The PAF set out to replace its losses from the 1965 conflict and also to modernize its forces. Supersonic fighters were high on its list of desirable jets so there was a lot of excitement over the acquisition of French Mirages. Their cost, however, was high and the PAF continued to acquire second-hand Sabres and other less capable jets as well. PAF pilots during this period would be `0' for initiative and would use the "Europe" table for pilot quality and attributes.
F-86F and Sabre 6:
The Sabre in 1971 was still the PAFs main workhorse as it was in 1965. However, only 20 F-86F '63 Wing' variants remained in service. 90 ex-West German Canadair Sabre 6s were purchased through a Swiss middleman to replace the early F-86Fs. The Sabre 6 combined the best of all the previous Sabre models: the maneuvering slats for low speed dogfighting, the '6-3 Wing' for high altitude maneuverability, the capability to carry IRMs, and the greater thrust of the Orenda 14 engine. This variant was by far the best dogfighter of the many Sabre types. 16 Sabre 6s served with 14 Squadron at Tezgaon airfield near Dhaka, East Pakistan, comprising the only PAF presence in the East. They flew for the first several days of the conflict until their runways were cratered beyond repair from relentless attacks by 200 IAF strike jets. From the best obtainable sources of the conflict, the Sabres shot down 26 planes for 7 losses in air-to-air combat. Treat the Sabres as silver for spotting purposes and arm them with AIM-9B Sidewinders. This type would provide a challenging combined campaign.
F-104A Starfighter:
Seven F-104As were still serving in 1971. Even though only one plane was lost in the 1965 conflict, it would be reasonable to assume that accidents (a word that seems to be synonymous with the type) and maintainability problems would reduce this number drastically. The Starfighter proved to be a disaster in the 1971 conflict in the hands of the PAR At least 3 and possibly 4 Starfighters were downed by MiG-21FLs while shooting down only 6 aircraft. The PAF misunderstood what the 104 was all about. They used the wrong tactics for the aircraft. Instead of using its energy and acceleration advantage in vertical `energy maneuvers', they flew the plane using turning tactics that worked well for Sabres but provided meat on the table for the highly maneuverable MG-21. King Hussein also sent several F-104As to assist the Pakistanis as well. Treat Jordanian pilots as the same as Pakistani pilots in terms of quality and treat Pakistani Starfighters as silver, Jordanian ones as camouflaged.
Shenyang F-6/MiG-19SF:
Seventy F-6s were purchased from the Chinese after the 1965 conflict. The Pakistanis' modifications to their planes included a standard ejection seat, an extra set of missile rails, and rewiring to carry the Sidewinder missile. The F-6 is supposed to have downed 9 aircraft at the cost of one plane (according to the Pakistanis) or as many as four planes (according to the Indians). The PAF's second ace, Syed Sa'ad Hatmi, flew the F-6 during the conflict. Hatmi scored two kills in a Sabre in 1965 and three in the F-6 to earn him the coveted status of `ace'. The F-6 served primarily in an air-to-air role but also participated in some strikes. If the gamer wishes to play a combined campaign, roll 1-8 for an air-to-air tasking and 9-10 for air-to-ground. Treat the F-6 as silver.
Mirage III EP:
Twenty of these hot fighter-bombers served the PAF, undertaking all tasks. These planes would provide an excellent basis for a combined campaign. These aircraft were armed with Matra R.530A RH missiles and AIM-9B IR missiles for air-to-air duties, and they carried the full line of RPT as well. Delete all technology for this time period and treat them as camouflaged. Mirages allegedly shot down 9 planes at no loss, but Indian sources claim one kill by a Gnat. Some sources have claimed that the Mirage was unsuccessful in Pakistani hands, but the facts would seem to contradict this claim. If one compares the PAF record to Israeli statistics perhaps they would pale, but this comparison might be unfair. The PAF was not fighting the undertrained Arabs. B-57 Canberra:
16 of these planes were still in service. They were used for the same roles as they were in the 1965 conflict. Refer to Air Power # 18 for particulars on how to game them.
Liberation of Bangladesh 1971 Indo-Pakistan Air War
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© Copyright 1992 by J.D. Webster
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