Cold War Gamer: ORBAT - The RAF in Germany in The 1980s

The aim of this post is to provide an overview of RAF Germany in the mid to late 80's. It will be part of a series of posts that starts to examine the NATO context of Air Land warfare, developed in the Air Land Battle and the Follow on Forces Attack doctrines of the late 80s. Without consideration of these you are not really representing warfare as it would have manifested on the Central front at this time. The aircraft of RAF Germany contributed to 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force (2ATAF), this included Dutch, German, US and Belgian Squadrons. In addition to the forward deployed units the aircraft strength would have been increased in time of War by reinforcement from France, the UK and US.

During the period Squadron size varied between 10 - 18 aircraft organised in flights of 4 although this did vary. Actual squadron size would appear to have been follows:

Harrier Squadrons in Germany 18 aircraft, from 1977, prior to 1977 12.
Puma Squadrons, 16 aircraft,
Chinook Squadrons10 aircraft,
Tornado, Jaguar and Phantom Squadrons, 12 aircraft.

There were originaly 3 Squadrons of Harriers 3, 4 and 20, each of 12 aircraft. 20 was disbanded in 1977 and the remaining aircraft distributed amoungst the other two Germany based Squadrons.

The principal Aircraft deployed and their primary missions were:

Phantoms FGR 2, until 1992 then Tornado F3 Interceptor/Fighter, 2 Squadrons, 19 & 92, RAF Wildenwrath
Tornado GR 1, low level Strike at Depth Targets, 7 Squadrons, No's 9, 14, 17 & 31 RAF Bruggen, No's 15, 16 & 20 RAF Laarbruch.
Harrier GR3 untill 1990 then GR 5, Close Air Support and Battlefield Air Interdiction to 1 BR Corps/NORTHAG, 2 Squadrons No's 3 & 4 RAF Guterslough, dispersed on War
Jaguar GR1 then Tornado GR1, photo Reconaisance, 1 Squadron, No 2 RAF Laarbruch
Chinook CH-47, 1 Squadron, No18, RAF Guterslough, dispersed on War
Puma S330, 1 Squadron, No 230, RAF Guterslough, dispersed on War

Whilst this was the RAFs contribution, air superiority aircraft could come from any of the National Air Forces supporting 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force. Equally strike and Close Air Support would be drawn from other NATO nations as part of the 2ATAF plan and the RAF could also end up supporting other nations.

Having said that for my British Forces I'll be using Harrier GR3's for CAS with some Tornadoes GR1s mixed in for Air Mobile operations in Depth. I'll use a Phantom FGR2 for my Air Supeiority marker and look to incorporate US F-4G Wild Weasel Phantoms and A10 Warthogs as part of the overall CAS/BAI package.

108 A10s were forward deployed with the 81st Tactical fighter wing which had 6 18 Aircraft squadrons in the UK but would have forward deployed to Germany in time of War, with 3 Squadrons supporting 2 ATAF. This could included working from dispersed locations and they were a significant element of the Allied Anti Tank effort.

The F-4Gs belonged to the 52nd Tactical fighter Wing which comprised 3 Squadrons each consisting of 8 F4G and 16 F-4E Phantoms, their primary role being the destruction of enemy air defence assets

Prior to the Tornado entering service in 1980 RAF Strike aircraft would have been Jaguars and Buccaneers and CAS/BAI provided by Harrier GR1 with the Hunter being the CAS/BAI platform of choice prior to 1969.