Hornet Leader: Carrier Air Operations: Background on

Enemy Sites and Aircraft

Unfortunately this great game doesn’t give much information about the various enemies encountered during
missions. Here is my attempt to gather some information about these enemies. I know little about this area
and have mainly copied this information from wikipedia.

SITES :

S-60 AZP S-60

57 mm AZP S-60 is a Soviet towed, road-transportable, short- to medium-range, single-barrel anti-
aircraft gun from the 1950s. The gun was extensively used in Warsaw Pact, Middle Eastern and
South-East Asian countries.

SA-2 V-750 Dvina

Developed in the mid-1950s, the V-750 Dvina was the first effective Soviet surface-to-air missile.
The Soviets used it to shoot down Gary Powers' U-2 over the USSR in 1960 and Maj. Rudolph
Anderson's U-2 over Cuba in 1962. The missile was better known by the NATO designation SA-2
Guideline. The Soviets began exporting it to many countries worldwide in 1960, with many remaining in use
into the 21st century.

North Vietnam began receiving SA-2s shortly after the start of Operation Rolling Thunder in the spring of
1965. With Soviet help, they built several well-camouflaged sites, regularly moving SA-2s and their
equipment among them. The North Vietnamese also ringed SA-2 sites with anti-aircraft artillery (AAA),
making them even more dangerous to attack.

SA-6 2K12 Kub “Gainful”

The 2K12 "Kub" (Russian: 2К12 "Куб"; English: cube) mobile surface-to-air missile system is a
Soviet low to medium-level air defence system designed to protect ground forces from air attack.
"2К12" is the GRAU designation of the system. Kub is known in the west by its NATO reporting
name "Gainful" as well as the US Department of Defense designation SA-6.

SA-7 9K32 Strela-2 “Grail”

The 9K32 “Strela-2” (Russian 9К32 “Cтрела-2” — arrow; NATO reporting name SA-7 Grail) is a
man-portable, shoulder-fired, low-altitude surface-to-air missile system with a high explosive
warhead and passive infrared homing guidance. Broadly comparable to the US Army FIM-43
Redeye, it was the first generation of Soviet man-portable SAMs, entering service in 1968, with series
production starting in 1970.

SA-8B 9K33 OSA “Gecko”

The 9K33 OSA (Russian: Оса; English: wasp) is a highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical
surface-to-air missile system. "9K33" is its GRAU designation. Its NATO reporting name is SA-8
Gecko. The SA-8 was the first mobile air defense missile system incorporating its own
engagement radars on a single vehicle.

SA-10 S-300P “Grumble”

The S-300P (transliterated from Russian С-300П, NATO reporting name SA-10 Grumble) is the
original version of the S-300 system which became operational in 1978.The S-300 is a series of
Russian long range surface-to-air missile. The S-300 system was developed to defend against
aircraft and cruise missiles for the Soviet Air Defence Forces. Subsequent variations were developed to

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 intercept ballistic missiles.

The S-300 system was first deployed by the Soviet Union in 1979, designed for the air defense of large
industrial and administrative facilities, military bases, and control of airspace against enemy strike aircraft.

SA-11 9K37 Buk “Gadfly”

The Buk missile system (Russian: "Бук"; English: beech) is a family of self-propelled, medium-
range surface-to-air missile systems developed by the former Soviet Union and Russian Federation
and designed to engage cruise missiles, smart bombs, fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, and
unmanned aerial vehicles. The Buk missile system is the successor to the 2K12 Kub (SA-6 "Gainful")

SA-13 9K35 Strela-10 “Gopher”

The 9K35 Strela-10 (English: arrow) is a highly mobile, visually aimed, optical/infra-red guided,
low-altitude, short-range surface to air missile system. "9K35" is its GRAU designation; its NATO
reporting name is SA-13 "Gopher".

SA-14 9K34 Strela-3 “Gremlin”

The 9K34 Strela-3 (English: arrow) man-portable air defence missile system (MANPADS) was
developed in the Soviet Union as a response to the poor performance of the earlier 9K32 Strela 2
(SA-7 Grail) system. "9K34" is its GRAU designation and its NATO reporting name is SA-14
Gremlin. The missile was largely based on the earlier Strela 2, and thus development proceeded rapidly. The
new weapon was accepted to service in the Soviet Army in January 1974.

SA-15 9K330 Tor “Gauntlet”

The Tor missile system (Russian: "Тор"; English: torus) is an all-weather low to medium altitude,
short-range surface-to-air missile system designed for engaging airplanes, helicopters, cruise
missiles, precision guided munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles and ballistic targets. Originally
developed by the Soviet Union under the GRAU designation 9K330, the system is commonly known by its
NATO reporting name, SA-15 "Gauntlet". Tor was also the first air defence system in the world designed
from the start to shoot down precision guided weapons like the AGM-86 ALCM.

KS-19
The 100 mm air defense gun KS-19 was a Soviet anti-aircraft gun. Following the end of the
Second World War the Soviet Union introduced into service the 100 mm KS-19 and 130 mm KS-
30.
The KS-19 is a heavy towed anti aircraft gun that has largely disappeared from front line arsenals due to
increased use of more effective surface-to-air missiles. Being a towed weapon an external form of mobility
was required, usually an AT-S Medium or AT-T Heavy tracked artillery tractor. The 15 man crew were
carried on the tractor along with ready use ammunition for the gun. Ammunition was loaded as a single
round into the loading tray and a well trained crew could fire 15 rounds maximum per minute. The KS-19
was used in action by communist forces in both Korea and Vietnam

M1939
The 37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) was a Soviet 37 mm caliber anti-aircraft gun
developed during the late 1930s and used during World War II. The land based version was
replaced in Soviet service by the ZSU-57-2 during the 1950s. Guns of this type were successfully
used throughout the Eastern Front against dive bombers and other low- and medium-altitude targets. It also
had some usefulness against lightly armored ground targets. Crews of the 37 mm AD guns shot down 14,657
Axis planes. The mean quantity of 37 mm ammunition to shoot down one enemy plane was 905 rounds.

Zu-23-2
The ZU-23-2, also known as ZU-23, is a Soviet towed 23 mm anti-aircraft twin-barreled
autocannon. ZU-23-2 was developed in the late 1950s. ZU stands for Zenitnaya Ustanovka - anti-
aircraft mount. It was designed to engage low-flying targets as well as armoured vehicles and for
direct defense of troops and strategic locations against air assault usually conducted by helicopters and low-
flying airplanes. Development of this weapon into a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) led to the
ZSU-23-4 Shilka.

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 Zu-23-4 Shilka “Zeus”
The ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" is a lightly armored, self-propelled, radar guided anti-aircraft weapon
system (SPAAG). ZSU stands for Zenitnaya Samokhodnaya Ustanovka - meaning "anti-aircraft
self-propelled mount". The "23" signifies the bore diameter in millimeters. The "4" signifies the
number of gun barrels. It is named after the Russian Shilka River. Polish soldiers nicknamed it maszyna do
szycia (sewing machine) due to the sound of firing guns and because the similarity of name "Shilka" and
Russian word "шить" ("shic'") (to sew). It is also referred to by its nickname of "Zeus".

AIRCRAFT
Su-7 Sukhoi Su-7 “Fitter-A”
The Sukhoi Su-7 (NATO designation name: Fitter-A) was a swept wing, supersonic fighter aircraft
developed by the Soviet Union in 1955. Originally, it was designed as tactical, low-level
dogfighter, but was not successful in this role. On the other hand, soon-introduced Su-7B series
became the main Soviet fighter-bomber and ground-attack aircraft of the 1960s. The Su-7 was rugged in its
simplicity but its shortcomings included short range and low weapon load.

Su-24 Sukhoi Su-24 “Fencer”

The Sukhoi Su-24 (NATO reporting name: Fencer) is a supersonic, all-weather attack aircraft
developed in the Soviet Union. This variable-sweep wing, twin-engined two-seater carried the
USSR's first integrated digital navigation/attack system. It remains in service with former Soviet
air forces and various air forces to which it was exported.

Su-27 Sukhoi-27 “Flanker”

The Sukhoi Su-27 (NATO reporting name: Flanker) is a twin-engine supermanoeuverable jet
fighter designed by the Sukhoi. It was intended as a direct competitor for the large United States
fourth generation fighters, with 3,530-kilometre range, heavy armament, sophisticated avionics and
high maneuverability. The Su-27 most often flies air superiority missions, but is able to perform almost all
combat operations. Complementing the smaller MiG-29, the Su-27's closest US counterpart is the F-15
Eagle.

MiG-21 “Fishbed”
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (NATO reporting name "Fishbed") is a supersonic jet fighter
aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. It was popularly
nicknamed "balalaika", from the aircraft's planform-view resemblance to the Russian stringed
musical instrument or ołówek (English: pencil) by Polish pilots due to the shape of its fuselage. Early
versions are considered second-generation jet fighters, while later versions are considered to be third-
generation jet fighters.

Some 50 countries over four continents have flown the MiG-21, and it still serves many nations a half-
century after its maiden flight. The fighter made aviation records. At least by name, it is the most-produced
supersonic jet aircraft in aviation history and the most-produced combat aircraft since the Korean War, and it
had the longest production run of a combat aircraft (1959 to 1985 over all variants).

MiG-23 “Flogger”
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 (NATO reporting name: "Flogger") is a variable-geometry fighter
aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. It is considered to
belong to the Soviet third generation jet fighter category, along with similarly aged Soviet fighters
such as the MiG-25 "Foxbat". It was the first attempt by the Soviet Union to design look-down / shoot-down

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 radar and one of the first to be armed with beyond visual range missiles, and the first MiG production fighter
plane to have intakes at the sides of the fuselage. Production started in 1970 and reached large numbers with
over 5,000 aircraft built. Today the MiG-23 remains in limited service with various export customers.

MiG-25 “Foxbat”
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 (NATO reporting name: Foxbat) is a supersonic interceptor and
reconnaissance aircraft that was among the fastest military aircraft to enter service. The first
prototype flew in 1964 with entry into service in 1970. With a top speed of Mach 2.83, a powerful
radar and four air-to-air missiles, the MiG-25 was the world's premier interceptor. Production of the MiG-25
series ended in 1984 after completion of 1,190 aircraft. A symbol of the Cold War, the MiG-25 flew with a
number of Soviet allies and former Soviet republics, remaining in limited service in Russia and several other
nations. It remains the fastest combat aircraft ever produced.

MiG-29 “Fulcrum”
The Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO reporting name: "Fulcrum") is a fourth- generation jet fighter
aircraft designed in the Soviet Union for an air superiority role. Developed in the 1970s by the
Mikoyan design bureau, it entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1983, and remains in use by
the Russian Air Force as well as in many other nations. The MiG-29, along with the Sukhoi Su-27, was
developed to counter new American fighters such as the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, and the General
Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Mirage III
The Mirage III is a supersonic fighter aircraft designed by Dassault Aviation during the late 1950s,
and manufactured both in France and a number of other countries. It was a successful fighter
aircraft, being sold to many air forces around the world and remaining in production for over a
decade. Some of the world's smaller air forces still fly Mirage IIIs or variants as front-line equipment today.

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