When the Gulf Crisis of 1990 was triggered by the Iraqi invasion of
Kuwait, the RAF responded by sending Tornado F 3 fighters to Saudi
Arabia to help defend the country against further aggression. These
aircraft were followed by the deployment of Tornado GR 1 strike/attack
aircraft to Bahrain. Eventually three wings of Tornado GR 1s were
established in Bahrain, Tabuk and Dhahran, as well as a detachment of
Tornado GR 1A reconnaissance aircraft. At the start of hostilities in
January 1991, the Tornado GR 1 wings carried out night-low-level
attacks against Iraqi Main Operating Bases using the JP233 runway
denial weapon. Meanwhile, Combat Air Patrols from the Tornado F 3 wing
ensured the integrity of Saudi airspace. Once air supremacy had been
established, the Tornado GR 1 force moved to medium-level operations,
initially by night and later by day, to attack the Iraqi oil
production and storage infrastructure. The arrival in theatre of a
laser designation capability with Pave Spike/Buccaneer and
TIALD/Tornado enabled precision attacks against the Iraq transport
system to cut off the frontline troops from resupply and reinforcement
and then to carry out a systematic destruction of the airfield
facilities. Tornado GR 1A reconnaissance operations played a major
role in the location of Scud missile launchers and in the planning and
execution of the land offensive. Throughout the conflict, the Tornado
F 3 wing at Dhahran carried out defensive counter-air operations to
ensure the safety of the base areas. This volume, publishing 30 years
after the conflict to free Kuwait, provides detailed first-hand
accounts of the missions undertaken by the Tornado crews. It is
illustrated by photographs taken by aircrew involved in the operation
and includes 30 newly commissioned profile artworks and detailed nose
art views of the aircraft ranged against Iraq.
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Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781472845108
Publisert
2021
Utgave
1. utgave
Utgiver
Vendor
Osprey Publishing
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter