Operation "Caucasus".
Soviet pilots in Egypt.
Combat tests of new Soviet technology:
MiG-23 and MiG-25
Plan of Operation "Caucasus".
In December 1969, the USSR developed a plan for Operation Caucasus - the creation of a group of Soviet air defense forces in Egypt. A group of our generals and officers had to urgently conduct a reconnaissance of the area and select equipment to be sent to the UAR for the Soviet as well as Egyptian troops
.
Several specific master plans were developed for the construction of sites and firing positions for the deployment of the S-75 Dvina anti-aircraft missile systems (for Egyptians) - 25 units according to the plan
- and the S-125 Pechora (for a limited contingent from the Soviet Union)
- 24 units.
The air defense system included Shilka anti-aircraft self-propelled guns and Strela-2 systems. A number of options were proposed for basing Soviet aircraft at local airfields.
32,000 Soviet generals, officers and soldiers were already selected for shipment to Egypt
.
The group of forces included a special anti-aircraft missile division consisting of three anti-aircraft missile brigades and an electronic warfare center; a fighter and aviation group consisting of two regiments and a group of military advisers and specialists
.
At the end of January 1970, a task force of 20 people flew to Cairo to assist the Egyptian side in accelerating the construction of engineering structures and equipping battle formations to deploy anti-aircraft missile divisions
.
Sending Soviet troops to Egypt.
The division was dispatched from the port of Nikolaev in early March. 16 transports of the Ministry of the Navy of the USSR were involved. In accordance with a special Soviet-Egyptian agreement, Soviet troops were sent to Egypt "only to protect its airspace." In one of the orders of the Minister of Defense of the USSR, in particular, it was noted: “If the Egyptians suddenly cross the Suez Canal, do not go under any circumstances
! ..”
The ships were immersed in the lower ship holds (twedeks): military equipment, missiles, ammunition, food, household equipment, various equipment, gasoline, alcohol, etc. Cars, diesel engines, control cabs, guidance and communications were located on the upper deck. For each ship, 2 divisions were loaded
.
Disguise measures.
The personnel was dressed in civilian clothes, did not have any documents. Soldiers and sergeants were placed in holds, and officers in cabins. According to legend, as in Cuba, agricultural machinery was transported. All measures of camouflage and privacy of the swimming regime were observed
.
There was a strict order to shoot without hesitation at those who “try to jump overboard”. During the passage of the Turkish straits, the services of pilots were refused, giving the latter "special gifts." None of the personnel (not to mention their families) knew where “prepared units” were sent and for how long. According to General A. Smirnov, "people, in general, guessed what was ahead, but" in those days various services fought with rumors very toughly
. "
Arriving at the place, the personnel immediately changed into Egyptian military uniforms without insignia and epaulettes. For identification, generals and officers wore field jackets over trousers, and sergeants and soldiers tucked them under the belt.
From personal weapons, each soldier and sergeant received a Kalashnikov assault rifle, each officer received a Makarov pistol. In addition, the units had grenades, grenade launchers, light machine guns and anti-aircraft machine-gun mounts. The unloading of personnel and military equipment, as well as all marches for occupying the SAM air launch positions, took place only at night, during the daytime the troops were in the so-called “settling tanks”, strictly observing the disguise
.
Soviet air group.
The Soviet aviation group included a separate reconnaissance fighter squadron (30 MiG-21, 42 pilots) and a fighter aviation regiment (40 MiG-21, 60 pilots). In addition to Soviet officers and soldiers, there were internships in various specialties in the regiment and Arab military personnel
.
After a special course of combat training, the pilots of the group received disassembled combat vehicles. On transport aircraft An-12 they were delivered to Egypt. Aviation mechanics went directly to Cairo in the same way. February 1, 1970 the squadron and regiment took up combat duty.
Almost at the same time, individual naval aviation squadrons were also transferred to Egypt. Soon, Soviet anti-submarine aircraft Il-38, reconnaissance An-12 began to work from Egyptian airfields.
All combat work, of course, was conducted in an atmosphere of strict conspiracy
.
"Soviet presence in Egypt.
" However, despite all efforts to keep the secret, this could not be done. Soon in the Western press appeared information about the "Soviet presence in Egypt," including the exact coordinates of the new anti-aircraft positions and airfields based on Soviet aviation. Immediately, Israeli radio began broadcasting in Russian “especially for Soviet soldiers.” According to American experts, by the end of 1970, there were 15–20 thousand Soviet troops in Egypt.
Meanwhile, Moscow has officially stated that there are advisers in Egypt, but no troops. On the wires to Egypt of Soviet squadrons, Minister of Defense A. Grechko unequivocally warned the pilots: “Keep in mind, comrades, if you are shot down at the Suez Canal and you are captured, we don’t know you, get out yourself
.”
Participation in battles.
On June 30, 1970, 2 Israeli aircraft were destroyed. On July 18, the enemy attempted to liquidate the Soviet anti-aircraft missile group. 24 “Phantoms” took part in the raid on 5 divisions (6 groups of 4 fighter-bomber in each).
As a result of a fierce battle, the rocket men destroyed two enemy aircraft and shot down one. However, the Israelis, successfully using aerial bombs and missile ****ls, disabled the antenna post and made a direct hit in the launcher at the time of its reloading. Launcher died
.
One of the Israeli aircraft that fell into the deep sands remained intact, which immediately attracted the attention of Soviet experts. The navigator of his crew was killed, and the pilot-commander (from American Jews), who had previously participated in the Vietnam War, was captured. Soon the plane and the pilot were sent to Moscow
.
However, the Israeli side describes the events in a different way: navigator M. Eini unsuccessfully catapulted and with numerous fractures and unconsciousness was picked up by the Egyptians, after which he ended up in a Cairo prison. In 1973, released from captivity as part of a group of 6 Israeli pilots. As for the pilot, he decided to “hold out” the burning Phantom to Israeli territory, but fell into a tailspin and crashed.
The exact place of the fall has not yet been established. The pilot is considered missing, which is true, because no information about his future fate in the USSR is still available
.
Around the same period, four Israeli pilots and navigators were in Syrian captivity. They were exchanged for five officers of the Syrian General Staff specially abducted in Lebanese territory by a special forces group, which included the future Israeli Prime Minister, Lieutenant B. Netanyahu. In total, from June 30 to August 3, 12 were shot down and 3 enemy aircraft were shot down
.
Combat tests of new Soviet technology.
It is important to note that in Egypt, individual samples of domestic equipment and weapons were tested. In particular, MiG-23 aircraft equipped with the individual “Lilac” electronic defense system.
These exterminated made flights practically over the entire territory of Israel and in the areas of deployment of American-made Hawk anti-aircraft systems. At the same time, the Hawk locators were “clogged” with the top-secret Smalta equipment, which was delivered to Egypt in April 1970. To prepare the equipment for combat work, it was necessary to determine the technical parameters of the Hawk.
For this, mobile groups were created, which included Soviet and Egyptian military personnel, as well as representatives of industry and manufacturing plants. The equipment itself was mined, in the event of an attempt to capture it had to be detonated
.
The Israeli side did not have such electronic security equipment, as well as MiG-23 aircraft. As a result, the entire Israeli air defense system was violated. In this regard, a number of opposition parties made serious claims to the government for purchasing the extremely expensive and ineffective Hawk. This circumstance was one of the reasons for the resignation of Prime Minister Gopda Meir
.
In Egypt, the newest MiG-25 reconnaissance fighter was first flown over in combat conditions. He was repeatedly tried to intercept by Israeli pilots in the Phantoms. In one of the interceptions in the Suez Canal, for example, several dozen Israeli fighter jets participated. However, the pilot managed to escape. After the death of G. Nasser, vehicles of this type were evacuated to the USSR
.
Rogers Plan
.
The “war of attrition” went on with varying success and could go on forever. There was a kind of stalemate. Then the United States put forward a plan for a peaceful settlement of the Middle East problem, known as the "Rogers Plan." He envisioned a ceasefire of 90 days as a first step towards peace. Egypt, not without pressure from the USSR, agreed, Israel pulled with an answer. The situation changed dramatically only after the Israeli side began to suffer significant losses in aviation as a result of the fire of Soviet missile divisions. In total, 94 Israeli aircraft were shot down from July 20, 1969 to the beginning of August 1970, in other words, almost half of the Israeli fleet of military vehicles was destroyed in a year. On August 7, a three-month truce was finally established. The War of Attrition is on the wane.
.........................."
د. يحي ألشاعر
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9th March 2020, 11:49 AM
عملية "القوقاز" الطيارين السوفيت في مصراختبارات القتال للتكنولوجيا السوفيتية الجديدة
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