| Sundance | 10 Jul 2016 5:45 p.m. PST |
Apparently during the invasion of Kuwait, the Kuwaiti Air Force tore into a mess of Iraqi helicopters carrying special forces to attack the palace. Anyone have any details on the air battle? Numbers? Types? I know the general types used in the attack, but specifically for this battle. Thanks! |
| Mako11 | 10 Jul 2016 6:03 p.m. PST |
Never heard of it. Mi-8s or Mi-17s are a safe bet for the transport helos though, possibly supported by Mi-25s. |
| Sundance | 10 Jul 2016 7:04 p.m. PST |
That's pretty much what I figured to, Mako. Looks like the Kuwaitis flew Mirage F1s. |
| Sgt RV | 11 Jul 2016 6:41 p.m. PST |
Kuwait had some A4 Skyhawks with Free Kuwait painted on the sides when I was there after the first was over. |
| Sundance | 12 Jul 2016 4:33 a.m. PST |
Thanks, Sgt, I know they used the A-4s for ground attack. I assumed they would have used the fighters against the helos, but you're right, they very well could have used the A-4s. |
| Sundance | 12 Jul 2016 8:32 a.m. PST |
Mako, I found some information on an Arabic language message board that mentions 42 Mi-8 and -17 helos on that day, but I have to go back to read more carefully if that was the number of helos involved or the number lost (it sounded more like that latter). From what I could make out, though it sounded like they were attributing the losses to high pressure cells (storms perhaps?). Anyway, as I said, have to go back to reread it more carefully. And I haven't found more details, but it does appear that they were escorted by Mi-25s. |
| Lion in the Stars | 14 Jul 2016 3:40 a.m. PST |
Sounds like one hell of a target-rich environment for the Kuwait AF. Wonder how many were shot down via Sidewinder and how many helos had to be gunned down? |
| Sundance | 14 Jul 2016 4:48 p.m. PST |
Lion, they had something on the order of 150 Mi-8 and -17s, but only 8 or so Mi-25s. I still need to go back and read more carefully what they said about the 42 helos. |
| Lion in the Stars | 14 Jul 2016 11:57 p.m. PST |
So, probably most shot down via guns, then. Call it 2 Sidewinders per fighter, and probably 2 Sidewinders per Helo kill. At least I seem to always double-tap in the flight sims… |
| Sundance | 15 Jul 2016 1:10 p.m. PST |
Found a good English language source – looks like all or at least the vast majority – of Iraqi helicopter losses were accidental: according to the article, they ran into high tension wires (makes sense, tension is probably the same word as pressure in Arabic). link |
tries out the expansion roads set.
