United States Rapid Defense Force

in Iran

"Shiekdom of the RDF"

Table of Organization and Equipment

Army

Source: American Combat Vehicle Handbook, GDW

Navy Elements

Posted by: Matt Wiser on the WebRPG Townhall Forum

(Taken from the RDF Sourcebook)

Task Force 76

• USS Nashville (LPD-13)

• USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3)

• Three Perry-class Frigates: USS Clark, USS Boone, USS Copeland

• Two cruisers: USS Yorktown (CG-48)

• USS Salem (CA-139)

Posted by: Frank Frey

USS Monitor: The second Seawolf Class SSN. She is used primarily for long range recon missions because her reactor still has a couple of years use left.

There is also a substantial French naval presence in the Gulf built around the CVN Charles DeGaulle.

Suggested RDF Air OB

By Matt Wiser <MattWiser_99@yahoo.com>, posted on the WebRPG Townhall Forum.

CVW-10: Sheikh Isa AB, Bahrain

VF-191, VF-194: 4xF-14D each

VFA-161,6xF/A-18C; VFA-163, 4xF/A-18C

VA-155, 5xA-6F, VAW-111, 2xE-2C

VAQ-143, 2xEA-6B; VS-35, 4xS-3B

VQ-5 det: 2xES-3A;HS-16, 3xSH-60F, 1xHH-60H

HC-4: 4xCH-53E, 4xMH-53E; VP-45, 4xP-3C, VR-22, 3xC-130F, 2xKC-130F

1st Marine Air Wing: Bandar Abbas AB

VMFA-323: 4x F/A-18C, VMA-214,6xAV-8B(NA);

VMA-513, 4xAV-8B+, VMO-2, 3/1XOV-10A/D;

VHMM-262, 4xMV-22B, HMH-361, 7xCH-53E, HMLA-267, 6xAH-1W, 2UH-1N;

HMLA-369, 6xAH-1W

1st TFW: Dhahran AB, SA: 27th, 71st, 94th TFS: total of 12 F-15C/D

4th TFW: Bushehr AB: 335th, 336th TFS: total of 10 F-15E

78th CW: Omidyeh AB: 183rd TFG (ILANG), 5xF-16C/D

150th TFG(NMANG) 4/2x A-7D/K, 175th TFG (MDANG)6xA-10A

317th TAW: Al Jubyal/King Fahd IAP SA: 39th, 40th TAS: total of 11 C-130H, 357th TAS

(AFRES): Omidyeh AB: 4 C-130H

32nd ARS: Dhahran AB: 3 KC-10A

16th SOW Det: Dhahran AB: 2xAC-130H, 2xMC-130H, 4x MH-53J(Pave Low)

Note: CVW-10 was orphaned when their carrier (USS Independence) was disabled and forced to anchor at Muscat, Oman. The ship lost two props and a rudder from a Type-65 torpedo from an Sierra-class SSN, and was lucky to make it to port. The ship was also damaged by BACKFIRE-launched AS-4 after anchoring and is not currently seaworthy.

[Posted by: Matt Wiser, Date: 06/28/2001 18:20]

Here's pt. 2: RAF, French, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi, UAE, and a note on the Iranians

RAF Middle East: Muharraq, Bahrain:

54 Squadron: Jaguar GR.1, 617 Squadron: Tornado GR1/1B.

French Middle East Aviation Group: Kuwait IAP, Kuwait:

EC1/5: 12xMirage 2000, EC2/5: 12xMirage 2000, EC2/92: 12x0Mirage 2000D, ET1/61:8xTransall C-160

ERV 1/93: 3xKC-135

Bahrain Air Force: Sheikh Isa AB, Bahrain

1st FS: 8xF-16C/D, 6th FS: 6/2xF-5E/F

Israeli Defense Force/Air Force det: Omidyeh AB,Iran

132 Squadron: 10xKfir, 113 Squadron det: 8xAH-64,

123 Squadron det: 8xUH-60.

Royal Jordanian Air Force: Basra IAP, Iraq

25 Squadron: 8xF-16C, 12 Squadron det: 8xAH-1W

Kuwaiti Air Force:

9,25 Squadrons: Al Jaber AB, Kuwait: 30xF/A-18C/D

18,61 Squadrons: Al Salem AB: 24x Mirage F-1CK

33 Squadron: Al Salem AB: 10x AH-64A

Qatari Emiri Air Force: Al Ulaid AB, Qatar:

7 Squadron: 12x Mirage 2000

Royal Saudi Air Force(Eastern Command): Dhahran RSAFB, SA:

7,66,83 Squadrons: 36x Tornado IDS

13,34 Squadrons: 24x F-15C/D

21,37 Squadrons: Hawk Mk65/65A

Royal Saudi Land Forces Aviation Group: King Khalid Military City, SA:

12x AH-64, 13xBell 406CS, 12xUH-60A-1

United Arab Emirates Air Force:

1 Squadron: Sharjah AB:16xMirage 2000-5

2 Squadron: Al Dhafra AB:16xMirage 2000-5

Apache Squadron: 18x AH-64A

Iranian People's Air Force: HQ Shiraz AB, Iran:

71st TFS: 6xF-5E

83rd TFS: 4xF-14A

61st TFS: 8xF-4E

72nd TS: 3xC-130H

Note: The Iranian AF no doubt had planes in the air when Bandar Abbas, Chah Bahar, and the Bandar Khomenyi/Omidyeh areas were hit by the Soviet Airborne. These are the likely survivors.

2nd Note: All AFs in the area have more airframes, but due to lack of parts have practiced cannibalization on unrepairable aircraft. Those countries flying French aircraft are exempt-they are still getting parts support from Dassault (no doubt encouraged by the French govt).

3rd Note: Would the 173rd Airborne in Kenya have a group supporting its operations? A ANG or AFRES group with a F-16 squadron, an A-10 or A-7 Squadron, and a C-130 squadron would be likely IMHO. These squadrons would no doubt be from different states: How about 302nd TFS (AFRES) with F-16s, 190th TFS(IDANG) with A-10s, and a C-130 squadron from 146th TAW (CAANG)from Pt. Mugu NAS? Not to memtion enough helos for a battalion-sized lift and gunships for fire support: 2-229 Avn from Ft. Rucker with AH-64 and a ARNG UH-60 unit would be logical.

Here's part 3: an added RSAF squadron and the air dets on the USN/RN as well as the French Navy's Charles de Gaulle CVN:

RSAF 29 Squadron: Dhahran RSAFB-12xTornado F.3

USS Clark: HSL-94 det 2: 1xSH-2F

USS Boone: HSL-36 det 5: 1xSH-2F

USS Copeland: HSL-84 det 4: 1xSH-2F

USS Yorktown: HSL-49 det 3: 1xSH-60B

USS Belleau Wood: HCS-5 det 3: 2xHH-60H, HC-2 det w/2xSH-3G, HM-15 det with 2xMH-53E (minesweeping), plus rotational USMC AV-8B dets from 1st MAW (usually 2 a/c)

USS Nashville: HC-6 det 7: 3xCH-60

Royal Navy Armillah Flotilla: Bahrain

HMS York (Manchester-class DD) 815 Squadron det w/1 Lynx HAS Mk.3

HMS Campbelltown (Cornwall-class FF) 815 Squadron det with 1 Lynx HAS Mk. 3

Aeronavale-Charles De Gaulle Battle Group:

Flotille 12F: 12x Rafale M, Flotille 17F: 10x Super Etendard M, Flotille 16F: 8x Etendard IVPM (recon/tanker), Flotille 35F det: 3xAS.365 Dauphin, 3xAS.565 Panther.

Note: the USN and RN helo dets on the FFs, DDs, and the Yorktown originally had two helos-one on each ship was canned for parts. The French have no such problems.

The balance of power in the Mideast is still roughly the same. Soviet AF in Northern Iran and the Caucausus is still equal in terms of aircraft . It's just that the units in the original OB (with few exceptions) were not actual USAF/N/MC squadrons. Also, I wanted an "orphaned" Carrier Air Wing to be involved somehow, and I picked CVW-10 (which was supposed to deploy on Independence in 1989 but disbanded in 1988) to be that outfit. Also, a number of the AF squadrons sent would have been ANG or AFRES (but not all-look at the 1st and 4th TFWs).Aircraft numbers are a little higher, but it should be noted that any ground commander who calls for plenty of air had better have a good reason-the parts shortages come to mind, despite the (relatively) good supply of jet fuel. In addition, the regional AFs are in better shape-the Qatari and UAE AFs fly the Mirage 2000 and two Kuwaiti squadrons have the Mirage F-1. The RSAF no doubt flew in combat after the Spetsnatz raids on Saudi Bases-F-15s and Tornado F-3 for intercept and Tornado IDS for strikes on Soviet ground forces in Iran. They no doubt are still at it. Everyone else is structured mainly for air defense and limited ground attack-Kuwait's F/A-18s and Jordan's F-16s are the exceptions, and the Israelis sent Kfirs mainly for the need for ground attack missions-air defense is left to the others.

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