CV32 Posted March 20, 2011 Report Posted March 20, 2011 Italian Tornados now joining the effort, with potential for Canadian CF-18s to fly tonight. Quote
Desertfox Posted March 20, 2011 Author Report Posted March 20, 2011 The Guardian at www.guardian.co.uk is posting some good news stories on the Libya situation. You might want to check it out. Quoting one item from their 'live updates'; "Correspondent Chris McGreal has sent in some pictures of the remains of those tanks we mentioned earlier. He said that the road between Ajdabiya (which fell to Gaddafi's forces last week) and Benghazi is littered with the wreckage of burnt-out vehicles. Over 15 km he counted at least eight destroyed tanks, 12 armoured personnel carriers and dozens of 4x4 vehicles." Sounds like the French, or whoever did the attacks, are taking an aggressive interpretation of the rules. Quote
CV32 Posted March 20, 2011 Report Posted March 20, 2011 The carrier Enterprise has gone in the other direction, and is now in the Arabian Sea supporting ops in Afghanistan. UAE sending 'strike aircraft' (presumably its F-16E/F Desert Falcons), due to arrive at Decimomannu (Sardinia) sometime today (20 March). Qatar sending four Mirage 2000s to Solenzara (Corsica), due to be in operation today. Quote
CV32 Posted March 21, 2011 Report Posted March 21, 2011 Seems HMS Triumph was responsible for taking out Qaddafi's compound in Tripoli, presumably with a pair of Tactical Tomahawks. Quote
Silent Hunter UK Posted March 21, 2011 Report Posted March 21, 2011 Three Typhoons have gone into action over Libya; the first combat sortie for the type. Quote
broncepulido Posted March 21, 2011 Report Posted March 21, 2011 The Charles de Gaulle has a very limited air wing in the operation: http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=115649 8 Rafale Marine de la flottille 12F, 6 Super Etendard Modernisés (SEM) de la 17F et 2 E-2C Hawkeye de la 4F, soit seulement 16 avions au total. The Charles de Gaulle for this operation carries at least 2xCaracal and 1xPuma of the Armee de l'Air, and probably 2xPanther (I've read this data about helicopters some minutes ago, but I don't find now the source !!! ). Quote
CV32 Posted March 21, 2011 Report Posted March 21, 2011 The Charles de Gaulle has a very limited air wing in the operation ... The Charles de Gaulle for this operation carries at least 2xCaracal and 1xPuma of the Armee de l'Air, and probably 2xPanther (I've read this data about helicopters some minutes ago, but I don't find now the source !!! ). Yes, I read about the composition of the air group somewhere too, but can't remember where, but I am sure the helicopters are intended largely for the CSAR mission. Quote
CV32 Posted March 21, 2011 Report Posted March 21, 2011 Canadian CF-18s have flown their first mission, providing escort for another nation's aircraft performing a strike. Quote
broncepulido Posted March 21, 2011 Report Posted March 21, 2011 At last was in the same link http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=115649 A cet effet, le bâtiment embarque plusieurs hélicoptères, dont deux Caracal et un Puma de l'armée de l'Air(both SAR/CSAR helicopters). Quote
CV32 Posted March 21, 2011 Report Posted March 21, 2011 Looks like the UAE is out as far as sending warplanes are concerned. From DefenseNews: UAE says role in Libya limited to aid Quote
CV32 Posted March 21, 2011 Report Posted March 21, 2011 De Gaulle due to arrive tomorrow, amid reports that the French may take the lead on the whole operation. Anyone else hear reports that coalition aircraft actually strafed that pro Qaddafi armor on the road to Ajdabiya? Quote
broncepulido Posted March 21, 2011 Report Posted March 21, 2011 Anyone else hear reports that coalition aircraft actually strafed that pro Qaddafi armor on the road to Ajdabiya? Perhaps here ... http://thedailynewsegypt.com/region/qaddaf...ir-strikes.html http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2011/03/q...fis-next-moves/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/on-a-l...Yep3_story.html But the affirmation But they were halted as French air force fighters in particular strafed them for hours is very doubtious, a very high risk for a small number of fighters nearing ground for a straffing round and with small amounts of ammo (Rafale ammo=1X30mmX125 rpg, Mirage 2000C/5F ammo=2X30mmX125 rpg, Mirage 2000D/N ammo=none) and the French Air Force had retired (as the great majority of updated airforces) the ground attack rockets some years ago. I think it can be only journalist imagination. And not strictly related, journalits used as human shields: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/21/ex...human-shields/# Quote
CV32 Posted March 22, 2011 Report Posted March 22, 2011 Not quite a full warload of 16x 2,000 lb JDAMs apiece, unless they were mixing ordnance. Either way that should be sufficient to put an airfield out of action, busting runways, taxiways, shelters, fuel and weapons storage, etc, etc. You may recall they used the B-2 to shut down Obvra (Serbia) back in '99. Air Force Times is saying they dropped 45 x 2,000 lb bombs, so I am guessing 15 apiece. Quote
Silent Hunter UK Posted March 22, 2011 Report Posted March 22, 2011 BBC reports that an F-15E has crashed in Libya due to mechanical failure and that the pilot has been recovered by the rebels. Quote
CV32 Posted March 22, 2011 Report Posted March 22, 2011 BBC reports that an F-15E has crashed in Libya due to mechanical failure and that the pilot has been recovered by the rebels. Looks like the WSO is safe too. Good to hear. In other news, it was 'interesting' to hear Putin and Medvedev at odds with one another on the issue, publicly. Quote
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