Hunt for Scuds

[Silverbolt 104]

Hi all!

i found this article an i think it's intresting, so i dicide to post it here .

i hope all apreciate the reading.

oh, and understand >.<'

 

 

Hunt for Scuds

 

Special Forces in hunting and destruction of Iraqi SCUD

Launchers in Operation Desert Storm.

 

 

Fernando Diniz

Researches in Special Forces

and Light Weapons

 

The use of ballistic missile (TBM) in military operations date of the Second World War, where Germany with its V-2, although the relative power of destruction has caused great concern strategic to the Allies.

 

During Operation Desert Storm in in 1991, TBMs Saddan Hussein launched against a wide variety of targets, especially against Israel in an attempt to force an Israeli attack on Iraq, leading to an immediate collapse of the Coalition.

 

Initially regarded as an insignificant factor military, mobile launchers of SCUD soon became more numerous than expected, and their elimination at the top of the priorities of the Coalition. A joint force of fighter-bombers conventional and Special Operations Forces (SOF) were quickly assembled to find and destroy the threat.

 

The Iraqi SCUD belonged to the 8K14 series, known in NATO as SCUD 1b. Ballistic missiles are only a stage, short-range and propelidos by liquid fuel. The first mobile launchers were built on the Russian IS-3 chassis . Four years later, the IS-3 have been replaced by 8 x 8 MAZ-543 chassis. The exchange of the carrier gave the SCUD greater mobility and the use of cars down auxiliary personnel carriers, since the crew was within the MAZ-543. See Description of vehicles (1)

 

During the 80 engineers modernized its Iraqi SCUD (2), increasing the size them, to add another segment, and consequently increasing the reach them, although the payload has been slightly reduced. The results were the Al-Hussein (!) With 650km range and capable of reaching Israel and Syria, and then the Al-Abbas, with 900km range, capable of covering all the Strait of Hormuz.

 

By attacking Kuwait, Saddan had 50TELs (Launchers Furniture of SCUD), more than 5 fixed platforms, they all pointed to Israel, and about 60 missiles with the provision.

 

On January 17, seven SCUDs reached TelAviv and Haifa, destroying some 150 buildings and injuring 50 people. Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzhak Shamir warned

to the Americans that Israel will not tolerate another attack and was ready to retaliate. Immediately George Bush sent two batteries of Patriot missiles to Israel and anti promised to destroy all Iraqi launchers.

 

Five days later, a SCUD reached the suburbs of Tel Aviv, killing 8 people. Israel asked the passwords of way for its F-15 fighters and F-16, already warm the engines on takeoff from runway, where a telephone conversation, between Bush and Shamir, managed to contain the Israelis.

 

The following day, the Israeli intelligence informed the command of the Coalition of the location of 4 Iraqi fixed platforms. Immediately a SOF unit was sent to locate and destroy the platforms. Two MH-47 Chinook helicopters led the team and a Land-Rover vehicle modified to operate in the desert of western Iraq. An hour later, the team found the SOF platforms, drawing a fleet of F-15 that bombed the place with bombs guided by laser. A Black Hawk helicopter MH60 filmed the attack, and the tape was sent to Israel. After seeing the tape, the Prime Minister of Israel called the Pres. Bush to say that I trusted in the capacity of the Coalition to find and destroy the SCUD. The crisis had been postponed.

 

On January 18, A-10 aircraft, F-15, F-16 and AC-130 Spectre were designated specifically to locate and destroy all platforms for launching SCUD.

 

While the platforms fixed fosem relatively easy to locate and destroy, the problem was the TEL, that the Iraqis had learned to disguise and hide very well, combined with magnificent "baits" made of rubber in eastern Germany, which were perfect copies of mobile launchers , Which cost hundreds of tons of bombs to be destroyed ... (2)

 

With the results back by Israeli pressure to rise rapidly, it was time to use the SOF in finding land for these mobile platforms.

Although, the Commander in Chief of the Coalition, Gen. Norman "The Bear" Schwartzkopf did not believe in the ability of SOF to resolve something, it had seen during his time in Vietnam, many units of Boinas Greens be helped by the Army to avoid that their positions were taken, and also attended, during the invasion of Grenada, as a Unit of the Navy SEAL was almost annihilated in an ambush by a lack of effective prior recognition of unloading, a direct order from Chief U.S. General Staff, Gen. Colin Powell, to give priority to the use of SOF in the search for SCUD resolved the issue.

 

Since the beginning Gen. Schwartzkopf had in his General Staff to Gen. Sir Peter de la Billiére, former commander of 22 SAS, better known and legendary group of special forces of the west, as commander of British forces in the Gulf.

Edited June 29, 2008 by Silverbolt

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22 SAS Regiment

 

The 22 SAS was the first unit of SOF to operate directly against the force of mobile SCUDS in an effort to direct resources of the coalition search for Scuds, two area of operation were created: the first located south of the main highway linking Baghdad to Aman , Jordan known as Scud alley was between the second SAS while the Second to the north known as SCUD Boulevard, was delivered to U.S. JSOTF (Delta Force).

 

On January 10, 1991, the 22 SAS Regiment was notified that were ready to embark for Saudi Arabia on January 13. The four Esquadrões that form the Rules: A, B, D and G were taken to a hangar in Riyhad, which also accommodated their equipment and transport vehicles, as well as ammunition and rations.

 

His orders were not only to hunt and destroy launchers and SCUDs, but also to attack "opportunity targets", although there was a need for prior authorization for such attacks because the Coalition did not want arrasar with Iraq, but only neutralize its military capability .

 

On January 20, 1991, SAS units crossed the border from Iraq for the first time. Operational details, such as methods of insertion, were at the discretion of the leader of the unit. There were three basic types of integration: on foot, by land vehicles or helicopters.

 

Two large units SAS entered into Iraqi territory: Groups B10 (Bravo One Zero) and B20 (Bravo Two Zero). Bravo One Zero, formed by 30 men, used six Land Rovers, a Unimog truck and two motorcycles as a support. The arms varied, but was basically: M16 rifles, 5.56 mm, with M203 grenade launchers, coupled, sniper rifles Parker-Hale 7.62 mm, grenades, 9mm pistols and explosives. Milan and TOW missiles, machine guns average 7.62 mm GPMG, heavy M2HB .50 and grenade launchers, M-19 completavam the equipment.

 

To minimize possible contacts with the Iraqi troops had done the night shift. During the day, the group has enterrava and camuflava vehicles, taking advantage to sleep, relax and watch.

 

A series of unexpected problems arose at the outset. The nights were so cold that men, not having taken appropriate clothing, as expected cold, but not as low temperatures, began having problems with heating, three men die of cold ... One of them hidden from Iraqi troops, another across the mined a frozen river and the third crossing a mountain on foot.

 

After they attacked and destroyed a radar station, which is believed direcionava SCUDs, which housed a garrison of about 50 men, besides targets of opportunity, the Bravo Group One Zero returned six weeks after the allied lines.

 

Bravo Two Zero chose to enter Iraq on foot, with the mission to destroy an underground line of communications, that air strikes could not neutralize.

 

The closer is an area inhabited, the group was sighted by children who gave the alarm. A leak started walking up, with the Iraqis trying to encircle the SAS using armoured, and they desperately fleeing, keeping their persecutors at a respectable distance. Several attempts were made to surrender, without success. A member of the group managed to flee on foot to the border of Syria, where he was helped by Syrian soldiers. Three died during the fighting, and four were captured, tortured and kept as prisoners until the end of the conflict.

 

For 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta (1st SFOD-Delta) is one of two U.S. military units devoted to the fight against terrorism.

 

Divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) of 75 men each, have the same skills and functions of the British SAS. He received the same mission that the SAS: locate, inform and if possible destroy mobile launchers of SCUDs.

Edited June 29, 2008 by Silverbolt

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Delta Force

 

Designated officially 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta (1st SFOD-Delta) is one of two U.S. military units devoted to the fight against terrorism.

Divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) of 75 men each, have the same skills and functions of the British SAS. He received the same mission that the SAS: locate, inform and if possible destroy mobile launchers of SCUDs.

 

The Delta Force was present since the start of Operation Desert Storm in because some of its members served as a guard staff of Gen. Schwartzkopf since this came to Saudi Arabia.

 

Their patrols in search of SCUDs had the same problems of the SAS, although they always had air support immediately, which sometimes missed the British. Localizaram several TELs, forcing the Iraqis to move constantly to avoid destruction.

 

One of his patrols (six men) was also located by children, got themselves into a fight with around 250 Iraqis, and after about 150 enemies killed, was evacuated by helicopter at the last minute before the ultimate body to body.

[Bounder 0]

Delta was assigned to hunt scuds at the request of Israel in "payment" for not entering the war once they were attacked during "STORM" Due to the fear that IAF forces would split the coalition, SOFD was sent asap.

 

 

January 18 First Scuds hit Israel. Navy aircraft losses during attack on Scud sites leads to recriminations about low-altitude bombing tactics. First American air attacks are launched from Turkey.

 

January 19 David Eberly and Thomas Griffith are shot down.

 

January 20 Lawrence Eagleburger and Paul Wolfowitz arrive in Tel Aviv.

 

January 22 Navy attacks Iraqi oil tanker, triggering Schwarzkopf's threat of court-martial. British high command, alarmed at aircraft losses, abandons low-altitude attacks against airfields.

 

January 23 Intense attack against Iraqi aircraft shelters begins.

 

January 26 U.S. Marines in Oman participate in Sea Soldier IV, rehearsal for amphibious landing on Kuwaiti coast.

F-111s attack oil manifolds at Al Ahmadi in effort to counter Iraqi sabotage.

 

January 29 Iraqis attack Khafji and other border positions. Allied pilots begin flying combat air patrols to thwart Iraqi flights to Iran.

 

January 30 Richard Cheney dispatches Delta Force to Saudi Arabia to hunt for Scuds.

Edited June 29, 2008 by Bounder

[Silverbolt 104]

160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment - SOAR

 

It was the air component of U.S. SOF. It provided support and assistance of fire operations in the Delta Force, and in some cases, the SAS.

 

Made up of light observation helicopters OH-6, utilities type MH60 Black Hawks and heavy MH-47 Chinooks, only the best pilots are recruited. His training includes the use of more modern equipment for blind and low altitude flight on any ground. In Iraq acostumaram to fly to 30cm from the ground, at night, and a speed of 280 km / h!

 

Its basic tasks were infiltration of SOF groups and search and rescue killed pilots . They tasted several casualties during the war. On February 21, four pilots and three members of a Delta unit died when the MH-60 Black Hawk that hit a dune during an infiltration operation with zero visibility.

 

Air Traffic Controllers, trained to establish contact with air patrols, posts of communications and command allies were always the aggregate patrols Delta.

 

Aircraft AC-130 Gunships also had a role in the Great Game to SCUDs. At least one AC-130 was killed by a SAM 7 Grail.

 

Although the operations of Delta units in the war in Iraq still remain "classified", there are reports of ex-combatants who reasonably illustrate the problems that faced and the successes they obtained.

 

On February 7, a patrol of 20 Delta men runing away from Iraqi armoured units, when the Air Controller who accompanied the group to contact a pair of F-15 which dropped like a lightning bolt on the Iraqis, destroying in seconds the whole group armoured and other vehicles nearby, including the TEL that had been reported by the patrol attacked

Edited June 29, 2008 by Silverbolt

[Silverbolt 104]

Special Boat Service Regiment

 

Less known than the SAS, the SBS is another strength of the elite service of the United Kingdom. They had limited participation in the Gulf War, and its most important task was the location and destruction of an underground fiber-optic cable, used by Iraqis to communicate with all its military bases, and that was not destroyed by air strikes. The cable ran southwest of Baghdad, and a mixed team formed by twenty SBS, three and a Delta Air Controller was infiltrated the night of January 23. The group found the cable, secionou it into several parts, and dropped out in safety to their base in Al-Jouf, taking a piece as a trophy, which was then presented to Gen. Schwartzkopf, as a gentle reprimand by the little respect that this character had the professional capacity of SOF.

 

Although the SOF groups were not specifically trained for operations against mobile missile launchers, and still have not managed to destroy all mobile platforms TEL Iraqi undoubtedly was his ability to locate and identify local suspects and vehicles, making them targets for attacks air and forcing her constant displacement, which did not allow Saddan followed with his strategy of attacking Israel, leading the country to retaliate which certainly would have destroyed the fragile coalition together. If Saddan had been successful, certainly would have won the war.

[Silverbolt 104]

Below some data on the Great Game to SCUDs.

 

January 18 - 7 SCUDs in TelAviv and Haifa. Seven injured

A pitcher TEL destroyed by A-10.

January 19 - 4 SCUDs around TelAviv. Without victims.

January 20 - 2 SCUDs intercepted by Patriot missiles.

January 21 - 6 SCUDs intercepted by Patriot missiles. An impact at sea.

January 22 - 7 SCUDs hit Israel. 96 wounded and 3 dead. Other 7 SCUDs

intercepted by Patriot.

January 23 - 7 SCUDs launched against Israel. All intercepted by Patriot.

4 SCUDs located by Delta Force. Are destroyed by air attack

January 25 - 8 SCUDs launched against Israel Saudi Arabia. One dead and 96 injured

Israelis. The launched against Saudi Arabia intercepted by Patriot.

January 26 - 4 SCUDs launched. All intercepted by Patriot.

January 28 - 3 SCUDs and 4 of support vehicles destroyed by F-15.

January 29 - 2 + TEL SCUDs located at SAS. Are destroyed by F-15

January 31 - 2 SCUDs destroyed by F-15

02 February - 1 SCUD located by Delta Force. Destroyed by MH-60

03 February - 2 SCUDs located at SAS. Are destroyed by F-15

05 February - 2 + Tels SCUDs located at SAS. Are destroyed by F-15

February 10 - 1 SCUD destroyed in the ground by F-15.

February 11 - 4 SCUDs destroyed by F-15 in Kuwait.

February 14 - 2 SCUDs destroyed by F-15

February 18 - 2 SCUDs located at SAS. Are destroyed by F-16

February 19 - 1 TEL + SCUD located at SAS. Destroyed by F-15

February 23 - 7 SCUDs destroyed in the ground by F-15 and A-7

February 26 - 24 SCUDs destroyed in the soil by A-10 and A-18

 

The above figures show over 100 SCUDs destroyed, with participation of relevant units SOF.

 

If all these SCUDs had reached their targets, Israel would be today a devastated country, the Coalition would have been esfacelado, a new Arab-Israeli war would irrompido, and Saddan Hussein would triunfado. The fact the United States and Britain have launched their best units in the hunt for SCUDs demonstrated beyond any doubt the importance given by these countries to the security of the integrity of Israel and the fulfilment of the pledge, would not need a military intervention against Israeli Iraq.

 

Sources:

 

Twilight Warriors - History of SOF - Martins Arostegui

The Role and Effects of Special Operations Forces in Theater Ballistic

Missile Counterforce Operations during Operation Desert Storm - Thomas Hunter

 

Notes

 

1 - The modernisation of SCUDS, would have counted with the participation of Brazilian technicians, as the press reports at the time. The increase in weight of the SCUD that the structure has not incurred and the acceleration desintegrasse the body of the missile, when back in the atmosphere. Thus the Patriot never managed a direct impact

 

2 - The decoys used by the Iraqis reflected the spectra, thermal, and magnetic radárico. The same difficulty the Air Force participating in Operation Allied Force in Kosovo, would have nine years after (1999).

 

 

Source:http://www.defesanet.com.br/rv/desertstorm/scuds.htm

Edited June 29, 2008 by Silverbolt

[Silverbolt 104]

Delta was assigned to hunt scuds at the request of Israel in "payment" for not entering the war once they were attacked during "STORM" Due to the fear that IAF forces would split the coalition, SOFD was sent asap.

 

 

Wasnt me who wrote this article,and it probably have some automatic translations erros.

btw, for what i understand , they didn't want Israel start an general war.

Edited June 29, 2008 by Silverbolt

[Bounder 0]

it was even published in the stars and strips that that was the reason Delta was assigned the mission,,and the US promissed the assigment of Delta,and to built two kabbutz,as long as IDF forces didnot leave the border of Israel. Cortary to the statement that any attack on Israel would result in a like response on the attacker. Think I even still have that issue I brought alot of the back with me when we returned,Even have the one on the AC-130 that when down around that time and all SOI where considered compromised.

Edited June 30, 2008 by Bounder

[Rambler 1-1 9]

Kinda reminds me of the V1 and V2 missiles in WWII, and the Skeeters they used to take them down. Really good story about that in a book I've got here, maybe I'll post it sometime.

[+Typhoid 231]

not to mention the missile launch warning from Cheyenne Mountain with provided both the warning and look angles for the Patriots as well as the launch locations for the aircraft and teams out looking for the launch teams and equipment.

[Bounder 0]

Patriots missles roflol those things realy only had about a 60% hit ratio(if that good) most scuds just broke up due to stupid attempt to enlarge the fuel tanks.

 

 

 

Trial by fire

The AN/MPQ-53 radar system used by the Patriot for target detection, tracking and missile guidance Prior to the Persian Gulf War, ballistic missile defense was an unproven concept in war. During Operation Desert Storm, in addition to its anti-aircraft mission, Patriot was assigned to shoot down incoming Iraqi SCUD or Al Hussein short range ballistic missiles launched at Israel and Saudi Arabia. The first combat use of Patriot occurred 18 January 1991 when it engaged what was later found to be a computer glitch.^[4] There were actually no SCUDs fired at Saudi Arabia on 18 January^[5] This incident was widely misreported as the first successful interception of an enemy ballistic missile in history.

 

Throughout the war, Patriot missiles attempted engagement of over 40 hostile ballistic missiles. The success of these engagements, and in particular how many of them were real targets is still controversial. Post war video analysis of presumed interceptions suggests that no Scud was actually hit^[6].

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIM-104_Patriot

 

 

Throughout the Gulf War there were continuing military and news reports of the Patriot's success in intercepting and destroying Iraqi Scuds. The Army initially said the Patriot achieved an 80 percent success rate in Saudi Arabia and 50 percent in Israel. Those claims later were scaled back to 70 percent and 40 percent.

 

However, not long after the war's end, analysts began to question the Patriot's performance. The Army and Patriot's manufacturer, Raytheon Company, vigorously defended the system and said it was a Gulf War success story.

 

After a 10-month investigation in 1992 by the House Government Operations Subcommittee on Legislation and National Security, the subcommittee concluded there was little evidence to prove the Patriot hit more than a few Scud missiles launched by Iraq.

 

Another 1992 investigation done by the General Accounting Office found that only 9 percent of the Patriot-Scud engagements "are supported by the strongest evidence that an engagement resulted in a warhead kill." (The GAO defined "the strongest evidence" as instances in which Scud debris or radar data indicated that a Scud was destroyed or disabled after a Patriot detonated near it.) Except in 9 percent of the cases, the GAO report said the Army could prove only that "the Patriots came close to the Scuds, not that they destroyed them."

 

Both reports, as well as studies by analysts (in particular MIT scientists George N. Lewis and Theodore A. Postol) concluded that Gulf War television pictures showing Patriots chasing Scuds were misleading. The television images didn't fully reflect that a number of the Patriots were just wounding Scuds or pushing them off course; big chunks of both missiles then fell to the ground. In Israel, the amount of damages and casualties increased after the Patriots were deployed there.

 

FRONTLINE interview with Bernard Trainor concerning the Patriot's performance.

 

FRONTLINE interview with Rick Atkinson concerning the Patriot's performance.

 

RAYTHEON'S REBUTTAL: Raytheon Company, manufacturer of the Patriot missile system, strongly disagrees with critics of the Patriot's performance in the Gulf War. Here is their statement.

 

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT: Here is the Government Operations Subcommittee's 1992 summary report which criticized the Patriot missile's performance. (The full report was never published; this summary was included in the Activities Report every committee is required to file.)

 

Suggested Reading: "Missile Wars" by Seymour M. Hersh, The New Yorker, September 26, 1994.

 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/gu...ns/patriot.html

 

 

ALL MOST EVERY SCUD WAS TAKEN OUT BY SF/AF combo teams (Special Forces ,Air Force)

Edited July 1, 2008 by Bounder

[+Typhoid 231]

Patriots missles roflol those things realy only had about a 60% hit ratio(if that good) most scuds just broke up due to stupid attempt to enlarge the fuel tanks.

 

 

 

Trial by fire

The AN/MPQ-53 radar system used by the Patriot for target detection, tracking and missile guidance Prior to the Persian Gulf War, ballistic missile defense was an unproven concept in war. During Operation Desert Storm, in addition to its anti-aircraft mission, Patriot was assigned to shoot down incoming Iraqi SCUD or Al Hussein short range ballistic missiles launched at Israel and Saudi Arabia. The first combat use of Patriot occurred 18 January 1991 when it engaged what was later found to be a computer glitch.^[4] There were actually no SCUDs fired at Saudi Arabia on 18 January^[5] This incident was widely misreported as the first successful interception of an enemy ballistic missile in history.

 

Throughout the war, Patriot missiles attempted engagement of over 40 hostile ballistic missiles. The success of these engagements, and in particular how many of them were real targets is still controversial. Post war video analysis of presumed interceptions suggests that no Scud was actually hit^[6].

 

well, if you want some credibility, you need to use something other than the politically-corrupt wikpedia as a reference source. (I see that you have added some additional links. Good job! The results remain controversial)

 

Some of the above is partly correct and there certainly were some weaknesses in our systems at the time. At that time we took systems designed for something else and adapted them to defend against the SCUD threat. In Cheyenne Mountain, we shifted the focus of the strategic warning systems to provide tactical ballistic missile threat launch detection and warning through the US Space Command Center to CENTCOM and the Patriot units. That worked pretty well. We detected, tracked and provided tactical warning on all 84 launches which enabled the Patriots to engage the majority of them.

 

The Patriots of course were primarily air defense systems with a tactical ballistic missile capability built into them. Of the engagements they attempted, they actually hit somewhere in the neighborhood of 2/3 of the time but it varied depending on whether the missiles were going into the Arabian Penninsula or against Israel, the later being less successful. The percentages, or most other details, I am not at liberty to discuss.

 

There were several shortfalls which were detected and in some cases corrected during the war. Not all of which I can discuss here. One that was of note, however, and openly reported was the issue of the warhead kill capabilities. The original warhead was a fragmentation device intended to put a cloud of shrapnel into the airframe thereby shredding the aircraft structure (and crew appendages) thereby eliminating the flight characteristics of the aircraft. That didn't work very well against the SCUD airframes and warheads for several reasons. That was because if the Patriot successfully engaged and shredded the airframe, it didn't necessarily kill the RV. In the case of the SCUD, the RV does not (or did not at that time) separate from the airframe, it all came in together. So we might, and often did, shred the airframe but the RV came in anyway. One theory was that we knocked them off course, but given the general area nature of the weapon and the fact that they were in ballistic flight anyway, that is a rather thin argument.

 

The result of that experience is that in the ballistic missile defense world, we have shifted to Kinetic Kill Vehicles centered on a solid (generally tungsten) core that does a hit to kill, vaporizing the RV. That does work.

 

One of the comments that you brought up is the video analysis. That was done using the CNN camera videos at the receiving end of many of those engagements. The problem with that is that those cameras had no where near the quality of the video or the frame rate to be able to make those kinds of analysis'. So the report cited by the politically-corrupt and technically-incompetent wikpedia of the politically-corrupt and technically-incompetent faux-scientist was an amauterish political attempt to discredit what we did acomplish.

 

Fact is that we did hit the SCUDs on most of the attempted engagements, but probably did not actually killed the RV on many occasions. So a mixed bag. But what we in Cheyenne Mountain did do is;

 

1. provide launch locations for the SCUD Hunt forces which included the SOF, A-6E's and F-15E's looking for the mobile launchers.

2. provide attack warning to the projected impact sites which enabled forces under attack to take cover and reduced the casualties on our side.

3. provide cueing to the Patriot crews to be able to engage.

 

after the war one of the Patriot crews came through Cheyenne Mountain and presented a plaque to the missile warning team on my crew. It was a SCUD tank fragment mounted on a board with

 

"This SCUD's for you"

 

on the plaque. It was still there the last time I was up there.

 

I also sat through a post-war debrief and technical analysis with my CD who was also the Army BG who put the ATBM capability into the Patriot. So he, and I with him, got the full technical debrief with no punches pulled of all the successes and shortfalls as best as they were able to determine at the time.

 

Typhoid

Assistant Command Director

Cheyenne Mountain Alpha Crew

Desert Storm

18 SCUD engagements/kills

Edited July 1, 2008 by Typhoid

[+Jarhead1 27]

Yeah, ALMOST, we found about 10 different sites that had like 4 launchers per site back in 2003, so they didnt get ALL of them, not to mention, he started getting more missiles and launchers from Russia after Operation Desert Storm.

[+Typhoid 231]

"ALL MOST EVERY SCUD WAS TAKEN OUT BY SF/AF combo teams (Special Forces ,Air Force)"

 

I am not so sure of that. On the air side the SCUD Hunt teams were out looking for the mobile launchers and supporting tankers and convoys. We would provide launch locations as they lit up, and the data would be sent to the cockpits so they could react and hit them prior to their relocating. During the war we thought that many were caught and destroyed. After the war, it was determined that effort did not actually hit a single mobile launcher.

 

My understanding was that the SOF teams were out there to locate the SCUDs so that airstrikes could take them out, thereby not exposing the SOF teams to detection.

 

I did not read much on the SOF hunt results, but my impression was that they did not locate anywhere near all of them. The SCUDS were still launching right up to very near the end of the war and there were SCUDS visibily destroyed after the war under supervision. So I think the above might be a stretch.

Edited July 1, 2008 by Typhoid