Jump to content
Sign in to follow this  
beachav8r

Desert Storm - Mission 09 - Highway of Death

Recommended Posts

09GULF00.jpg

 

One of the major events that occurred late in the war was the near total destruction of Iraqi forces retreating from Kuwait. The carnage on the "Highway of Death" is cited as one of the primary reasons the war was soon brought to a close because the Coalition thought international support would waiver with continued decimation of the Iraqi Army. Senior military leaders agree that it was important to destroy Saddam's retreating military hardware. Later investigation would show only a quarter or less of the vehicles were military, however the others were trucks and vehicles stuffed with war loot confiscated from Kuwait. The death tolls vary widely, but I come down on the side of those who think it numbered in the hundreds instead of thousands. If the vehicle in front of me and behind me blows up, I think I'm just going to high tail it across the desert. Controversy aside, the attacks on Highway 80 (and the lesser reported Highway 8) were incredible examples of the devastation concentrated airpower can have on pent up forces.

 

On the night of February 26, an E-8 JSTARS noted columns of vehicles departing Kuwait, retreating north toward Iraq.

 

09GULF07.jpg

 

09GULF01.jpg

 

The first aircraft on scene were A-6 Intruders that spotted the six mile long column running the length of Highway 80. They bombed the lead and trail sections of the column with GATOR anti-tank mines to prevent the column from moving. From then on, it wasn't much more than a static bombing range for Coalition aircraft of every type.

 

09GULF02.jpg

 

09GULF03.jpg

 

09GULF04.jpg

 

Heading for Highway 80...

 

09GULF05.jpg

 

The assembled Coalition fleet in the Gulf...

 

09GULF06.jpg

 

For my strike, I used CBU-87/B instead of GATOR...

 

09GULF09.jpg

 

09GULF10.jpg

 

09GULF11.jpg

 

Picking up the coastline and some vehicles on the radar...

 

09GULF13.jpg

 

In hot!

 

09GULF14.jpg

 

Soon we have the column burning, which makes for an easy reference point...

 

09GULF15.jpg

 

09GULF16.jpg

 

09GULF17.jpg

 

My wingman doing some damage with his Snakeyes...

 

09GULF18.jpg

 

09GULF19.jpg

 

09GULF20.jpg

 

Cont..


An OV-10 loiters and throws white phosphorus rockets at the enemy column (framerate killer!)...

 

09GULF21.jpg

 

Care must be taken not to get too low because there are enemy air defense units in the mix...

 

09GULF22.jpg

 

09GULF23.jpg

 

With the initial strike completed, the entirety of Coalition air power will hit the column for two days, destroying 1500 to 2000 vehicles...

 

09GULF24.jpg

 

09GULF25.jpg

 

I next take up an A-10 to do some damage. Upon arrival on-scene, I order my wingman to make the first attack and he drops CBU on the column making it easy for my subsequent attacks...

 

09GULF27.jpg

 

09GULF28.jpg

 

09GULF26.jpg

 

09GULF29.jpg

 

Hmm..stay in my truck or leave my truck?

 

09GULF30.jpg

 

Leave my truck...

 

09GULF31.jpg

 

The airspace over the column is positively packed with Coalition aircraft. OV-10s, A-10s, F-4s, A-6s, A-7s, AV-8Bs, and others scream in from all directions...

 

09GULF32.jpg

 

09GULF33.jpg

 

Deconfliction is a bit of a problem and disasters almost occur..

 

09GULF34.jpg

 

09GULF35.jpg

 

09GULF36.jpg

 

09GULF37.jpg

 

09GULF38.jpg

 

We keep repeating passes until we run out of bombs..

 

09GULF39.jpg

 

09GULF40.jpg

 

09GULF41.jpg

 

The temptation to drift ever lower during your attacks is a problem. Soon you find yourself down in small arms territory and you expose yourself to a lot of fire...

 

09GULF42.jpg

 

The targets are endless...

 

09GULF43.jpg

 

We switch to guns, which in the SF2 A-10A aren't very effective. They seem to have more bullet drop and less of a "laser" fire feel to them compared to the DCS A-10C. Lazing around at low altitude trying to pick of targets with the gun seems hazardous so we pack up and head home.

 

09GULF44.jpg

 

09GULF45.jpg

 

09GULF46.jpg

 

I can't imagine what it must have been like to have been in that convoy for those two days. Once the bombs started to drop, I can't imagine many Iraqis decided to stay with their vehicles. Given the choice of showing up without their vehicles in Iraq and the consequences of that though, maybe some had no real choice. It indicates what a callous disregard Saddam Hussein had for his own forces that he would even put them in that position.

 

BeachAV8R

  • Like 4

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Great account, how did you generate the mission ?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

A real shame is the lack of roads in most SF terrains, roadless maps lost a lot of realism and immersion. Great AAR, BTW.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Great screenies... I like how you display the selected weapons and ripple quantity in the upper right screen! Very good...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Great account, how did you generate the mission ?

 

It's the single play mission that is included with the Operation Desert Storm install - instead of Highway of Death it is titled: Road to Hell...

 

BeachAV8R

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Fantastic AAR. I almost felt sorry for them. Almost. :lol:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Great read and screens! I ride Hwy 80 to and from work almost daily, and try to picture what that must have been like

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  

×

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue..