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Old June 24th 04, 11:50 PM
Krztalizer
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Su-15 is armed with 2 AA-3 Anab missiles and 2 AA-8 Aphid.
AA-3 was used.
It's a very large weapon, dedicated bomber killer.


And the pilots were typically hard-nosed, dedicated airmen. The Flagon pilots
pressed hard against us - they were not intimidated in the least in these open
ocean contests. I have a pretty clear memory (and the photos help) of an Su 15
coming in about 30 degrees off our nose with about 600 mph closure. His wake
turbulance felt like that earthquake that we had here last week. Our mission
put us in front of various Soviet aircraft - Tu-16s, 95s, Su-15s, Be-8, An-38,
MiG-23, Mi-8, Mi-24, etc. - along the Kurilski Ostrovka. The Su-15s were up by
Petro and on Ostrov Sakhalin; the MiG-23s were on the smaller islands, Mi-24s
from Frontal Aviation and Border Troops; all of them came out from the mainland
to show their displeasure at our continued existance. When the Sakhalin-based
Sukhoi showed up and made high speed passes around us, I felt like we truly
were in mortal danger, that the probability of a shootdown had switched from
"possible" to "imminent". Shove the raft bag toward the door, call the
position of the jet as it swings behind us so the pilots can manuever sideways
away from the Sukhoi's approach. Still two Hinds above us - the pilots and I
were working together to keep all three in sight and NOT directly behind us;
one of the most interesting half hours of my career. LT Arvonen was a natural
in that environment. Hopefully, he is out of the Navy and having fun by now.

Sukhois out of Sakhalin? Don't mess with them. Old or not, they were all
business.

v/r
Gordon
====(A+C====
USN SAR

Its always better to lose -an- engine, not -the- engine.