Modern Unit Graphics

[Patine]

Tanelorn, you seem to have access to good info on the orders of battle of many airforces in the post war period. Do you have info on the airforces of various African countries around 2000? At the turn of the century there was a general war in central Africa, following the Rwandan genocide. Rwanda and Uganda invaded DR Congo and were opposed by Zimbabwe and Angola. I made a scenario of this, called "Congo!" (original, I know) at the time. Anyway, I just guessed at what equipment the various combatants might have used. Can you shed any light on this? I converted it for ToT, and would like to upgrade the units, etc. Thanks.

Believe it or not, I've looked this up. Most of the relevant nations, and other nations who just happened to be in the area, often had assortments of various Cold War-era "gifts" of Soviet, American, British, and French make, but often in single-digits of any model for any nation, with maybe South Africa as a notable exception, and a lot of these aircraft listed as "unknown operative status at the time." Rwanda, notably, had only helicopters - no fixed-wing aircraft on it's roster at that time. Kenya still had some propeller-driven planes from WW2 in service.

 

[Tanelorn]

Greek airforce, 1944-2019

Greek RAF squadrons used a total of 79 Martin A-30 III,IV,V Baltimores since september 1943, from north Africa, in place of the Blenheim Vs they used previously. In 1944 they operated from Italy as part of RAF Balkan air force, against targets in N.Italy and Yugoslavia. 16 Baltimore Vs came home in the came home in autumn 1944 in Greek colours. These were returned to the RAF in late 45-early 46.
The well liked Baltimores were replaced by at least 19 Vickers Wellington Mk XIIIs in 1945. These were used in martial roles until 1947, but were unsuited to close attacks in the mountains during the civil war.
A total of 107 Spitfire MkVb/Vc were used by Greek RAF squadrons in N.Africa and Italy. Between October 1944 and 1947 they took part in the civil war and were used as trainers up to 1953.
120 Spitfire MkIX operated between 1947 and 1953. These were supplemented by 65 Spitfire MkXVI between 1949 and 1954. 42 Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver (solid blue) were used as bombers between spring 1949 and 1953 and as recon planes up to 1957.
106 North American Aviation T-6D(49)/G(57) TEXAN, HARVARD IIa, IIb (77) and a handfull of T6C and AT-16 from1945-1969. known to the ELAS rebels as the "milkman".117 (or 200?) Republic F-84G Thunderjet 1952-1959, passed on to Yugoslavia. 164 (or 150?) Republic F-84F Thunderstreak 1957-1983, "Vietnam" camo after 1971.
24 Republic RF-84F Thunderflash 1956-1991. 110 to 120 North American F-86E(M) Sabre, originally ex RAF Canadair CL13 Mk4, 1956-65 "Nato" camo after 1964. 35 North American F-86D Sabre Dog 1961-1967/9 "Nato" camo after 1964.
107 (or 146 total delivered, all versions) Lockheed F-104G 1964-1993, of which 9 ex Spanish 1972, 40 ex German & 10 ex Dutch between 1978-1985. 142 Northrop F/RF-5A/B, NF-5A/Β Freedom Fighter 1965-2001 of which 55 are the original 1965 order, 17 RF5A in 1950, 10 ex Iranian and 10 ex Jordanian after 1975, 9 ex Norwegian 1989 and 10 ex Dutch NF5A in 1991. In operational reserve up to 2010. 24 Convair F-102A Delta Dagger 1970-1977.
F-4E Phantom II 1972 (x32) 1977 (+18, 8 RF4E) 1990 (+28 ex USNG) 1993 (+27 RF4E ex Luftwaffe) all F4E retired or updated by 2005, RF4E retired 2017. 39 F4E updated to PI 2000, in service.
40 T-2E Buckeye 1976-in service. 127 A-7Corsair H(1975 x65)/E(1993-x62 ex USN) retired 2014. Dassault-Breguet Mirage F.1CG 40 1974 – 2003. 40 Mirage 2000 EGM 1988-in service. 25 Mirage 2000-5 (15 new+10 updated EGM).
40 F-16C/D block 30 1989, 40 F-16C/D block 50 1997, 60 F-16C/D block 52+ 2000, 30 F-16C/D block 52+adv 2009, 85 under upgrade to F16V.
In detail:
F-16C/D Block 30 34/6 1989-
F-16C/D Block 50 32/8 1997-
F-16C/D Block 52 34/16 2002-
F-16C/D Block 52 6/4 2004-
F-16C/D Block 52 20/10 2009-
Of which 114C / 39D in service by 2019
154 Lockheed T-33A SILVER STAR 1951-2000 1964 "Nato" camo, 1970 "Vietnam" camo. 35 Cessna T-37B/C Tweety Bird 1964 – 2002.
45 Hawker Beechcraft T-6A TEXAN II 2000-.
13 Grumman HU-16B Albatross 1969 – 1997, ex-USN on loan to Norway prior to HAF delivery. Replaced by 6 P-3B Orion 1996-. Up to 4 Fiat G.91 evaluation only 1964, more variant camos for Spitfires and Phantoms (ex USNG and Luftwaffe on delivery).
Bonus, Spitfire Mk.Vс/Trop 336 Squadron Sedes, Greece, 1945.

Bonus 2 Avro Anson, post ww2. 1947- 1955 24 airframes.

Turkey next.

@techumseh The old ACIG site had exactly what you want. Sadly, its been down for years. I will look it up though. Meanwhile, check http://wp.scn.ru/en/cat/opers/africa

 

[Tanelorn]

Most of the THK, post war:

Heinkel He 111J-1 1937 to 1946 24 airframes
Martin 139WT 1937 to 1946 20 airframes
Vultee V-11GBT 1937 to 1948 40 airframes
Bristol Blenheim Mk.I 1937 to 1947 40 airframes plus 3 Mk.IV from 1942
Hawker Hurricane Mk.I 1939 to 1946 35 airframes, they were first bought by Poland in 1939 but were not delivered before 1 September 1939 and were sent to Turkey instead.
Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIB&C 1942 to 1947 38 & 47 airframes respectively, ex RAF
Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIC(R)/D(R) 1944 to 1948 44 airframes
Morane Saulnier MS406C.1939 to 1945 40 airframes. At least 30 of them were originally intended for shipment to Poland and had Polish stencilling
Fairey Battle Mk.1 1940 to 1947 31 airframes , intended for Poland via Romania: the Polish had ordered 100 Battle bombers. The first 22 aircraft were sent in early September 1939 on two ships to Constanta in Romania, to be received there by the Polish crews, but the ships were ordered back while in Istanbul when the fall of Poland became inevitable. They were next offered to Turkey.
Focke Wulf Fw 190Aa-3 (a=ausländisch — foreign) 1943 to 1947: 72 airframes, delivered to Turkey to keep that country friendly to the Axis powers.
Bristol Blenheim Mk.V “Bizley” 1943 to 1948 18 airframes, ex RAF -same as the following Spitfires:
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I 1939 to 1940 only 3 airframes
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb 1944 to 1950 39 airframes
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vc 1944 to 1950 69 airframes
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V(R) 1944 to 1951 3 airframes
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX 1947 to 1954 196 airframes, from 1950 in the bare metal look. Some with the chopped tip wings (?).
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XIX 1947 to 1955, 4 airframes
Consolidated B-24D Liberator 1943 to 1946, 5 airframes. 11 B-24s that made an emergency landing within Operation Tidal Wave were interned and five of these were repaired and served in the Turkish Air Force.
Bristol Beaufighter TF Mk.X 1944 to 1948, 32 airframes. At least nine ex-RAF were delivered in 1944. Another 23 TF.X aircraft were bought in 1946.
11 to 12 Beaufort IAs were delivered to Turkey in 1944 and 12 were delivered in 1945.All operated until 1950.
Curtiss P-40D Kittyhawk Mk.I 1943 to 1947, 24 airframes & Curtiss P-40C Tomahawk Mk.IIB 1941 to 1947, 42 airframes all ex-RAF
De Havilland Mosquito FB Mk.IV 1947 to 1953, 132 airframes (and 10 yellow T Mk.III)
Douglas B-26B/C Invader 1948 to 1958, 28/17 airframes
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 1948 to 1954, 180 airframes
Various T-6 Texan/Harvard 1948 to 1974, around 200 airframes
Lockheed T-33A Silverstar 1951 to 1997, 84 airframes,Canadair T-33 Mk.III (T-33AN) Silverstar 1958 to 1982 92 airframes, old and new insignia (roundel in place of the square after 1971-72) "Vietnam" camo since late 70s
Republic F-84G Thunderjet 1952 to 1966, 483 airframes
Republic F-84F Thunderstreak 1959 to 1974, 113 airframes Republic F-84Q Thunderstreak 1964 to 1975, 185 airframes
Republic RF-84F Thunderflash 1956 to 1980, 87 airframes
Canadair Sabre Mk.2 F-86E(M) 1954 to 1968 107 airframes ex-RAF
North American F-100D Super Sabre 1958 to 1988 104 airframes
North American F-100F Super Sabre 1958 to 1988 53 airframes
North American F-100C Super Sabre 1972 to 1988 116 airframes
Cessna T-37C Tweetybird 1963 to 2000 51 airframes
Cessna T-37B Tweetybird 1978 to 2000 27 airframes
Lockheed F-104G/TF-104G Starfighter 1963 to 1994 289/55 airframes
Alenia F-104S Starfighter 1974 to 1994 40 airframes, during the US arms embargo.
Canadair CF-104G/D Starfighter 1986 to 1995 44/6 airframes
Initially via MAP they received 30 F-104Gs and 6 TF's, later on they received 11 more via Spain 18 ex-Belgium, 43 ex-Dutch, 9 ex-Norwegian, 137 ex-German F-104G's, 35 ex-German, 10 ex-Dutch, 1 ex-Norwegian TFs, 46 ex-Canadian CF-104s and 6 CF-104D aircraft (looking for exact dates).
Northrop F-5A/Β Freedom Fighter 1965 102/22 airframes incl. replacement aircraft from Qaddafi's Libya in 1975 (6 F-5A & 2 F-5B) during the US embargo.
(A 1980 report from the US Senate Foreign Relations Commitee mentioned that the combat inventory was 80 Northrop F-5A, 4 RF-5A, but only half of them were combatworthy.)
Norway transferred 11 F-5A starting July 1983, 11 in 1985, 4 in 1987; 6 RF-5A in 1987 Taiwan 6 F5A and 3 F5B in 1989 and the USAF 4 F-5B in March 1986.
US Military Assistance Program transfers totalled 75 Northrop F-5A (arriving in Turkey between December 1965 and January 1968), 20 Northrop RF-5A (delivered March 1969-July 1970), 15 Northrop F-5B. Thirteen of the Northrop F-5A have been converted to RF-5A standard.
Northrop RF-5A Freedom Fighter 1965 41 airframes total
Canadair NF-5A/B Freedom Fighter 1990 31/16 airframes ex-Dutch
Between 40 and 50 F5s were upgraded to F-5/2000 standard during the 2000s.
24 F5 A/B remain in service as trainers. The rest have been withdrawn since 2007
Northrop T-38A Talon 1979 73 airframes, 68 in service
Convair F-102A/TF-102A Delta Dagger 1968 to 1979 40/9 airframes
McDonnell-Douglas F-4E Phantom II 1974 to 2015 183 airframes
McDonnell-Douglas RF-4E Phantom II 1978 to 2015 54 airframes
The THK received 40 F-4Es in 1974, 32 F-4Es and 8 RF-4Es in 1977–78 (or 22 before and 50 after the embargo, sources differ), 40 ex-USAF in 1987, and 40 ex-USNG in 1991. 32 ex-Luftwaffe RF-4Es between 1992 and 1994.
In 1995, an upgrade similar to the Israeli Kurnass 2000 was given to 54 Turkish F-4Es, dubbed the F-4E 2020 Terminator. 49 of these are currently in service.
General Dynamics (TAI licensed) F-16C/D Fighting Falcon block 30 (34/9 airframes 1987-) and 40 (102/15 1990-)
General Dynamics (TAI licensed) F-16C/D block 50 (34/6 1996-, 26/14 1998 )
General Dynamics (TAI licensed) F-16C/D block 50+ (14/16 2011-)
38 block 30, 104 block 40, 76 block 50 F16 upgraded to CCIP since 2005.
245 F16 of all versions in service by 245.
Doing some more like the 235...
Working on the description...
http://www.ole-nikolajsen.com/
Bonus kebab, July 1:

Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan (militarised Model 18) 1948 to 1983 127 airframes

 

[Tanelorn]

@techumseh Found it!!! Here you are: https://archive.is/Y8tY
Save it somewhere, the link might go away...
More stuff:
https://archive.is/offset=150/www.acig.org
https://archive.is/www.acig.info

 

[Tanelorn]

@techumseh Mobutu's Zairian Air Force

The Force Aérienne Zairoise (FAZA) was a relatively powerful, COIN-capable arm in the 1970s, but by the mid-1980s it started to colapse due to lack of funding and widespread corruption.
Out of 14 originally delivered Mirage 5Ms in 1977, only 7 survived in 1988. By the mid-1990s the last three examples were sold, together with the two surviving Mirage 5DMs and were last seen in France, in 1996.
There were also eight survivors out of 12 Aermacchi MB.326GBs and six MB.326Ks supplied by Italy in the mid-1970s. The French came to Mobutu's aid through the Geolink Company,who hired a group of mainly French and Serbian mercenaries, including Serbian pilots that were to operate three ex-Yugoslav SOKO J-21 Jastreb and one SOKO NJ-21 Jastreb light strikers, four MiG-21PFMs and a MiG-21 two seater, while five Mil Mi-24 were purchased in the Ukraine. All were without markings and to be based at Gbadolite.
A group of Russian or Ukrainian technicians was tasked to assemble the MiG-21s kits – whatever the reason this work was never completed. The Serbians who were supposed to train the Zaireans on the Jastrebs, were undisciplined and after one of them crashed his Jastreb into Mobutu's parading guard -killing many- they were kicked out.Two of the Mi-24 were never assembled, the other three were sporadically flown through late 1996 and early 1997.The rest of the FAZA was to remain inactive.
Uganda next

 

[Tanelorn]

A pair of Fouga CM.170 Magisters, in Israeli and Ugandan colours (before the Entebe raid obviously). Israel had supplied them with six in 1965, to defend against Congolese bombing raids

 

[Tanelorn]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Rockwell_OV-10_Bronco

 

[Patine]

A pair of Fouga CM.170 Magisters, in Israeli and Ugandan colours (before the Entebe raid obviously). Israel had supplied them with six in 1965, to defend against Congolese bombing raids

I remember seeing video footage of an air show being held by Idi Amin Dada showing off some new jet fighters of his making flybies to his a gathering of his people on a grassy field. The way he was talking, he was almost saying (paraphrased), "I'm the King of East Africa, and I rule the skies here!"

 

[Thorvald of Lym]

The way he was talking, he was almost saying (paraphrased), "I'm the King of East Africa, and I rule the skies here!"

Don't you mean the Last King of Scotland?

 

[Tanelorn]

Uganda's air force
After Zairian aircraft bombed western Ugandan villages in 1965, Israel furnished Uganda with six armed Fouga Magister jet trainers. They had 12 by 1970.
After 1965 the Soviet Union supplied a squadron of two MiG-15 and four MiG-17F fighter-interceptors. They also acquired 12 L-29s, probably in 1969. These were all painted in an Israeli-llike pattern. The L-29s later got an Italian WWII style camo. Between 1974 and 1975, Uganda obtained 12 MiG-21MF, 8 MiG-17s and 2 Mi-8 helicopters.
In 1976, when the Israelis mounted an operation to rescue their hijacked citizens, Operation thunderbolt destroyed 12 MiG-21s and three MiG-17s based at Entebbe Airport and what remained of 21 MiG-21 and 10 MiG-17 was taken as war booty when Idi Amin was defeated in 1979 by the Tanzanians. A Libyan Tu22 bomber attacked Tanzanian positions during that conflict.
Until the late 1990s the Ugandan air force was primarily composed of a few helicopters, but in 1997-8 Uganda began to acquire combat aircraft for use in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (1998-2003) and then against the LRA in Uganda and Sudan.
In 1997 these included up to 9 Mi8/17 (more were aquired between 1998-2006 but have suffered significant losses) and at least 3 ex-Libyan L-39ZO.
Two inoperational Mi-24 delivered in 1998 were sent back to Belarus for overhaul in 2002. Before that, an additional Mi-24P was purchased.In 2004, press reported the delivery of 6 Mi-24PN from Russia, one was sighted in 2006.
Uganda also bought 6 MiG-21bis and a MiG-21UM from Poland in 1999. One was lost shortly after delivery. Four bis and one UM were sent to Israel for upgrade, completed by 2004.
Six Su30MK were delivered between 2011-12.
Their current inventoty includes:
MiG-21bis, 5 +1 UM
Sukhoi Su-30MK2, 8. 4 on order
Mil Mi-17,10
Mil Mi-24, 6
Aero L-39, 6

Zimbabwe next

 

[Tanelorn]

Mugabe's "Migs", as all Zimbabwean aircraft were reported as "Migs".

Until 1997 the No.1 Squadron AFZ was flying 5 ex-Kenyan Hawker Hunters (out of 12 delivered), a single ex-Rhodesian, and one ex-Kenyan. The Hunters were retired in 1997 and replaced by four or five ex-Libyan MiG-23 MS and a MiG-23 UB. Three MiG-23M/UBs were last seen in a fly past in 2003. Currently believed to be stored.
The No.2 AFZ Squadron was flying 12 BAe Hawk out of 13 supplied in two batches – one of eight, in 1980, and one of five in 1992. These were shelved after the 2002 EU embargo. Also eleven Chengdu F-7II/IINs and two FT-7BZs were operated by the No.5 Squadron. By 1998 only six or seven F-7s remained fully mission-capable. It is believed an additional 12 were acquired in early 1999. A third batch of 12 of the Chengdu F-7MG variant were apparently acquired in November 2004.
An additional batch of 12 F-7s, they were bargaining for at the tme never materialized. 7 are currently in service. With financial help from Kabila (i.e. Zairean/Congolese diamonds and gold) Zimbabwe purchased six Mi-35s (export Mi24), all still in service. No.7 Squadron was equipped with Aérospatiale SA.316B Alouette IIIs including ex-Portuguese Air Force and Romanian IAR-built examples. 6 are currently in service.
In 2006 the air force received 12 Hongdu K-8, 10 currently in service.

 

[Tanelorn]

Air Force of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
In service (2018)

4? out of 10 single-seat Su-25TK and two-seat Su-25UB delivered.
1 MiG-23MS single-seater and 1 MiG-23UB two-seater
8 out of 10 Mi-24V and Mi-35 delivered
8 ex-Zairean MB326 total in service by at least 2011, now probably in storage.

 

[Patine]

@Tanelorn I'd like to make four VERY obscure plane requests. These are among the "no rush, no pressure, any use of for them is in the musing and dreaming stage, not working or planning stage, but I don't want to forget and want to catch you while you're on a roll," type requests, of the sort I've made a few of before. They are:

-Morane-Saulnier MS-500 Criquet (French rebranded version of the WW2-era Nazi German Fi-156 Storch) and Max Holste MH.1521 Broussard, both as they would have appeared when they were the first two models of fixed-wing aircraft in the Royal Moroccan Air Force upon it's inauguration in 1956
-Piper PA-3 Aztec (Military Variant) as it would have appeared in the Liberian Air Force prior and up to the Liberian Civil War of the early '90's
-ENAER T-35 Pillán as it would appear in both the Panamanian Defense Forces prior and up to the "arrest" of General and Strongman Manuel Antonio Noriega and, in more limited numbers and role, in the Panamanian Public Forces afterward

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fieseler_Fi_156
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Holste_Broussard
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piper_PA-23
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ENAER_T-35_Pillán

Again, there's no rush, and these units may not be used for a while - I just wanted to catch you with a request while you were churning Third World Air Force aircraft on an active roll. Thanks greatly, in advance, as always.

 

[Fairline]

Great plane collections tanelorn

Patine, I have to ask, WTH do you plan on doing with all the units you ask for?

 

[Patine]

Great plane collections tanelorn

Patine, I have to ask, WTH do you plan on doing with all the units you ask for?

I will be perfectly honest and up front. I have some projects that are not active or on the drawing board, but are much more in the dreaming and wishing stage. But, I worry, if I wait to make these unit requests at the time I'm seriously ready to tackle them, @Tanelorn, @Broken_Erika, yourself, and whomever else may not be active on the forums, or just taking a hiatus, at that time, or be much more interested in churning very different sorts of units and be on a roll with those. Thus, with that very possible concern in mind, I wanted to ask @Tanelorn, humbly and politely, while he's producing a fair number of Cold War-era Third World aircraft, at this time.

 

[Tanelorn]

Oh, and I thought you were just pulling my leg . I definitelly plan to do the Storch and the Lysander, unless Gareth beats me to it
OCD is a real slippery slope, eh...
Angola and South Africa first though.

 

[Patine]

I pieced together a graphics update for the units.bmp of the Yugoslav scenario by Francois Baire that was converted to ToT by @gapetit using mostly units released in the past year or so by @Tanelorn. Only the Nationalist Militia, Partisans, and Mercenaries have no good replacement graphics that I have found yet.

 

[Patine]

Bit of a touch up to the Yugoslav unit.bmp file I uploaded above. I added the two updated UCK units from @Tanelorn's Modern Albanian Infantry graphics release I meant to include in the last, and made a couple of very minor touch ups.

 

[Tanelorn]

Angolan air force.
Writing thr description...

 

[techumseh]

Fabulous. They look great! Thank you. The other involved nations that I suspect had an air force of sorts were Uganda and Zimbabwe. There was also a possibility (at least in my scenario) that South Africa might intervene.