Chapter Fifty-two Aerial Strike

  Su-20 has a total of two flying squadrons, each squadron with three flying troops, and each flying troop with four aircraft. This is already the limit that Basra Air Force Base can mobilize.

  This flight is in accordance with the route of entering at high altitude, attacking at low altitude, and returning at high altitude. In this way, the combat radius extends to here, and it can stay in the air for 20 minutes, enough to strike Iran's armored division. After 20 minutes, Mi-24 Hind will take over.

  After the MiG-21 flew over, it also began to circle in the sky above the swamp, vigilantly watching the sky. However, their confidence was not so sufficient. As soon as they discovered the signal of the powerful AN/AWG-9 pulse Doppler radar of the panda, their best choice was to abandon the slow-moving Su-20 and escape quickly.

  Spotting the armored column on the ground in the distance, the Su-20 jettisoned its external fuel tanks and entered an attack run to carry out its strike mission.

  Although having a vast sky, although can fly freely, however, wanting to bomb the ground target is not so easy.

  According to training, when approaching the enemy at a height of 800 meters, turn on the simple CPД-5M radar rangefinder and infrared scanning device, energize the rocket launcher, and be ready to fire at any moment.

  After swooping down, the altitude drops to 500 meters, then presses the stick, enters a dive, uses the optical sight in front of the cockpit to encircle the location of the opponent's armored vehicle with a light ring, presses the firing switch, and then breaks away upwards.

  As the Su-20 is a single-seat attack aircraft, one person's workload is extremely large, having to repeatedly switch multiple switches.

  Pilots concentrated and prepared to attack the route in the sky, where a slight hesitation would result in flying over several kilometers of distance, requiring three turns to fly back and repeat the attack.

  Two large squadrons, in flying formation of four planes each, emerged from the clouds.

  "Attention, air raid!" a somewhat frightening voice came from the wireless radio.

  In this sound, all tanks' anti-aircraft firepower began firing.

  The commander of the tank has a 7.62mm L37A1 machine gun that can be fired from inside the vehicle, and the M113 armored car also has a 12.7mm Browning M2HB machine gun mounted on the commander's cupola with a traverse of 360° and an elevation of -21° to +53°, which can engage airborne targets. However, for low-flying high-speed attack aircraft, the combat effectiveness of these two machine guns is almost negligible.

  The only thing that could pose a threat to the opponent's flight formation was probably those few M163 self-propelled high guns, whose 6-barreled 20mm machine gun was continuously firing at the air, trying to stop the opponent's attack.

  This can almost be considered a well-equipped Iranian armored division. If it were equipped with Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, it could have put up a bit more of a fight.

  And now, the battle can almost be described as one-sided.

  Attack aircraft in the sky, as long as they lower their heads, flames will spew out from under the wings, and then there will be countless explosion points on the ground. The 240mm rocket shells are incredibly powerful, and if one hits the commander's cupola, it will pierce through the top cover. Even if it hits the thickest armor in front without piercing it, the raging fire will still roast the occupants inside like roasted chicken.

  A flight of aircraft keenly spotted the most intense firepower on the ground, which was a dozen or so M163 self-propelled guns interspersed among the M113 armored vehicles.

  Squad leader orders immediate dive bombing of this location.

  Four Su-20s flew down towards the ground with fierce anti-aircraft firepower.

  At this time, the self-propelled artillery unit on the ground found itself being targeted, but it had no other choice. Even if it quickly started moving the self-propelled artillery, in just a few seconds, it could only move a short distance and was completely unable to avoid the planes and rockets flying through the air.

  There's only one way: a head-on confrontation!

  The 6-barreled 20mm cannon continuously pounded the opponent's attack route, as long as it knocked down the opponent before they fired rockets, it was safe.

  Who would have thought that this time the Su-20 aircraft did not dive, and just saw a flash of flame under the wing. This time, what was launched was a Black Cow air-to-ground missile!

  To take down this suddenly attacking armored division, the Basra military region brought out all sorts of advanced things, including the treasured Black Cow missiles.

  The actual performance of the Black Cow missile has long been outdated, it is the first kind of small-sized air-to-ground missile imported from the Soviet Union, with a range of only 20 kilometers, using manual radio command guidance, but no matter what, this missile is more advanced than unguided rockets.

  Watching the missile flying from under the Su-20's wing, the 6-barreled Gatling gun fired again with intense flames, but they were not aiming at each other's planes, but at the incoming missiles.

  Shooting down missiles with anti-aircraft guns is still possible, it depends on how well the fire control system reacts.

  Only a few of the flames that shot out hit the incoming missiles, causing them to explode directly in mid-air and turn danger into safety.

  However, several missiles still penetrated the belly of the M163, and in an instant, these vehicles burst into flames amidst the explosions.

  The self-propelled artillery battalion had not yet recovered from the shock when the enemy launched another rocket attack.

  Completely unguarded, the 6-barreled 20mm anti-aircraft gun couldn't fire indefinitely and had to take a brief rest. Just now when intercepting the missile, it had been too long, causing the barrel to overheat. As soon as it stopped, the opponent's rocket projectile flew over.

  In specific tactical details, some commanders of the Iraqi Air Force were still able to operate flexibly.

  This time, no more than five self-propelled guns were left.

  This morning was absolutely one that Rajavi would never forget, just a few minutes ago, he was still commanding the rear self-propelled howitzer to fire at his own Iraqi tank brigade, trying to open up a road and fight his way to the Karun River.

  Who knows, the wind and water turn around, just now it was still oneself on the offensive, next, it became the opponent's raid.

  At this moment, almost all Iraqi aircraft and Rajavi's armored division were annihilated.

  At this time, the 35th Armored Brigade only needs to sit on one side and watch the excitement, it's not possible to launch an attack now. Those brothers in the sky are likely to be unable to distinguish between friend and foe, getting too close, even killing themselves would be too costly.

  Wait until later, when our Muslim brothers in heaven have finished their work, then we can go up and easily capture the spoils of war.

  The air force only fought and couldn't come down to reap the rewards in person, so this benefit still fell to the 35th Armored Brigade, which was what they deserved after all, since yesterday's battle had caused heavy losses for the 35th Armored Brigade.

  Everyone is flesh and blood, everyone has fears and phobias. As the planes above their heads continued to destroy them, the morale of Iranian soldiers finally reached an all-time low.

  Another attack would have been meaningless, and some of the soldiers finally began their shameful retreat.

  The armored vehicles on the periphery had partially turned their heads and were fleeing back in the direction they came from.

  "Bastards, attack, only attacking will get us out of here alive! You think you can escape, can you outrun their planes?" Rajavi cursed loudly over the radio, ordering them to continue the attack.

  But it was no use; some of the soldiers had already lost their minds, and war can drive people crazy.

  At this time, the fighter planes in the sky finally flew away. The Su-20 and MiG-21 attack aircraft both returned due to insufficient fuel, leaving only two MiG-25s still persisting.

  "Brothers, it's time for us to get to work!" Muhammad shouted loudly.

  Soldiers jumped onto tanks and armored vehicles, ready to attack. This time, it won't be as tragic as yesterday; they will capture the enemy in a victorious posture.

  At this time, the sound of a helicopter's rotor came from the sky, and the doe finally also stepped onto the stage.

  The entire Iranian armored division is on the verge of collapse, right before our eyes.

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