Modern

Portuguese Air Force

1979 Portugal

List AIR1

by Mark Bevis

1. Combat Units

201st Air Defence Squadron: 20x F-86F Sabre (@ 6x .50" HMG) (up to 1980)

301st Attack Squadron:

    18x Fiat G91R4 (@4x .50", 2x 500lb or 4x 250lb bombs, or 2x AIM-9B or 2x 19x 68mm RP or 2x .50" HMG pods

    6x Fiat G91T3 (@ 2x .50", 2x 500lb or 250lb bombs or 2x 19x 68mm RP or 2x AIM-9B or 2x .50" gun pods)

304th Attack Squadron: 18x Fiat G91R3 (@ 2x 30mm DEFA, 2x 500lb or 4x 250lb bombs, or 2x AIM-9B or 2x 68mm RP or 2x .50" HMG pods

1 Maritime Recce Flight: 4x SP-2E Neptune (up to 1977)

2. Transport Units

1 Transport Squadron: 24x Alouette III (@ 6 troops or 2x 6x 70mm RP or 1x 20mm cannon in port doorway)

1 Transport Squadron: 12x SA330 Puma (@ 20 troops)

501st Transport & Maritime Patrol Squadron: 5x C-130H Hercules (1977+)

1 Transport Unit:

    10x DC-6A/B Liftmaster (@ 76 troops or 27000lb cargo)
    10x Nord 2501 Noratlas (@ 45 troops or 36 paras or 1 small vehicle)
    6?x C-47 Dakota (@ 28 troops)
    20x Casa C-212A Aviocar (@ 18 troops) (1978+)
    4x Casa C212B Aviocar

3. Communication and Liaison Units

1 COIN/Liaison Squadron: 16x Cessna FTB337G Milirole@ 2x 7x 70mm RP, 2x MG pods

1 Liaison/Photo-Recce Squadron: 8x Cessna F337

1 Liaison/Communications Squadron: 8x Cessna F337, 4?x Do-27

4. Training School

103rd Advanced Training Squadron: 11x T-33A (@ 2x .50" HMG), 6x T-38A Talon

1 Squadron: 18x T-6 Texan (Havard) trainers, 30x Chipmunk, 15x Cessna T-37C, 10x Alouette III

5. Notes

a) The only air to air missiles known to be used are some AIM-9 Sidewinder from 1981 on Fiat G91R.
b) Ground attack munitions include 500lb HE, 250lb HE, 68mm and 70mm rocket pods, 7.62mm MG pods, .50" HMG pods.
c) Nord 2501 are being phased out, to be replaced by C-212 Aviocars and C-130H.
d) Cessna FTB337G can carry army artillery observers.
e) Helicopters are normally unarmed.


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© Copyright 1997-2005 by Mark Bevis and MicroMark.
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