mortars on Land Rover, 6 12.7mm MGs on Land Rover
e. 3 x Infantry Cos, each: 2 60mm Mortars, 3 Dragon ATGM, 9 Infantry squads
3. Special Operations Unit (UOE)
a. 3 Special Operations Platoons: 3 squads each.
4. Combat Support Group (AAC)
a. HQ & Service Co.
b. Landing Artillery Group (GAD)
1. HQ & Service Battery
2. SP Battery: 6 M-109A2 SP Guns, 6 M992 FAASV
3. 2 Howitzer Batteries: 6 105mm M56 howitzers each
4. Light SAM Btty: 20mm Oerlikon AA Guns
c. Amphibious Mechanized Group (GMA)
1. Amphibious Tractor Co: 16 LVTP-7
2. Tank Co. 16 M48A3E; 17 Scorpion light tanks
3. Anti-tank Co. 12 TOW on Land Rover
4. 3 Transport Cos: 12 BLR each
Note 1: Hummers were on order to replace the amphibious versions of Land Rover 88 and 109s. 
Note 2: UOE may have been a battalion strength unit with 3 para-commando companies plus a combat diver company.
Note 3: Marines may have had 8 M52A1 105mm SP


Naval Air
A. 3ª Escuadrilla – Rota: 12 AB-212ASW (including 4 fitted with Gufo ECM/ESM system)
B. 5ª Escuadrilla – Rota: 9 SH-3D Sea King, 3 SH-3AEW 
C. 6a Escuadrilla: 11 Hughes 500ASW
C. 8ª Escuadrilla -- Rota: 7 AV-8S Matador/2 TAV-8S (AV-8As)
D. 9ª Escuadrilla -- Rota: 12 EAV-8B
E. 10ª Escuadrilla – Rota: 6 SH-60B

 

Naval air wouldnt be all used.

Any advices would be appriciated.

All data is from Johnson / Callahan NATO OOB 1989. V8.6

@RETAC21 do you know how many people were in this units

Posted
On 7/5/2025 at 10:58 AM, Jaroslav said:

US forces:

United States 6th Fleet

Task Force 60

Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Battlegroup *(Part of 6th Fleet Jan 11 to June 20) Carrier Group 8 - (Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, US) USS Theodore Roosevelt CVN-71 - Nimitz Class Aircraft CarrierCarrier Air Wing 8 - Tail Code: AJ

VF-41 Black Aces - F-14A Tomcat

VF-84 Jolly Rogers - F-14A Tomcat

VFA-15 Valions - F/A-18A Hornet

VFA-87 Golden Warriors - F/A-18A Hornet

VA-35 Black Panthers - A-6E TRAM Intruder

VA-36 Roadrunners - A-6E TRAM Intruder

VAQ-141 Shadowhawks - EA-6B Prowler

VAW-124 Bear Aces - E-2C Hawkeye

VS-24 Scouts - S-3A Viking

HS-9 Griffins - SH-3H Sea King

(CVW8 – CVN71 USS Theodore Roosevelt (88-95, Nimitz prior)
VF-41 “Black Aces” – NAS Oceana: 12 F-14A
VF-84 “Jolly Rogers” – NAS Oceana: 12 F-14A 
VA-35 “Black Panthers” – NAS Oceana: 10 A-6E (to CVW17, 9/89)
VA-36 “Roadrunners” – NAS Oceana: 10 A-6E
VFA-15 “Valions” – NAS Oceana: 10 F/A-18A
VFA-87 “Golden Warriors” – NAS Cecil Field: 10 F/A-18A
VAQ-141 “Shadowhawks” – NAS Whidbey Island: 5 EA-6
VAW-124 “Bear Aces” – NAS Norfolk: 4 E-2C
VS-24 – NAS Cecil Field, FL: 10 S-3A
HS-3 “Tridents” – NAS Jacksonville: 5 (of 6 authorized) SH-3H)

USS South Carolina CGN-37 - California Class Cruiser - (Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, US)

USS Leyte Gulf CG-55 - Ticonderoga Class VLS Cruiser - (Naval Station Mayport, Florida, US)

USS Charles F. Adams DDG-2 - Charles F. Adams Class Destroyer (Naval Station Mayport, Florida, US)

USS Sellers DDG-11 - Charles F. Adams Class Destroyer (Charleston Naval Shipyard, South Carolina, US)

USS Conyngham DDG-17 - Charles F. Adams Class Destroyer

USS Farragut DDG-37 - Farragut Class Destroyer - (Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, US)

USS William V. Pratt DDG-44 - Farragut Class Destroyer - (Charleston Naval Shipyard, South Carolina, US)Submarine Squadron 8 (Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, US)

USS Hyman G. Rickover SSN-709 - Los Angeles Class Attack Submarine

 

And possibly:

Saratoga Carrier Battlegroup (7 August 1990 to 28 March 1991) - Red Sea

USS Saratoga CV-60

USS South Carolina CGN-37

USS Biddle CG-34

USS Philippine Sea CG-58

USS Spruance DD-963

USS Sampson DDG-10

USS Elmer Montgomery FF-1082

USS Thomas C. Hart FF-1092.

CVW17 –CV60 USS Saratoga (82-94)
VF-74 “Bedevilers” – NAS Oceana: 6 F-14A, 6 F-14A+ (converting to A+/B in 89)
VF-103 “Sluggers” – NAS Oceana: 8 F-14A, 7 F-14A+ (converting to A+/B in 89)
VFA-81 “Sunliners” – NAS Oceana: 14 F/A-18C (from A-7E, 3/88)
VFA-83 “Rampagers” – NAS Cecil Field: 14 F/A-18C (from A-7E, 3/88)
VAQ-132 “Scorpions” – NAS Whidbey Island: 4 EA-6B 

VAW-125 “Tiger Tails”: 3 (of 4 authorized) E-2C 
VS-30 “DiamondCutters”: 8 (of 10 authorized) S-2A
HS-3: 6 SH-3H

 

053.jpg

America Carrier Battlegroup (1989)

USS America CV-66

USS Dale CG-19

USS Mobile Bay CG-53

USS Lawrence DDG-4

USS Comte de Grasse DDG-974

USS Joseph Hewes FFG-1078 )

Carrier Air Wing One (CVW1) – CV66 USS America (82-96)
VF-33 “Starfighters” –NAS Oceana: 12 F-14
VF-102 “Diamondbacks” – NAS Oceana: 12 F-14B 
VA-85 “Black Falcons” – NAS Oceana: 10 A-6E, 4 KA-6D
VFA-82 “Marauders” – NAS Cecil Field: 10 (of 12 authorized) F/A-18C (from A-7E, 87, 1st Navy F/A-18C unit)
VFA-86 “Sidewinders” – NAS Cecil Field: 10 (of 12 authorized) F/A-18C (from A-7E, 11/87)
VAQ-137 “Rooks” – NAS Whidbey Island: 4 EA-6B ICAP II (regularly shifted between wings)
VS-32 “Maulers” – NAS Jacksonville: 10 S-3A (to -3B in 11/89)
VAW-123 “Screwtops” – NAS Norfolk: 4 E-2C
HS-11 “Dragonslayers” – NAS Jacksonville: 6 SH-3

 

LPH 7 USS Guadalcanal, with 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit - SOC (MEU/SOC) and HMM-162(C) embarked - Mediterranean Sea.

LPH-7 USS Guadalcanal

LPD-4 USS Austin

LSD-41 Whidbey Island

LST-1179 USS Newport

LST-1192 USS Spartanburg County

 

008.jpg

 

22nd MEU (MAGTF/CE), deployed as Landing Force 6th Fleet (LF6F)
1) BLT 3/8 (GCE)
a) 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Parent 8th Marine Regiment): 1103 men
b) Artillery Battery (Parent 10th Marine Regiment): 4 M198, 4 M101A1
c) Tank Platoon: 5 M60A1
d) Amphibious Assault Vehicle Platoon: 12 AAV
e) Reconnaissance Platoon
f) Combat Engineer Platoon 
2) HMM-162(Composite) (ACE)
a) HMM-162 “Golden Eagles”: 12 CH-46E (Parent MAG-29)
b) det HMLA-269: 2 AH-1T, 3 UH-1N
c) det HMH-464: 4 CH-53E

 

US Army Southern European Task Force:
1) 3-325th Parachute Infantry Battalion
- Vincenza, Italy: 7 .50 Cal HMMWV, 4 4.2in mortar, 6 81mm mortar, 12 TOW HMMWV, 60 Dragon (plus D/319th Field Artillery: 6 M101)
2) E Company, 502nd Aviation Regiment – Aviano AB, Italy: 16 CH-47D, 1 UH-1H
3) 6th Aviation Detachment – Aviano AB, Italy: 1 C-12C Huron, 3 UH-1H

 

FAIRMED NAVSUPPACT – Naples, Italy
HC-2 (detachment) – Napes: 1 SH-3G
HC-4 – NAS Sigonella, Sicily, Italy: 6 CH-53E
VQ-2 – NS Rota, Sapin: 5 EA-3B, 1 P-3A, 1 UP-3A
VR-22 – NS Rota: 4 C-130F, 2 KC-130F
VR-22 – NAS Sigonella: 6 C-2A, 3 CT-39G
NS Rota (permanently assigned aircraft): 1 UC-12M, 1 UC-12B
NAS Sigonella (permanently assigned aircraft): 1 VP-3A, 2 UC-12M, 1 UC-12B

 

Any advices would be appriciated.

All data is from Johnson / Callahan NATO OOB 1989. V8.6

and 

https://www.seaforces.org/usnships/lph/LPH-7-USS-Guadalcanal.htm

and 

http://www.gonavy.jp/

and 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_United_States_Navy_order_of_battle

3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment

The mission of the 3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment was to alert, marshal and deploy anywhere in the world within 18 hours, execute a forced-entry parachute assault, and attack to decisively defeat any enemy, in any terrain.

The 3-325th Airborne Battalion Combat Team's (ABCT) main Army mission revolved around rapidly deploying, then seizing and securing land in a hostile environment. The unit was made up of 5 companies with one attached artillery battery, D Battery, 319th Field Artillery (Airborne, Europe's only airborne field artillery battery. The Battalion fell under the command of the Southern European Task Force (SETAF), and was designated as the European Command (EUCOM) rapid reaction force.

...

More than 800 members of the 3-325th ABCT landed on Bosnian soil, bringing with them artillery, engineers, transportation and cooks...

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/3-325air.htm

Posted
14 minutes ago, Jaroslav said:

@RETAC21 do you know how many people were in this units

Nope, no clue, sorry

Posted (edited)
On 7/5/2025 at 10:42 AM, Jaroslav said:

Italian forces:

Rapid Intervention Force (Forza di Intervento Rapido)
FIR was formed in 1986 to respond to regional crises out of the northeastern theatre. While it was not organized in peacetime, it consisted of a command tasked with planning and intervention drills in case of 
sudden crisis; it was expected to control the Folgore Airborne Brigade, the Friuli Motorized Brigade, the San Marco Operational Group (company strength), the 11th Signal Battalion Leonessa with the support of 1st RALE Antares, 46th Air Transport Brigade and Navy 3rd Naval division with amphibious units San Giorgio and San Giusto.

 

Folgore Para Brigade - Livorno:
1st Carabinieri Para Battalion Tuscanica - Livorno: 3 Para Cos in trucks and 13 VCC-1, 3 81mm mortar
2nd Para (Paracadutisti) Battalion Tarquinia - Livorno: 3 Para Cos, 1 Mech Para Co: 13 VCC-1, 8 81mm mrt, 24-36 Milan
SMiPar (Military Parachutism School) – Pisa:
3rd Air-drop Training Battalion Poggio Rusco - Pisa: training unit for Folgore 
5th Para Battalion El Alamein - Siena: 3 Para Cos, 1 Mech Para Coy: 13 VCC-1, 8 81mm mrt, 24-36 Milan
9th Assault Para Battalion Col Moschin - Livorno: 2 commando cos, 1 training co, total of 4 81mm mortars, 6 Milan
185th Para Field Artillery Group Viterbo - Livorno: HQ Bty, 3 Howitzer Bty 18 M56 105/14 towed howitzers or 18 120mm mortars, 1 SAM Bty 18-24 Stinger
Folgore Parachute Combat Engineer Coy – Lucca: 9 squads, little heavy equipment
Folgore Logistic Battalion - Pisa
26th ALE Squadrons Group Giove - Pisa S.Giusto:
426th EM Sq: 6 AB-205
526th ERI Sq: 6 AB-206


Friuli Motorized Infantry Brigade - Firenze: 4 M577
78th Motorized Infantry Battalion Lupi di Toscana - Scandicci: 3 Rifle Cos, 6 120mm mortars, 18 Milan, 9 Folgore
87th Motorized Infantry Battalion Senio - Pistoia: 3 Rifle Cos, 6-9 120mm mortars, 18 Milan, 9 Folgore
35th Motorized Infantry Battalion Pistoia (cadre) – Pistoia:
225th Infantry Battalion BAR Arezzo – Arezzo: 3 Rifle Cos, 9 M40A1/106 rcl, 9 81mm mortars
19th Armored Battalion MO Tumiati - Firenze: 26 Leopard 1A2, 16 M113, 3 M1064, 18 AR-59 M40A1/106 rcl, 2 Leopard BgPz 2
35th Field Artillery Group Riolo - Pistoia: 12 M114 155/23 towed howitzers, 6 M-56 105/14 towed howitzers, 12 Stinger POST teams
Friuli Anti Tank Coy - Scandicci: 12 AR-76 TOW
Friuli Combat Engineer Coy – Firenze: 9 squads in trucks
Friuli Logistics Battalion - Firenze

 

San Marco Marine Battalion –belongs to the Navy and was assigned to the AMF: 30 VCC-1, 24 LVTP-7, 8 106mm RCL, 6 Milan; the Navy’s marine infantry.

 

Amphibious Troops Command - Venezia Lido:
1st Lagunari Battalion Serenissima - Venezia Malcontenta: 40 VCC-2, 9 M106, 18 AR75 jeep w/Milan
Amtracks Battalion Sile - Venezia S.Andrea: 1 LVTC, 15 LVTP-7, 1 BgPz 2, various boats

 

Any advices would be appriciated.

All data is from Johnson / Callahan NATO OOB 1989. V8.6

Motorized Brigade "Friuli", in Florence[8][9]

Command and Signal Unit "Friuli", in Florence

 78th Motorized Infantry Battalion "Lupi di Toscana", in Scandicci

 87th Motorized Infantry Battalion "Senio", in Pistoia[3]

 225th Infantry Battalion "Arezzo" (Recruits Training), in Arezzo

 19th Armored Battalion "M.O. Tumiati", in Florence (M47 Patton tanks and M113 APCs)

 35th Field Artillery Group "Riolo", in Pistoia (M114 155 mm towed howitzers)[5]

 Logistic Battalion "Friuli", in Coverciano

Anti-tank Company "Friuli", in Scandicci (BGM-71 TOW anti-tank guided missiles)

Engineer Company "Friuli", in Florence

The brigade also stored the equipment for a third maneuver battalion in Arezzo, which in case of war would have been filled with reservists, and recruits from the 225th Infantry (Recruits Training) Battalion "Arezzo", and would have been named 35th Motorized Infantry Battalion "Pistoia".

On 1 January 1986, the "Friuli" Brigade and the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore", in conjunction with some units of the Light Army Aviation and the Navy's San Marco Regiment, became the Rapid Intervention Forces of the Italian Military, deployable on short notice for out of area missions.[2]

(19th Armored Battalion "M.O. Tumiati - The battalion was assigned to the Motorized Brigade "Friuli" and consisted of a command, a command and services company, two tank companies with M47 Patton tanks, and a mechanized company with M113 armored personnel carriers. The battalion fielded now 536 men (34 officers, 83 non-commissioned officers, and 419 soldiers).[1][6] On 12 November 1976, the President of the Italian Republic Giovanni Leone granted with decree 846 the 19th Armored Battalion "M.O. Tumiati" its flag.[1][7] In 1988 the battalion replaced its M47 Patton tanks with Leopard 1A2 main battle tanks.[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_Armored_Battalion_"M.O._Tumiati" )

Brigade wartime strenght ~4600 men.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airmobile_Brigade_"Friuli"

 

Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore", in Livorno[7][8][9]

Paratroopers Command and Signal Unit "Folgore",[7] in Livorno

1st Carabinieri Paratroopers Battalion "Tuscania",[7] in Livorno

 2nd Paratroopers Battalion "Tarquinia",[7][10] in Livorno

 3rd Paratroopers Battalion "Poggio Rusco" (Recruits Training), in Pisa[8][7]

 5th Paratroopers Battalion "El Alamein",[7][11] in Livorno (moved to Siena in 1978)

 9th Paratroopers Assault Battalion "Col Moschin",[12][7] in Livorno

 185th Paratroopers Field Artillery Group "Viterbo",[7][13] in Livorno (M56 105 mm towed howitzers)

 Paratroopers Logistic Battalion "Folgore",[7][14] in Pisa

26th Light Airplanes and Helicopters Squadrons Group "Giove", at Pisa-San Giusto Air Base[15][16]

Command and Services Squadron

426th Reconnaissance Helicopters Squadron (AB 206 reconnaissance helicopters)

526th Multirole Helicopters Squadron (AB 204B/205 multirole helicopters)

Paratroopers Pathfinder Company "Folgore", in Siena

Paratroopers Anti-tank Company "Folgore", in Livorno (BGM-71 TOW anti-tank guided missiles)

Paratroopers Engineer Company "Folgore", in Lucca

In 1982 the brigade deployed in Italy's first international mission abroad since World War II, when it joined the Multinational Force in Lebanon and on 1 January 1983 the Military Parachuting School in Pisa with the 3rd Paratroopers (Recruits Training) Battalion "Poggio Rusco" returned to the brigade .[1]

On 1 January 1986, the "Folgore" brigade and the Motorized Brigade "Friuli", in conjunction with some units of the Army's Light Army Aviation and the Navy's San Marco Regiment, became the Rapid Intervention Forces of the Italian Military, deployable on short notice for out of area missions. On 31 October of the same year the army disbanded the Mechanized Division "Folgore", leaving the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore" as only heir of the name and traditions associated with the name "Folgore".[1]

Wartime strenght ~4100 men.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paratroopers_Brigade_"Folgore"

 

Battaglione Marina "San Marco") in Venice with 750 personnel (830).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_San_Marco_Regiment

 

Amphibious Troops Command (Lagunari)

After its formation the Amphibious Troops Command was assigned to the Mechanized Division "Folgore". The 1st Lagunari Battalion "Serenissima" consisted of a command, a command and services company, three mechanized companies with M113 armored personnel carriers, and a heavy mortar company with M106 mortar carriers with 120mm Mod. 63 mortars. At the time the battalion fielded 896 men (45 officers, 100 non-commissioned officers, and 751 soldiers).[8][10][14]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagunari_Regiment_"Serenissima"

Edited by Jaroslav
Posted (edited)
On 7/5/2025 at 10:21 AM, Jaroslav said:

Spanish forces:

Light Airportable Infantry Brigade (BRILAT):
a. RIAT 29 “Isabel La Católica”
1.- I/29 Zamora Light Infantry Battalion
2.- II/29 Zaragoza Light Infantry Battalion
b. RIAT 3 “Príncipe”
1.- III/3 Toledo Light Infantry Battalion
2.- IV/3 San Quintin Light Infantry Battalion
c. Anti-tank Company
d. Airportable Artillery Group
e. Airportable Engineer Battalion
f. Airportable Logistic Group


Parachute Brigade (BRIPAC): Created from Legión units and maintaining close links, its battalions are designated “banderas”. Was designated as part of the General Reserve.
a. I Roger de Flor Parachute Battalion (Bandera Paracaidísta): 3 rifle cos (9 rifle squads, 3 MMG, 6 C-90 ATGL, 2 81mm mortars each), 1 support co (4 Land Rover w/Milan, 4 Land Rover w/106mm RR, 4 
LR-towed 20mm Oerlikon AA guns, 4 truck-towed 120mm mortars, Recon pltn)
b. II Roger de Lauria Parachute Battalion: same as above
c. III Órtiz de Zarate Parachute Battalion: same as above
d. Parachute Anti-tank Company: 12 Land Rover w/Milan
e. Parachute Artillery Group: 12 105mm M56 howitzers
f. Parachute Engineer Battalion: Two companies, light equipment
g. Parachute Radar Platoon: 3 Rasura radars

 

Tercio de Armada – (Marine Brigade)
A.HQ & HQ Co, Service Platoon, Police Platoon
B. Landing Group (Agrupacion de Desembarco – AD)
1. Batallon de Desmbarco 1
a. HQ & Service Co.
b. Recon Platoon: 3 Recon squads: 6 Land Rovers; 6 Recon teams, Radar squad, FO squad
c. Anti-tank. Platoon: 6 106mm RR 
d. Weapons Co: 8 81mm mortars on Land Rover, 6 12.7mm MGs on Land Rover
e. 3 x Infantry Cos, each: 2 60mm Mortars, 3 Dragon ATGM, 9 Infantry squads
2. Batallon de Desmbarco 2
a. HQ & Service Co.
b. Recon Platoon: 3 Recon squads: 6 Land Rovers; 6 Recon teams, Radar squad, FO squad
c. Anti-tank. Platoon: 6 106mm RR 
d. Weapons Co: 8 81mm mortars on Land Rover, 6 12.7mm MGs on Land Rover
e. 3 x Infantry Cos, each: 2 60mm Mortars, 3 Dragon ATGM, 9 Infantry squads
3. Special Operations Unit (UOE)
a. 3 Special Operations Platoons: 3 squads each.
4. Combat Support Group (AAC)
a. HQ & Service Co.
b. Landing Artillery Group (GAD)
1. HQ & Service Battery
2. SP Battery: 6 M-109A2 SP Guns, 6 M992 FAASV
3. 2 Howitzer Batteries: 6 105mm M56 howitzers each
4. Light SAM Btty: 20mm Oerlikon AA Guns
c. Amphibious Mechanized Group (GMA)
1. Amphibious Tractor Co: 16 LVTP-7
2. Tank Co. 16 M48A3E; 17 Scorpion light tanks
3. Anti-tank Co. 12 TOW on Land Rover
4. 3 Transport Cos: 12 BLR each
Note 1: Hummers were on order to replace the amphibious versions of Land Rover 88 and 109s. 
Note 2: UOE may have been a battalion strength unit with 3 para-commando companies plus a combat diver company.
Note 3: Marines may have had 8 M52A1 105mm SP


Naval Air
A. 3ª Escuadrilla – Rota: 12 AB-212ASW (including 4 fitted with Gufo ECM/ESM system)
B. 5ª Escuadrilla – Rota: 9 SH-3D Sea King, 3 SH-3AEW 
C. 6a Escuadrilla: 11 Hughes 500ASW
C. 8ª Escuadrilla -- Rota: 7 AV-8S Matador/2 TAV-8S (AV-8As)
D. 9ª Escuadrilla -- Rota: 12 EAV-8B
E. 10ª Escuadrilla – Rota: 6 SH-60B

 

Naval air wouldnt be all used.

Any advices would be appriciated.

All data is from Johnson / Callahan NATO OOB 1989. V8.6

Light Airportable Infantry Brigade (BRILAT)

Strenght 2000 men.

https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRILAT

 

Parachute Brigade (BRIPAC)

Strenght 3000 men.

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/6-я_воздушно-десантная_бригада_«Альмогаварес»

 

Tercio de Armada – (Marine Brigade)

MARINES:(8,500)
   1 marine regt (3,500): 2 inf, 1 spt bn; 3 arty bty.
   5 marine garrison regt.

Military balance 1989.

 

@RETAC21 does this means only 3,500 marines for amphibious operations?

Edited by Jaroslav
Posted
13 hours ago, Jaroslav said:

Light Airportable Infantry Brigade (BRILAT)

Strenght 2000 men.

https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRILAT

 

Parachute Brigade (BRIPAC)

Strenght 3000 men.

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/6-я_воздушно-десантная_бригада_«Альмогаварес»

 

Tercio de Armada – (Marine Brigade)

MARINES:(8,500)
   1 marine regt (3,500): 2 inf, 1 spt bn; 3 arty bty.
   5 marine garrison regt.

Military balance 1989.

 

@RETAC21 does this means only 3,500 marines for amphibious operations?

Yes, TEAR was a small brigade of 2 infantry battalions and a support battalion.

Posted

According to the results of the Afghan epic campaign, the MiG-23 proved to be a reliable and robust machine, proving its suitability not only to carry out fighter missions (the “escorting of attackers” This effectively provided the 40th Army air force with air defense, preventing possible opposition from the enemy fighters), but also proved to be reliable way to deal with the hardships of the daily service — bombing and assault strikes, and reconnaissance. During the five months of service of the 120th air group campaign, the tasks were distributed as follows: 37 of the existing MiG-23 aircraft carried out 5730 sorties, and 1 squadron had 3950 sorties and, accordingly, 2350 flight hours. Of these, 3300 sorties were carried out on bombardments, during which 1300 tons of bombs were dropped, 529 - on escort missions and 121 on reconnaissance. The average intensity was 35-40 departures per daily shift with the execution of 25-30 t bomb attacks, and even there were days when it was executed 16-18 departures. Six pilots were awarded orders of the Red Banner, 30 awarded orders of the Red Star.

The quality of the MiG-23 confirmed the analysis of the reliability indicators of aircraft, conducted by the Air Force Engineering Department of the 40 Army and 73 VA. In difficult conditions, the MiG-23 proved to be quite reliable and durable aircraft. Due to the good operational suitability of the aircraft, most of the work in preparation for the flights could be performed from the ground, without the use of bulky stepladders and supports, which reduced the complexity and duration of maintenance. This ensured in the modification of the MiG-23ML, the reliability of the design and the main units, in combination with a well thought-out  maintenance overhauls, significantly reduced the labor costs for the preparation of the equipment.

https://mikoyanmig29.wixsite.com/mig-23flogger/mig-23-variants-and-users

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Navy’s Carrier Airpower – 1991 Gulf War

Navys Carrier Airpower – 1991 Gulf War

A U.S. Navy F-14 lifts off over arrow of A7 Corsairs on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy in the Red Sea late, Jan. 25, 1991. Allied forces flew more than 8,000 missions in the first five days of Operation Desert Storm; carrier-based fighter bomber were used extensively.

Iraq’s sudden and unexpected invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 presented naval aviation, in particular, with a new and unfamiliar set of challenges. Over the course of the six-week Persian Gulf War that began five and a half months later, the Navy’s carrier force found itself obliged to surmount a multitude of new adjustment needs that only came to light for the first time during that campaign. Few of the challenges that were levied on naval aviation by that U. S.-led offensive, code-named Operation Desert Storm, bore much resemblance to the planning assumptions that underlay the Reagan administration’s Maritime Strategy that had been created during the early 1980s to accommodate a very different set of concerns. Although naval aviators had routinely trained for and were wholly proficient at over-the-beach conventional strike operations, the Navy’s carrier battle groups during that period were geared, first and foremost, to doing open-ocean battle against the Soviet Navy. As such, they were not optimally equipped for conducting littoral combat operations. They also were completely unaccustomed to operating within the Air Force’s complex air tasking system for managing large-force operations involving 2,000 or more sorties a day that dominated the Desert Storm air war.

Simply put, the 1991 Gulf War in no way resembled the open-ocean battles that the Navy had planned and prepared for throughout the preceding two decades. To begin with, there were no opposed surface naval forces or enemy air threat to challenge the Navy’s six carrier battle groups that participated in that war. Moreover, throughout the five-month buildup of forces in the region that preceded the war and the six weeks of fighting that ensued thereafter, the Navy did not operate independently, as was its familiar pattern throughout most of the Cold War, but rather in shared operating areas with the Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps.

During the initial planning workups before the start of Operation Desert Storm, some senior naval aviators sought for a time to push for a distribution of route packages between the Air Force and the Navy along familiar Vietnam-like lines. However, the designated joint-force air component commander (JFACC) for the impending campaign, Air Force then-Lieutenant General Charles Horner, rejected that proposal as an unacceptably suboptimal use of American air assets in joint war- fare. Although Horner did not exercise formal command over the air assets of the Navy and Marine Corps that were deployed to the Gulf, he did wield operational control over them to an extent that empowered him to task them as he deemed appropriate to support the joint- force commander’s air apportionment decisions. That arrangement was unprecedented in Navy experience. In the end, all four participating U. S. services came to accept, at least in principle, the need for a single jurisdiction over allied air power in Desert Storm. Yet three of them (not only the Navy but also the Marine Corps and Army) frequently chafed at the extent of authority given to General Horner to select targets and determine the details of flight operations.

Furthermore, the naval air capabilities that had been fielded and fine-tuned for open-ocean engagements, such as the extremely long- range (90-plus miles) Phoenix air-to-air missile carried by the F-14 fleet defense fighter, were of little relevance to the allied coalition’s predominantly overland air combat needs. Navy F-14s also were not assigned to the choicest combat air patrol (CAP) stations in Desert Storm because, having been equipped for the less-crowded outer air battle in defense of the carrier battle group, they lacked the redundant onboard target recognition systems that the rules of engagement promulgated by U. S. Central Command (CENTCOM) required for the denser and more conflicted air operations environment over Iraq. Relatedly, because of the Navy’s lack of a compatible command and control system that would enable receipt of the document electronically, the daily air tasking order (ATO) generated by the Air Force– dominated combined air operations center (CAOC) in Saudi Arabia had to be placed aboard two S-3 antisubmarine warfare aircraft in hard copy each day and flown to the six participating carriers so that the next day’s air-wing flight schedules could be written. As for the Navy’s other habit patterns and equipment items developed for open-ocean engagements, such as fire-and-forget AGM-84D Harpoon antiship missiles, ordnance supply planning purely to meet anticipated mission needs, and decentralized command and control, all were, in the words of the former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), Admiral William Owens, “either ruled out by the context of the battle or were ineffective in the confined littoral arena and the environmental complexities of the sea-land interface.” Naval aviation performed commendably in Desert Storm only because of its inherent professionalism and adaptability, not because its doctrine and weapons complement had been appropriate to the demands of the situation.

As examples of its deficiencies in equipment that impeded naval aviation’s performance during the Gulf War, although it had clearly been equipped with advanced and capable combat aircraft by the time the war began, the Navy mainly dropped Vietnam-era unguided munitions, primarily the Mk 80-series 500-, 1,000-, and 2,000-lb general- purpose bombs. Throughout the war, the only carrier-based attack aircraft that was capable of self-designating laser-guided bombs (LGBs) was the A-6E. The A-7 and F/A-18 could also carry and deliver LGBs but only with the enabling support of nearby A-6Es that could laser-designate their targets for them, which was not an advisable tactic in heavily defended enemy airspace. Moreover, to remain safely above the enemy’s man-portable infrared SAM and antiaircraft artillery (AAA) threat envelopes, they were required to operate solely from a standoff perch at medium and high altitudes, where visual weapon delivery techniques were less accurate because of the longer slant ranges to targets. The Navy’s electro-optically guided Walleye munition could be used only in daylight and in visual meteorological conditions. Carrier- based ground-attack aircraft also did not have anything like the weapons system video capability that was installed in the Air Force’s F-111, F-117, F-15E, and F-16.

Because of the Navy’s lack of a significant precision-strike capability when its call to deploy for Desert Storm arose, its six carrier air wings that participated in the campaign were denied certain targets that were assigned to the Air Force instead by default. The participating carrier air wings also had to turn down some target-attack opportunities because of their lack of a penetrating munition such as the Air Force’s Mk 84 improved 2,000-lb bomb. Other unmet Navy needs were for more LGBs, for automatic laser target designators for all strike aircraft, and for state-of-the-art mission recorders for conducting better bomb-damage assessment (BDA). One strike-fighter squadron’s after-action report not long after the Gulf War ended remarked that the Navy’s general lack of the sort of precision-attack capability that the Air Force had used to such telling effect in the war “was eloquent testimony that naval aviation had apparently missed an entire generation of weapons employment and development.”

https://warhistory.org/@msw/article/navys-carrier-airpower-1991-gulf-war

Posted
Colbert
330px-Croiseur_Colbert_dans_le_port_de_Bordeaux.jpg
Colbert in the port of Bordeaux in its time as a museum ship (2006)
History
60px-Ensign_of_France.svg.pngFrance
Name Colbert
Namesake Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Ordered 1953
Builder Brest Arsenal
Laid down 9 June 1954
Launched 24 March 1956
Commissioned 5 May 1959
Decommissioned May 1991
Homeport Brest
Fate Scrapped 2016
General characteristics (as built)
Type Cruiser
Displacement 9,084 t (8,941 long tons) standard, 11,587 t (11,404 long tons) full load[1]
Length 180.5 m (592 ft 2 in)[1]
Beam 19.7 m (64 ft 8 in) (waterline)[1]
Draft 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) (max)[1]
Installed power 4 x Indret boilers[1]
Propulsion Parsons geared steam turbines, 2 shafts, 86,000 PS (63,253 kW)[1]
Speed 32 knots (37 mph; 59 km/h)[1]
Range 7,100 nmi (13,100 km) at 18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h)[1]
Complement 977 (as flagship)[1]
Sensors &
processing systems
  • Surveillance radar
  • DRBN 31 navigation radar[1]
  • Fire control radar
    • 4 x DRBC 31B[1]
    • 4 x DRBC 31A[1]
  • DSBC 1 sonar[1]
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Armour
  • Belt: 50–80 mm (2.0–3.1 in)[1]
  • Deck: 50 mm (2.0 in)[1]
General characteristics (1972)
Type Guided missile cruiser
Complement
  • 25 officers
  • 208 petty officers
  • 329 quartermasters and sailors
  • 500 men
Armament

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_cruiser_Colbert_(C611)

 

urXfdvP_d.webp?maxwidth=1520&fidelity=gr

modified Colbert cruiser during the early '80s

Posted

Its sometimes worth looking at Navysite.de for their cruise books. For example, the one for the USS Enterprise has their cruise book for 62 through 64. She didnt seemingly go back to the Med till 1996.

https://www.navysite.de/cvn/cvn65.html

The USS Independence, which spent a lot of time in the med, is probably worth a look as well.

https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/cv62-74/index.html

Posted

Weapons loadout

A-6E "Intruder"

Wing Belly Wing
  Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard  
  MER   Fuel tank   MER  
Front Right Mk.77       Mk.77 Front Right
Front Bottom           Front Bottom
Front Left Mk.77       Mk.77 Front Left
Rear Right           Rear Right
Rear Bottom Mk.77       Mk.77 Rear Bottom
Rear Left           Rear Left
 
Wing Belly Wing
  Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard  
  MER AGM-123A Fuel tank   MER  
Front Right           Front Right
Front Bottom           Front Bottom
Front Left           Front Left
Rear Right           Rear Right
Rear Bottom Mk.20       Mk.20 Rear Bottom
Rear Left           Rear Left
  Boat hunting configuration
 
Wing Belly Wing
  Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard  
  MER MER Fuel tank AGM-45 MER  
Front Right           Front Right
Front Bottom Mk.77 Mk.77   Mk.77 Mk.77 Front Bottom
Front Left           Front Left
Rear Right           Rear Right
Rear Bottom Mk.77 Mk.77   Mk.77 Mk.77 Rear Bottom
Rear Left           Rear Left
 
Wing Belly Wing
  Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard  
  MER AGM-45 Fuel tank AGM-45 MER  
Front Right           Front Right
Front Bottom Mk.77       Mk.77 Front Bottom
Front Left           Front Left
Rear Right           Rear Right
Rear Bottom Mk.77       Mk.77 Rear Bottom
Rear Left           Rear Left
Example - 160993

P.S. Info from Dave Roof: The Mk. 77 napalm canisters were loaded to Intruders from VMA(AW)-224 and 533 on outboard pylons.
What was usually carried were a GBU-12 on one side and an AN/ALQ-167 on the other (when bombs or CBU's were carried).
Whether or not these were carried with MK-77 is unclear.
 
Wing Belly Wing
  Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard  
  TER GBU-16A/B Fuel tank GBU-16A/B TER  
Right LAU-10         Right
Bottom LAU-10       LAU-10 Bottom
Left         LAU-10 Left
Example - 161090
 
Wing Belly Wing
  Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard  
  TER Mk.83 Fuel tank Mk.83 TER  
Right           Right
Bottom LAU-10       LAU-10 Bottom
Left           Left
Example - 152925
 
Wing Belly Wing
  Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard  
  TER AGM-88 Fuel tank AGM-88 TER  
Right Mk.82SE       Mk.82SE Right
Bottom Mk.82SE       Mk.82SE Bottom
Left Mk.82SE       Mk.82SE Left
Example - Seen on BuNo. 162200
 
Wing Belly Wing
Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard
Mk.82 LDGP GBU-12D/B Fuel tank GBU-12D/B Mk.82 LDGP
 
Wing Belly Wing
Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard
GBU-10E GBU-10E Fuel tank GBU-10E GBU-10E
 
Wing Belly Wing
Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard
Mk.83 LDGP Mk.83 LDGP Fuel tank Mk.83 LDGP Mk.83 LDGP
Example - 162193
 
Wing Belly Wing
Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard
GBU-12D/B Fuel tank Fuel tank AGM-123A Skipper II GBU-12D/B
 
Wing Belly Wing
  Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard  
  MER   Fuel tank   MER  
Front Right Mk.82 LDGP       Mk.82 LDGP Front Right
Front Bottom Mk.82 LDGP       Mk.82 LDGP Front Bottom
Front Left Mk.82 LDGP       Mk.82 LDGP Front Left
Rear Right Mk.82 LDGP       Mk.82 LDGP Rear Right
Rear Bottom Mk.82 LDGP       Mk.82 LDGP Rear Bottom
Rear Left Mk.82 LDGP       Mk.82 LDGP Rear Left
 
Wing Belly Wing
  Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard  
  MER   Fuel tank   MER  
Front Right Mk.83 LDGP GBU-12D/B   GBU-12D/B Mk.83 LDGP Front Right
Front Bottom           Front Bottom
Front Left Mk.83 LDGP       Mk.83 LDGP Front Left
Rear Right           Rear Right
Rear Bottom Mk.83 LDGP       Mk.83 LDGP Rear Bottom
Rear Left           Rear Left
 
Wing Belly Wing
  Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard  
  MER   Fuel tank   MER  
Front Right   GBU-16A/B   GBU-16A/B   Front Right
Front Bottom Mk.83 LDGP       Mk.83 LDGP Front Bottom
Front Left           Front Left
Rear Right Mk.83 LDGP       Mk.83 LDGP Rear Right
Rear Bottom           Rear Bottom
Rear Left Mk.83 LDGP       Mk.83 LDGP Rear Left
 
Wing Belly Wing
  Outboard   Inboard   Inboard   Outboard  
  MER   MER Fuel tank MER   MER  
Front Right Mk.7 Front Right     Mk.82 LDGP Front Right Mk.7 Front Right
Front Bottom Mk.7 Front Bottom Mk.82 LDGP   Mk.82 LDGP Front Bottom Mk.7 Front Bottom
Front Left Mk.7 Front Left Mk.82 LDGP     Front Left Mk.7 Front Left
Rear Right Mk.7 Rear Right Mk.82 LDGP   Mk.82 LDGP Rear Right Mk.7 Rear Right
Rear Bottom Mk.7 Rear Bottom Mk.82 LDGP   Mk.82 LDGP Rear Bottom Mk.7 Rear Bottom
Rear Left Mk.7 Rear Left Mk.82 LDGP   Mk.82 LDGP Rear Left Mk.7 Rear Left
 
Wing Belly Wing
  Outboard   Inboard   Inboard   Outboard  
  MER   MER Fuel tank MER   MER  
Front Right Mk.82 SE Front Right     Mk.82 SE Front Right Mk.82 SE Front Right
Front Bottom Mk.82 SE Front Bottom Mk.82 SE   Mk.82 SE Front Bottom Mk.82 SE Front Bottom
Front Left Mk.82 SE Front Left Mk.82 SE     Front Left Mk.82 SE Front Left
Rear Right Mk.82 SE Rear Right Mk.82 SE   Mk.82 SE Rear Right Mk.82 SE Rear Right
Rear Bottom Mk.82 SE Rear Bottom Mk.82 SE   Mk.82 SE Rear Bottom Mk.82 SE Rear Bottom
Rear Left Mk.82 SE Rear Left Mk.82 SE   Mk.82 SE Rear Left Mk.82 SE Rear Left
 
Wing Belly Wing
Outboard   Inboard   Inboard   Outboard
AN/ALQ-167
ECM pod
MER   Fuel tank   MER  
  Front Right     Mk.82 SE Front Right  
  Front Bottom Mk.82 SE   Mk.82 SE Front Bottom  
  Front Left Mk.82 SE     Front Left  
  Rear Right Mk.82 SE   Mk.82 SE Rear Right  
  Rear Bottom Mk.82 SE   Mk.82 SE Rear Bottom  
  Rear Left Mk.82 SE   Mk.82 SE Rear Left  
Example - 158539
 
Wing Belly Wing
  Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard  
  MER Pylon Fuel tank Pylon MER  
Front Right Mk.82 SE       Mk.82 SE Front Right
Front Bottom Mk.82 SE       Mk.82 SE Front Bottom
Front Left Mk.82 SE       Mk.82 SE Front Left
Rear Right Mk.82 SE       Mk.82 SE Rear Right
Rear Bottom Mk.82 SE       Mk.82 SE Rear Bottom
Rear Left Mk.82 SE       Mk.82 SE Rear Left
 
Wing Belly Wing
  Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard  
  MER AN/ALQ-167
ECM pod
Fuel tank Mk.83 MER  
Front Right Mk.82 SE       Mk.82 SE Front Right
Front Bottom Mk.82 SE       Mk.82 SE Front Bottom
Front Left Mk.82 SE       Mk.82 SE Front Left
Rear Right Mk.82 SE       Mk.82 SE Rear Right
Rear Bottom Mk.82 SE       Mk.82 SE Rear Bottom
Rear Left Mk.82 SE       Mk.82 SE Rear Left
 
Wing Belly Wing
  Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard  
  MER AN/ALQ-167
ECM pod
Fuel tank GBU-16A/B MER  
Front Right Mk.82 SE       Mk.82 SE Front Right
Front Bottom Mk.82 SE       Mk.82 SE Front Bottom
Front Left Mk.82 SE       Mk.82 SE Front Left
Rear Right Mk.82 SE       Mk.82 SE Rear Right
Rear Bottom Mk.82 SE       Mk.82 SE Rear Bottom
Rear Left Mk.82 SE       Mk.82 SE Rear Left
 
Wing Belly Wing
  Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard  
  MER Mk.83 Fuel tank Mk.83 MER  
Front Right Mk.7       Mk.7 Front Right
Front Bottom Mk.7       Mk.7 Front Bottom
Front Left Mk.7       Mk.7 Front Left
Rear Right Mk.7       Mk.7 Rear Right
Rear Bottom Mk.7       Mk.7 Rear Bottom
Rear Left Mk.7       Mk.7 Rear Left
 
Wing Belly Wing
  Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard  
  MER AN/ALQ-167
ECM pod
Fuel tank   MER  
Front Right Mk.7       Mk.7 Front Right
Front Bottom Mk.7       Mk.7 Front Bottom
Front Left Mk.7       Mk.7 Front Left
Rear Right Mk.7       Mk.7 Rear Right
Rear Bottom Mk.7       Mk.7 Rear Bottom
Rear Left Mk.7       Mk.7 Rear Left
 
Wing Belly Wing
  Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard  
  MER GBU-12D/B Fuel tank GBU-12D/B MER  
Front Right Mk.7       Mk.7 Front Right
Front Bottom Mk.7       Mk.7 Front Bottom
Front Left Mk.7       Mk.7 Front Left
Rear Right Mk.7       Mk.7 Rear Right
Rear Bottom Mk.7       Mk.7 Rear Bottom
Rear Left Mk.7       Mk.7 Rear Left
Example - 157017
 
Wing Belly Wing
  Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard  
  MER GBU-16A/B Fuel tank GBU-16A/B MER  
Front Right         Mk.20 Front Right
Front Bottom Mk20       Mk.20 Front Bottom
Front Left Mk.20         Front Left
Rear Right         Mk.20 Rear Right
Rear Bottom Mk.20       Mk.20 Rear Bottom
Rear Left Mk.20         Rear Left
 
Wing Belly Wing
Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard
Fuel tank Fuel tank D-704
refueling pod
Fuel tank Fuel tank
Example - 157003 154124

KA-6D "Intruder"

Wing Belly Wing
Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard
Fuel tank Fuel tank D-704
refueling pod
Fuel tank Fuel tank

Last updated: 10/12/2023 13:55:44

https://www.dstorm.eu/pages/loadout/a-6e.html

Posted

A-7E "Corsair II"

First night of the war, AC-310 of Jeff Greer:
Wing Fuselage Fuselage Wing
  Outboard Middle Inboard     Inboard Middle Outboard  
  TER No pylon Fuel tank AIM-9L/M AIM-9L/M Fuel tank No pylon TER  
Right TALD             TALD Right
Bottom                 Bottom
Left TALD             TALD Left
 
AC-310 in another picture:
Wing Fuselage Fuselage Wing
  Outboard Middle Inboard     Inboard Middle Outboard  
  TER Fuel tank No pylon AIM-9L/M AIM-9L/M No pylon Fuel tank TER  
Right TALD             TALD Right
Bottom                 Bottom
Left TALD             TALD Left
 
Wing Fuselage Fuselage Wing
Outboard Middle Inboard     Inboard Middle Outboard
Mk.84 Mk.84 No pylon AIM-9L/M AIM-9L/M No pylon Mk.84 Mk.84
 
Wing Fuselage Fuselage Wing
Outboard Middle Inboard     Inboard Middle Outboard
Mk.20 Mk.20 No pylon AIM-9L/M AIM-9L/M No pylon Mk.20 Mk.20
 
Wing Fuselage Fuselage Wing
Outboard Middle Inboard     Inboard Middle Outboard
Mk.83 No pylon Mk.83 AIM-9L/M AIM-9L/M Mk.83 No pylon Mk.83
 
Wing Fuselage Fuselage Wing
Outboard Middle Inboard     Inboard Middle Outboard
Mk.83 Mk.83 No pylon AIM-9L/M AIM-9L/M Mk.83 No pylon Mk.83
 
Wing Fuselage Fuselage Wing
Outboard Middle Inboard     Inboard Middle Outboard
AGM-88 No pylon   AIM-9L/M AIM-9L/M No pylon AGM-88 AGM-88
 
Wing Fuselage Fuselage Wing
Outboard Middle Inboard     Inboard Middle Outboard
Pylon AGM-88 Pylon AIM-9L/M AIM-9L/M Pylon AGM-88 AGM-88
 
Wing Fuselage Fuselage Wing
Outboard Middle Inboard     Inboard Middle Outboard
No pylon Pylon No pylon AIM-9L/M AIM-9L/M No pylon AGM-62
ERDL Walleye I
No pylon
 
Wing Fuselage Fuselage Wing
Outboard Middle Inboard     Inboard Middle Outboard
AGM-62   No pylon AIM-9L/M AIM-9L/M No pylon No pylon AGM-62
 
Wing Fuselage Fuselage Wing
  Outboard Middle Inboard     Inboard Middle Outboard  
  TER No pylon Mk.82 SE AIM-9L/M AIM-9L/M Mk.82 SE No pylon TER  
Right Mk.82 SE             Mk.82 SE Right
Bottom Mk.82 SE             Mk.82 SE Bottom
Left Mk.82 SE             Mk.82 SE Left
 
Wing Fuselage Fuselage Wing
  Outboard Middle Inboard     Inboard Middle Outboard  
  TER No pylon   AIM-9L/M AIM-9L/M   No pylon TER  
Right Mk.20             Mk.20 Right
Bottom Mk.20             Mk.20 Bottom
Left Mk.20             Mk.20 Left

  Ferry mission
 
Wing Fuselage Fuselage Wing
Outboard Middle Inboard     Inboard Middle Outboard
    Fuel tank AIM-9L/M AIM-9L/M Fuel tank    


One info is that A-7Es also carried LUU-2 paraflares and employed some AGM-84E SLAM rockets. No more info known so far.

Last updated: 10/12/2023 13:55:44

Posted

EA-6B "Prowler"

Wing Belly Wing
Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard
AGM-88 ALQ-99 ALQ-99 Fuel tank ALQ-99
 
Wing Belly Wing
Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard
AGM-88 Fuel tank ALQ-99 AGM-88 ALQ-99
 
Wing Belly Wing
Outboard Inboard   Inboard Outboard
AGM-88 AGM-88A ALQ-99 Fuel tank AGM-88

Last updated: 10/12/2023 13:55:44

https://www.dstorm.eu/pages/loadout/ea-6b.html

Posted

S-3A/B "Viking"

Wing Belly Wing
Fuel tank   D-704
refueling pod


  VS-24 used one of its S-3B to attack an AAA site near Kuwait City using
6 Mk.82 LDGPs dropped from TERs carried on its wing pylons.

 

  Wing Belly Wing  
  TER   TER  
Right Mk.82 LDGP   Mk.82 LDGP Right
Bottom Mk.82 LDGP   Mk.82 LDGP Center
Left Mk.82 LDGP   Mk.82 LDGP Left


  S-3B BuNo. 159765 destroyed Iraqi patrol boat "Zhuk" with interestning loadout.
 

  Wing Belly Wing
  TER   D-704
refueling pod
Right Mk.82 LDGP    
Bottom Mk.82 LDGP    
Left Mk.82 LDGP    


  S-3B BuNo. ??????/AA-706 from VS-30
 

  Wing Belly Wing
  TER   ??
Right CBU    
Bottom CBU    
Left CBU    

Last updated: 10/12/2023 13:55:44

https://www.dstorm.eu/pages/loadout/s-3.html

Posted

F-14A/A+ "Tomcat"

Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Left AIM-9L/M Fuel tank Front AIM-54C AIM-54C Front Fuel tank AIM-9L/M Right
Bottom AIM-7F/M   Rear AIM-7F/M   Rear   AIM-7F/M Bottom
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Left AIM-9L/M Fuel tank Front AIM-7F/M AIM-7F/M Front Fuel tank AIM-9L/M Right
Bottom AIM-9L/M   Rear AIM-7F/M AIM-7F/M Rear   AIM-9L/M Bottom
 

TARPS missions

Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Left AIM-9L/M Fuel tank Front AIM-54 rail with
AN/ALQ-167
AIM-54 rail with
ECA
Front Fuel tank AIM-9L/M Right
Bottom AIM-7F/M   Rear TARPS   Rear   AIM-7F/M Bottom
Example - VF-32 F-14A (TARPS) BuNo. 161140/AC-210
TARPS + ECA + AN/ALQ-167 - Home of M.A.T.S

NOTE: VF-14 and VF-32 only used AIM-9Ms, AIM-7Ms and AIM-54Cs.

Thanks to Mr. David Parsons for his invaluable help especially with TARPS config.

Last updated: 10/12/2023 13:55:44

https://www.dstorm.eu/pages/loadout/f-14.html

Posted

F/A-18A/C/D "Hornet"/CF-188A "Hornet"

USA

Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER Fuel tank AN/ASQ-173 LST/SCAM Mk.20 AIM-7M Fuel tank VER AIM-9L/M
  Mk.20 Mk.20           Mk.20 Mk.20  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER Fuel tank AIM-7M Mk.20 AIM-7M Fuel tank VER AIM-9L/M
  Mk.20 Mk.20           Mk.20 Mk.20  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER Fuel tank AIM-7M Mk.77 AIM-7M Fuel tank VER AIM-9L/M
  Mk.20 Mk.20           Mk.20 Mk.20  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M Mk.20 Fuel tank AN/ASQ-173 LST/SCAM Mk.20 AIM-7M Fuel tank Mk.20 AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M Mk.20 Fuel tank AN/AAR-50 TINS Fuel tank   Fuel tank Mk.20 AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M Mk.20 Mk.20 AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M Mk.20 Mk.20 AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M Mk.82 LDGP Fuel tank AN/AAR-50 TINS Fuel tank   Fuel tank Mk.82 LDGP AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M Mk.82 LDGP Mk.82 LDGP AN/AAR-50 TINS Fuel tank   Mk.82 LDGP Mk.82 LDGP AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER Fuel tank AIM-7M Mk. 82 LDGP AIM-7M Fuel tank VER AIM-9L/M
  Mk.82 LDGP Mk.82 LDGP           Mk.82 LDGP Mk.82 LDGP  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER Fuel tank AIM-7M Mk. 82 LDGP AN/AAS-38 FLIR Fuel tank VER AIM-9L/M
  Mk.82 LDGP Mk.82 LDGP           Mk.82 LDGP Mk.82 LDGP  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M Mk.82 LDGP VER AN/AAR-50 TINS Fuel tank AIM-7M VER Mk.82 LDGP AIM-9L/M
    Mk.82 LDGP Mk.82 LDGP       Mk.82 LDGP Mk.82 LDGP    
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank VER AIM-9L/M
  Mk.82 LDGP Mk.82 LDGP           Mk.82 LDGP Mk.82 LDGP  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER Fuel tank AIM-7M Mk.77 AIM-7M Fuel tank VER AIM-9L/M
  Mk.83 LDGP Mk.83 LDGP           Mk.83 LDGP Mk.83 LDGP  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M Mk.83 LDGP Mk.83 LDGP AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M Mk.83 LDGP Mk.83 LDGP AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank VER AIM-9L/M
  Mk.83 LDGP Mk.83 LDGP           Mk.83 LDGP Mk.83 LDGP  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER Fuel tank AIM-7M Mk.83 LDGP AIM-7M Fuel tank VER AIM-9L/M
  Mk.83 LDGP Mk.83 LDGP           Mk.83 LDGP Mk.83 LDGP  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER Fuel tank AN/ASQ-173 LST/SCAM Mk.83 LDGP AN/AAS-38 FLIR Fuel tank VER AIM-9L/M
  Mk.83 LDGP Mk.83 LDGP           Mk.83 LDGP Mk.83 LDGP  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER Fuel tank AN/ASQ-173 LST/SCAM Mk.83 LDGP AIM-7M Fuel tank VER AIM-9L/M
  Mk.83 AIR Mk.83 AIR           Mk.83 AIR Mk.83 AIR  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER Fuel tank AIM-7M Mk.83 AIR AN/AAS-38 FLIR Fuel tank VER AIM-9L/M
  Mk.83 AIR Mk.83 AIR           Mk.83 AIR Mk.83 AIR  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER Fuel tank AIM-7M   AN/AAS-38 FLIR Fuel tank VER AIM-9L/M
  Mk.83 AIR Mk.83 AIR           Mk.83 AIR Mk.83 AIR  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M Mk.83 LDGP VER AN/AAR-50 TINS Fuel tank AIM-7M VER Mk.83 LDGP AIM-9L/M
    Mk.83 LDGP Mk.83 LDGP       Mk.83 LDGP Mk.83 LDGP    
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER Fuel tank AN/ASQ-173 LST/SCAM Mk.83 LDGP AIM-7M Fuel tank AGM-65E AIM-9L/M
  Mk.83 LDGP Mk.83 LDGP              
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M Mk.84 LDGP Mk.84 LDGP AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M Mk.84 LDGP Mk.84 LDGP AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M Mk.84 LDGP Fuel tank AIM-7M   AIM-7M Fuel tank Mk.84 LDGP AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M Mk.84 LDGP Fuel tank AN/ASQ-173 LST/SCAM   AN/AAS-38 FLIR Fuel tank Mk.84 LDGP AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M AGM-62 Walleye I ER Mk.84 LDGP AIM-7M Fuel tank AN/AAS-38 FLIR Mk.84 LDGP Mk.84 LDGP AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M AGM-62 Walleye I ER Fuel tank   AN/AWW-9A datalink AN/AAS-38 FLIR Fuel tank AGM-62 Walleye I ER AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M AGM-65E Fuel tank AIM-7M Mk.83 LDGP AN/AAS-38 FLIR Fuel tank AGM-88 AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M AGM-65E Fuel tank AIM-7M   AIM-7M Fuel tank AGM-88 AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M AGM-88 Fuel tank AIM-7M   AIM-7M Fuel tank AGM-88 AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M AGM-88 Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank AGM-88 AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M AGM-88 AGM-88 AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M AGM-88 AGM-88 AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M AGM-88 Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M AGM-88 AGM-88 AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M AGM-88 Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank Mk.7 AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M AGM-88 Mk.84 LDGP AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M Mk.84 LDGP AGM-88 AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M   Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M AIM-9L/M
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M LAU-115A + 2 x LAU-7/A-6 Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank LAU-115A AIM-9L/M
  AIM-9L/M AIM-9L/M           AIM-7M  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M   Fuel tank AIM-7M   AIM-7M Fuel tank   AIM-9L/M

F/A-18D "Fast FAC" loadout - VMFA(AW)-121

Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER Fuel tank AN/AAR-50 TINS Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank VER AIM-9L/M
  LAU-10                   LAU-10  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER VER AN/AAR-50 TINS Fuel tank AIM-7M VER VER AIM-9L/M
  LAU-10     Mk.82 LDGP               Mk.82 LDGP     LAU-10  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
  VER Fuel tank AN/AAR-50 TINS Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank VER  
  LAU-10                   LAU-10  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
  VER VER AN/AAR-50 TINS Fuel tank AIM-7M VER VER  
  LAU-10     Mk.82 LDGP Mk.82 LDGP       Mk.82 LDGP Mk.82 LDGP     LAU-10  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER Fuel tank AIM-7M   AN/AAS-38 FLIR Fuel tank VER AIM-9L/M
  LAU-10                   LAU-10  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER Fuel tank AN/AAR-50 TINS Fuel tank AN/AAS-38 FLIR Fuel tank VER AIM-9L/M
  LAU-10                   LAU-10  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER Fuel tank AN/ASQ-173 LST/SCAM Fuel tank AN/AAS-38 FLIR Fuel tank VER AIM-9L/M
  LAU-10                   LAU-10  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank VER AIM-9L/M
  LAU-68D/A                   LAU-68D/A  

NOTE: LAU-10 and LAU-68 launchers could be carried on VERs either on inboard or outboard mounting points. Most pics I have seen have them mounted outboard.


Few notices to USN/USMC Hornets:

AN/AAR-50 Nav FLIR
- more formally called the Thermal Imaging Navigation System (TINS--which, interestingly also means "This is no s***" when a Navy fighter pilot is telling you a war story! :) - is a wide field of view FLIR that has is imagery displayed on one of the multi-function displays to aid the pilot when flying low level at night, much like the much larger pod used by the A-7E did. It is mounted only on the right fuselage cheek station (6). It is rarely seen and seldom used as low level flying has largely fallen from favor and night vision goggles (NVG) have become the primary "seeing around" tool for night flying. Flight testing began in April 1990 and some were reportedly used during Desert Storm by USMC F/A-18Ds in lieu of AN/AAS-38 pods, although a permanent clearance wasn't granted until October 1992.

AN/AAS-38 Targeting FLIR
- called "Nite Hawk" by its maker, Raytheon, contains a narrow field of view FLIR and is only mounted on the left cheek station (4). Again, limited numbers were available for use during Desert Storm and were seen on Navy as well as Marine aircraft. However, it wasn't until after Desert Storm that a laser designator was incorporated and even later that a Laser Detector/Tracker (think PAVE Penny) capability was provided. Until the LDT capability was added, if the pilot needed to locate a laser designation of a target by someone else (e.g., ground based designator) he had to carry a third pod, the AN/ASQ-173 on station 6 that had a PAVE Penny-like sensor in its nose and a 35mm film strike camera in its tail. More widely used than the TINS, the Nite Hawk had a very poor FLIR.

All Hornets were equipped with SJU-5/6 ejection seats, straight VHF/UHF antennas and LAU-7/A-6 launchers.
Pylons versions:
SUU-63C/A - VMFA(AW)-121
SUU-63A/A - VMFA-212, VMFA-232, VMFA-235
SUU-63A - VMFA-314, VMFA-333, VMFA-451

BIG thanks to Dave Roof SSgt USMC Ret. for his invaluable help with updates and corrections.

Canada

CAP missions

Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuelt tank AIM-7M Fuel tank DRA AIM-9L/M
              AIM-9L/M AIM-9L/M  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M LAU-115A + 2 x LAU-7/A-6 Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuelt tank AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M AIM-9L/M
  AIM-9L/M AIM-9L/M              
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M AIM-9L/M

Air to Ground missions

Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER VER AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M VER VER AIM-9L/M
  Mk.82 LDGP Mk.82 LDGP Mk.82 LDGP Mk.82 LDGP       Mk.82 LDGP Mk.82 LDGP Mk.82 LDGP Mk.82 LDGP  
 
Wing Fuselage Belly Fuselage Wing
Wingtip Outboard Inboard       Inboard Outboard Wingtip
AIM-9L/M VER VER AIM-7M Fuel tank AIM-7M VER VER AIM-9L/M
  CRV-7 CRV-7 CRV-7 CRV-7       CRV-7 CRV-7 CRV-7 CRV-7  


NOTE: Canadian CF-188As carried so called "fat pylon" on Station 2 or 8. The pylon was thicker as it carried additional ECM gear. You can see the pylon HERE

Last updated: 10/12/2023 13:55:44

https://www.dstorm.eu/pages/loadout/f-18.html

Posted

AH-1S/F Cobra

Wing Belly Wing
Outboard Inboard M-197 gun Inboard Outboard
2 x TOW M261   M261 2 x TOW
 
Wing Belly Wing
Outboard Inboard M-197 gun Inboard Outboard
4 x TOW M261   M261 4 x TOW

AH-1J Sea Cobra

Wing Belly Wing
Outboard Inboard M-197 gun Inboard Outboard
  M261   M261  

AH-1W Super Cobra

Wing Belly Wing
Outboard Inboard M-197 gun Inboard Outboard
4 x AGM-114
Hellfire
M260   M260 4 x AGM-114
Hellfire
 
Wing Belly Wing
Outboard Inboard M-197 gun Inboard Outboard
M261 M260   M260 M261
 
Wing Belly Wing
Outboard Inboard M-197 gun Inboard Outboard
4 x TOW       4 x TOW
 
Wing Belly Wing
Outboard Inboard M-197 gun Inboard Outboard
4 x TOW M260   M260 4 x TOW

Last updated: 10/12/2023 13:55:44

https://www.dstorm.eu/pages/loadout/ah-1.html

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