Post by lordroel on Oct 14, 2024 15:36:23 GMT
With permission from Matt Wiser over at HPCA, Blinder: the Tu-22 at War and what is cannon in Red Dawn + 40.
Tupolev Tu-22 (Blinder) in World War III
The Tu-22 (NATO code name Blinder) was the first operational Soviet supersonic bomber, entering service as a bomber in 1962, and also as a missile carrier, reconnaissance aircraft, and conversion trainer in the following years. Despite continuing teething troubles, and a high accident rate which meant the aircraft was unpopular with its crews, the aircraft had a long service history, seeing combat during the Third World War in Soviet and Libyan service, and in the Second Russian Civil war.
Variants:
Tu-22B: Initial production variant armed with free-fall gravity bombs. First introduced in 1962, and assigned to the 203rd DBAP (Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment). Armed with up to 24 500-kg (1100 lb) FAB-500 bombs or a single thermonuclear weapon. Deemed a failure in Soviet service and primarily used for training. Tu-22Bs built for Libya and Iraq were rebuilds of Tu-22R models. NATO code Blinder-A.
Tu-22R: Reconnaissance version with cameras, surface-search radar, and ECM system. Also adaptable as an escort jammer with ECM equipment in the bomb bay replacing the camera system. Free-fall bombing capability retained. NATO code Blinder-C. Used by both SAF and SNAF.
Tu-22U: Two-seat conversion trainer. WSO seat exchanged for raised cockpit for instructor pilot, fuel tankage decreased, all combat capability removed. NATO code Blinder-D.
Tu-22K: Missile carrier version armed with single Kh-22 (NATO code AS-4 Kitchen) ASM, with PN radar (NATO code Down Beat) and free-fall bombing capability deleted. Entered SAF service 1965, not declared operational until 1967 due to issues integrating aircraft and missile system. SAF only. NATO code Blinder-B.
Tu-22P: ELINT reconnaissance variant, also used as standoff jammer. ELINT system in bomb bay, and ECM system installed. One squadron per Tu-22KD regiment. NATO code Blinder-E.
Tu-22KP: Tu-22K fitted with ELINT system to detect air defense radars for attack with Kh-22P Antiradar missile.
A series of upgrades to the aircraft began in 1965 with improved engines, hydraulic boosters to the flight control system, and aileron fences to address aileron reversal issues. The aircraft also received inflight refueling capability with a IFR probe being installed, and the letter “D” added to the designation (Tu-22KD, Tu-22RD, etc.) Reconnaissance versions had their systems upgraded beginning in 1975 with new cameras, SLAR, improved ECM and chaff dispensers.
Users:
Soviet Air Force: Five regiments became operational with the aircraft; three regiments of the 46th Air Army's (DA: Long-Range Aviation) 15th Heavy Bomber Division, and two reconnaissance regiments reporting directly to the 46th Air Army.
Soviet Naval Air Force (AV-MF): Two reconnaissance regiments in the Baltic and Black Sea Fleets. 15th ODRAP (Independent Long-Range Reconnaissance Regiment) at Chaklavosk (Kaliningrad); 30th ODRAP at Saki in the Crimea.
Libya: 12-18 Blinder-Bs were delivered to the Libyan Air Force in 1977, often flown by foreign crews under secondment to the Libyan AF due to a shortage of trained Libyan aircrew.
Iraq: At least 12 aircraft delivered, with combat in the Iran-Iraq War.
Service:
Soviet Tu-22s saw combat beginning on Day One, with an attempted strike against the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean from the 121st Guards TBAP, flying via the Balkans. This strike was foiled with heavy losses by F-14s from USS Nimitz (CVN-68), but was, unknown to the crews, a diversionary strike for a major SNAF effort which damaged the carrier and sank two escorts. A further strike against RAF bases in Cyprus by the 203rd TBAP met with some success, but follow-up strikes by both SAF and Libyan Blinders were not successful. SAF Blinders flew occasional anti-shipping strikes into the Mediterranean, using Libyan fields for staging during 1985-6, before attrition in the air and on the ground-usually strikes by Sixth Fleet aircraft against Libyan air bases-took its toll.
SNAF Blinders flew reconnaissance missions over the Mediterranean, and also supported the Soviet Baltic Fleet during the Battle of the Baltic Exits.
The 341st TBAP deployed to Mexico via Occupied Iceland and Cuba, and flew strikes into the U.S. Southwest and Southeast, with strategic targets in California, Arizona, Mississippi, and Alabama being attacked. At the top of the target list were aircaft factories, shipyards, and power plants. Attrition took its toll, among both the missile carriers, reconnaissance aircraft, and EW support, so that by the time of the Armistice in 1989, only a handful of Blinders remained. Though turned over to Mexico as the men of the 341st left for home, the Mexicans were unable to support the aircraft and the Blinders were all found at Hermosillo AB by U.S. Forces during the Baja War of 2010, having been abandoned as if their Soviet crews had only left the day before.
Libya:
Libyan Tu-22Bs were in the 1124th Bomber Squadron, and on Qaddafi's orders, flew strikes against Cyprus and against Israel-where the carrier Nimitz had anchored at Haifa for repairs. Losses to defending fighters were heavy, and with a lack of attrition replacements, the aircraft had to be carefully husbanded. Though put into storage in 1992 at Oka Bin Nafi AB, two Blinders flew missions against the Rebels during the Libyan Civil War in 2011, including at least one strike with chemical weapons. The Blinders, along with the rest of Qaddafi's forces, were destroyed on their bases shortly afterwards during the Anglo-American nuclear attack on the Qaddafi Regime's strongpoints.
Iraq:
Iraqi Blinders flew strikes into Iran beginning in 1980, and remained active until the Iran-Iraq War petered out in 1986. A lack of attrition replacement and spare parts resulted in the seven remaining Tu-22s (five B and two U) being used as decoys at their base at Al Taqaddum AB.
Ukraine:
Most surviving Tu-22 aircraft in the 15th Heavy Bomber Division flew for the Ukrainian AF during the Second Russian Civil War. All survivors retired and scrapped at war's end.
Tupolev Tu-22 (Blinder) in World War III
The Tu-22 (NATO code name Blinder) was the first operational Soviet supersonic bomber, entering service as a bomber in 1962, and also as a missile carrier, reconnaissance aircraft, and conversion trainer in the following years. Despite continuing teething troubles, and a high accident rate which meant the aircraft was unpopular with its crews, the aircraft had a long service history, seeing combat during the Third World War in Soviet and Libyan service, and in the Second Russian Civil war.
Variants:
Tu-22B: Initial production variant armed with free-fall gravity bombs. First introduced in 1962, and assigned to the 203rd DBAP (Heavy Bomber Aviation Regiment). Armed with up to 24 500-kg (1100 lb) FAB-500 bombs or a single thermonuclear weapon. Deemed a failure in Soviet service and primarily used for training. Tu-22Bs built for Libya and Iraq were rebuilds of Tu-22R models. NATO code Blinder-A.
Tu-22R: Reconnaissance version with cameras, surface-search radar, and ECM system. Also adaptable as an escort jammer with ECM equipment in the bomb bay replacing the camera system. Free-fall bombing capability retained. NATO code Blinder-C. Used by both SAF and SNAF.
Tu-22U: Two-seat conversion trainer. WSO seat exchanged for raised cockpit for instructor pilot, fuel tankage decreased, all combat capability removed. NATO code Blinder-D.
Tu-22K: Missile carrier version armed with single Kh-22 (NATO code AS-4 Kitchen) ASM, with PN radar (NATO code Down Beat) and free-fall bombing capability deleted. Entered SAF service 1965, not declared operational until 1967 due to issues integrating aircraft and missile system. SAF only. NATO code Blinder-B.
Tu-22P: ELINT reconnaissance variant, also used as standoff jammer. ELINT system in bomb bay, and ECM system installed. One squadron per Tu-22KD regiment. NATO code Blinder-E.
Tu-22KP: Tu-22K fitted with ELINT system to detect air defense radars for attack with Kh-22P Antiradar missile.
A series of upgrades to the aircraft began in 1965 with improved engines, hydraulic boosters to the flight control system, and aileron fences to address aileron reversal issues. The aircraft also received inflight refueling capability with a IFR probe being installed, and the letter “D” added to the designation (Tu-22KD, Tu-22RD, etc.) Reconnaissance versions had their systems upgraded beginning in 1975 with new cameras, SLAR, improved ECM and chaff dispensers.
Users:
Soviet Air Force: Five regiments became operational with the aircraft; three regiments of the 46th Air Army's (DA: Long-Range Aviation) 15th Heavy Bomber Division, and two reconnaissance regiments reporting directly to the 46th Air Army.
Soviet Naval Air Force (AV-MF): Two reconnaissance regiments in the Baltic and Black Sea Fleets. 15th ODRAP (Independent Long-Range Reconnaissance Regiment) at Chaklavosk (Kaliningrad); 30th ODRAP at Saki in the Crimea.
Libya: 12-18 Blinder-Bs were delivered to the Libyan Air Force in 1977, often flown by foreign crews under secondment to the Libyan AF due to a shortage of trained Libyan aircrew.
Iraq: At least 12 aircraft delivered, with combat in the Iran-Iraq War.
Service:
Soviet Tu-22s saw combat beginning on Day One, with an attempted strike against the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean from the 121st Guards TBAP, flying via the Balkans. This strike was foiled with heavy losses by F-14s from USS Nimitz (CVN-68), but was, unknown to the crews, a diversionary strike for a major SNAF effort which damaged the carrier and sank two escorts. A further strike against RAF bases in Cyprus by the 203rd TBAP met with some success, but follow-up strikes by both SAF and Libyan Blinders were not successful. SAF Blinders flew occasional anti-shipping strikes into the Mediterranean, using Libyan fields for staging during 1985-6, before attrition in the air and on the ground-usually strikes by Sixth Fleet aircraft against Libyan air bases-took its toll.
SNAF Blinders flew reconnaissance missions over the Mediterranean, and also supported the Soviet Baltic Fleet during the Battle of the Baltic Exits.
The 341st TBAP deployed to Mexico via Occupied Iceland and Cuba, and flew strikes into the U.S. Southwest and Southeast, with strategic targets in California, Arizona, Mississippi, and Alabama being attacked. At the top of the target list were aircaft factories, shipyards, and power plants. Attrition took its toll, among both the missile carriers, reconnaissance aircraft, and EW support, so that by the time of the Armistice in 1989, only a handful of Blinders remained. Though turned over to Mexico as the men of the 341st left for home, the Mexicans were unable to support the aircraft and the Blinders were all found at Hermosillo AB by U.S. Forces during the Baja War of 2010, having been abandoned as if their Soviet crews had only left the day before.
Libya:
Libyan Tu-22Bs were in the 1124th Bomber Squadron, and on Qaddafi's orders, flew strikes against Cyprus and against Israel-where the carrier Nimitz had anchored at Haifa for repairs. Losses to defending fighters were heavy, and with a lack of attrition replacements, the aircraft had to be carefully husbanded. Though put into storage in 1992 at Oka Bin Nafi AB, two Blinders flew missions against the Rebels during the Libyan Civil War in 2011, including at least one strike with chemical weapons. The Blinders, along with the rest of Qaddafi's forces, were destroyed on their bases shortly afterwards during the Anglo-American nuclear attack on the Qaddafi Regime's strongpoints.
Iraq:
Iraqi Blinders flew strikes into Iran beginning in 1980, and remained active until the Iran-Iraq War petered out in 1986. A lack of attrition replacement and spare parts resulted in the seven remaining Tu-22s (five B and two U) being used as decoys at their base at Al Taqaddum AB.
Ukraine:
Most surviving Tu-22 aircraft in the 15th Heavy Bomber Division flew for the Ukrainian AF during the Second Russian Civil War. All survivors retired and scrapped at war's end.