'Dam Busters' squadron uses new missile
MARK NICHOLLS WITH THE RAF AT THE ALI AL SALEM AIRBASE IN
KUWAIT
March 24, 2003 08:09
RAF Tornado crews used a secret new weapon in combat for the first
time in the raids over Baghdad at the weekend.
It has emerged that bomber crews deployed a revolutionary new
missile that can penetrate concrete bunkers, as they targeted
Saddam Hussein's regime HQ and command and control centres.
In a battle-zone coincidence, the new Storm Shadow missile was
dropped for the first time by Tornado crews from 617 Squadron The
Dambusters on what was the 60th anniversary of the unit.
The squadron was formed on March 21, 1943, to drop what was then
the most revolutionary bomb of its era, the so-called bouncing bomb
used in the second world war Dambuster raids, which struck at the
heart of industrial Germany and the critical dam structure that
underpinned the Nazi war machine.
Storm Shadow, ironically an Anglo-French project, has been a
closely-guarded secret at the Ali Al Salem airbase in northern
Kuwait until it was first used at the weekend.
Tornado Detachment commander Group Capt Simon Dobb, said: "It is
the first time it has been used and the initial battle-damage
assessment indicates that the first missiles hit their targets with
pinpoint accuracy."
Storm Shadow missiles, which weigh 1350kg and cost £750,000 apiece,
are air-launched cruise missiles with a range of 230km.
They can penetrate many feet of concrete and were used to target
bunkers where Saddam Hussein and key members of his regime may have
been sheltering. They penetrate the concrete structures and cause
massive damage within.
Group Capt Dobb added: "We have had to be cagey about this because
it is a brand new weapon, this is the first time it has been
deployed operationally and it is being used way ahead of its
official introduction into service."
The missiles, made by Matra/Bae Dynamics, have been shipped direct
from the production line to the Kuwaiti base because it was felt
they were ideal for the missions on Baghdad: precise, powerful and
can be dropped from distance without exposing the aircraft to
unnecessary dangers over a target area.
The highly intelligent weapon, deployable by day or night in all
weather conditions, also causes minimal collateral damage. Storm
Shadow is a 'fire-and-forget' weapon, it has long range with
fully-automated guidance and can follow terrain at low level.
Before use in raids on Friday and Saturday night, they had been
tested in secret on the aircraft. They were also only moved around
the base at night and when it was known there were no satellites
overhead, in order to maintain the high level of secrecy
surrounding the new weapon.
However, for the 617 crews from RAF Lossiemouth flying the
missions, there was high drama en route to the target.
The commanding officer of 617 Squadron, Wing Cmdr Dave Robertson,
who flew the mission with his pilot Sqn Ldr Andy Myers, said there
was anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missiles aimed at
them as they headed towards their drop point.
And for a second aircraft, crewed by Sqn Ldr Noddy Knowles and
Flight Lt Andy Turk, evasive action was needed after a missile
locked on to their jet.
Wing Cmdr Robertson, 45, who comes from Cornwall, said: "About
halfway towards the target, my number two was fired at by a
surface- to-air missile. He reacted to that attack with evasive
action, which meant jettisoning his fuel tanks."
That reduced the weight of the Tornado by around four tons but fuel
became a critical issue as the mission continued.
Wing Cmdr Robertson said the weather was bad and communications
difficult with so many aircraft over Iraq at the time.
He also told of witnessing a firefight on the ground between Iraqi
and coalition forces as they flew north. The target for the Storm
Shadow remains secret, but it is understood it was at a point
significantly north of Baghdad.
Wing Cmdr Robertson is acutely aware of the relevance of 617, with
the squadron's flamboyant history, being asked to drop this weapon
for the first time in combat.
He said: "I am very proud that 617 Squadron was asked to perform
this role. It is not insignificant that our squadron, formed during
the second world war to perform specialist tasks, was asked to fire
this revolutionary new weapon on what was the 60th anniversary of
our formation."
During the second world war, 617 Squadron was formed from
specially-selected crews by flying ace Guy Gibson for the dangerous
missions at low level over the dams in the heart of industrial
Germany, which supplied the factories on which the Nazis relied for
their war effort.
Later in the war, 617 Squadron led the attack which finally sunk
the German battleship Tirpitz.
Military chiefs point out that it was only coincidence that 617
Squadron dropped this new weapon on the date of the 60th
anniversary.
The squadron was deployed to Kuwait because it has been assigned
the role of introducing Storm Shadow into service.
It is understood the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir
Peter Squire, sent congratulations to the Tornado crews most from
RAF Marham that took part in the raids over Baghdad in the last
48 hours.
Air crews from all four Marham squadrons, along with 617 Squadron
from RAF Lossiemouth, are flying as the Tornado Air Combat Wing
from Ali Al Salem. They launched missions round the clock with US
forces as part of a ferocious aerial assault on Iraq over the
weekend.
Tornados based in Qatar, some also from 617 and 12 Squadrons from
RAF Lossiemouth, along with elements of II (ac) from Marham, were
also involved.
