"UAVs in the 80s" Topic

Just a few words from an Addis hotel room on the use of UAVs in 80s BAOR. There were none, not sure of other nationalities though, although I think the Canadians had the same as us.

We had the "Midge" Drone (Canadian Canadair CL-89). Flights were pre programmed (hence drone not UAV) and the imagery was all wet film which meant it had to be developed when the Midge was recovered. It was tasked by the Div Arty Int, although at Bde Arty Int would brief us on the proposed flight path should we have any areas of interest.

It was used for depth fire arty so would not be seen in support of the Battlegroups. As far as rules are concerned it should be used to influence off table arty and C3. It could also be used to influence the arrival of enemy reserves. Is was not until we had Phoenix in the late 90s that we had a near real time reporting capable UAV and even then in manouvre war it's primary task was in support of depth fire.

Tally Ho!

Hi Nick,

If using drone troop, then the Sound Ranging troop also be deployed, Counter Battery fire and plotting of enemy batteries.

I will add at one Div CPX sounding ranging microphone base held up Russian advance! Admittedly was because someone misread map symbol and though it was minefield.

Phil

Yes, ha cannot beat good map reading!!

For 6 mm Ian Armstrong is sculpting a Midge system for H&R

Tally Ho!

We also held up advance once when enemy stopped our CP and thought the radio masts were anti tank missile launchers.

For some reason we got the b#####king from Div for that. Apparently we spoilt the whole exercise.

To nickinsomerset….I was in E troop, 73 Loc Bty, 94 Loc Regt, my troop flew drones. Many a night on ex I and a good friend ( "Mac" will not give out full name here ) was on sag in the CP on doom watch. We would get a fire mission requiring a mission to be flown over a grid ref to look to see if we could find tank reserves, downed bridges and other nasty stuff. The turn around time was about 60 mins from getting the mission to sending the answer back. Mac and I would send back mission reports on not seeing any tanks or anything nasty but nice things like a Field Hospital, Watering point and Railway gun and one time a Regt of Cossacks. Ah fun days, it's the little things that would keep us going.

Click I suspect we have a few friends in common!!

Tally Ho!

Hi Clickenhof, I was in D Troop. So guess we to have friends in common.

"D" troop….well there goes the neighborhood :) I was in E troop from 1971 to 1988 bar a two postings to RSA.

Was with 94 from 74 till 85, first with G troop then D. Did a posting to RSA as well.