Sulman Badshah
STAFF
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2014
- Messages
- 4,282
- Reaction score
- 34
- Country
- Location
It is an Article written by Sarmad Hassan Sharif
GNAT: SABRE SLAYER OR SLAIN BY SABRE!
Comparison done by Sarmad Hassan Sharif
The Folland Gnat was a small, swept-wing British subsonic jet trainer and light fighter aircraft developed by Folland Aircraft for the Royal Air Force, and flown extensively by the Indian Air Force. The IAF was impressed by the Gnat's performance, but the aircraft had problems including hydraulics and unreliable control systems. Added to it the Gnat was also a victim of the gremlin that plagued most of the diminutive fighters in the thick of combat, that was its cannons tend to jam frequently. The Gnat which had two 30mm cannon placed on the inlet walls by the side. They were placed in such a pattern that the links that joined the bullets were deposited in the ammunition box of the gun on the opposite side. So instead of falling out into the sky, they traveled across a cross-feed before depositing themselves in the ammo box of the other gun. So when one gun refused to fire, the other gun also stopped firing, as the links had no place to go.
However its plus points were that due to its small size and light weight, its Orpheus 701 turbojet engine delivering 4,520lbs of thrust, could push the fighter at a maximum speed of 715 mph (621 kts), with an endurance of 1,181 miles (1,900 km) and a service ceiling of 50,000 ft. Thus it was lighter, faster and had a better endurance than the F-86F Sabre. It was this factor which led this aircraft as the IAF's main air superiority fighter. Also in DACT, the Gnats had the last laugh against Hunter and Mystere pilots, both considered superior than the Sabre. It was when the 1965 war came in, the Gnats were piloted by senior and experienced pilots which could utilize the maximum out of the aircraft despite its shortcomings.
On the other hand the F-86F Sabre was a battle tested and combat proven aircraft, and had a reputation behind it. It was highly maneuverable and the F model incorporated several features which enhanced the original F-86 design. These Sabres had improved flight control system and an "all-flying tail" (This system changed to a full power-operated control with an "artificial feel" built into the aircraft's controls to give the pilot forces on the stick that were still conventional, but light enough for superior combat control. It improved high-speed maneuverability). They also had a new slatted wing, with a slight decrease of speed, but also a much better agility at high and low speed with a landing speed reduced to 124 mph (200 km/h).
The only disadvantage the Sabre had against the Gnat was power. The Gnats had better acceleration and top speed than the Sabre and had the luxury to enter or exit the combat at their own will. But the PAF Sabre pilots were no rookies. Majority of them had plenty of experience on the Sabre having flown on this type for more than five years. Thus it was more or less the battle of the men behind the gun, rather than the battle of machines.
FIRST ROUND
DATE: SEPTEMBER 3, 1965
PLACE: CHAMB JAURIAN SECTOR
IAF: EIGHT GNATS
PAF: TWO F-86F SABRES (LATER JOINED BY A SINGLE F-104A STARFIGHTER)
RESULT: ONE PAF F-86F DAMAGED BUT RECOVERED SAFELY. ONE IAF GNAT AIR ARRESTED AND LANDED (INTACT AND FULLY FUNCTIONAL) AT PASRUR AIRSTRIP, SQUADRON LEADER BRIJ PAL SINGH SIKAND TAKEN POW.
COMMENTS: EIGHT SABRE SLAYERS ATTACKED TWO F-86F SABRES BUT FAILED TO DOWN EVEN A SINGLE AIRCRAFT. WHILE ALL PAF AIRCRAFT RETURNED BACK TO THE BASE, ALL BUT ONE GNAT RETURNED BACK TO THEIR BASE.
TALLY: SABRE 0 - GNAT 0
SECOND ROUND
DATE: SEPTEMBER 4, 1965
PLACE: CHAMB JAURIAN SECTOR
IAF: FOUR GNATS
PAF: FOUR F-86F SABRES
RESULT: ONE PAF F-86F SHOT DOWN (FLYING OFFICER N. M. BUTT EJECTED AND WAS RESCUED BY A SAR TEAM)
COMMENTS: THE SABRES WERE ATTACKED DURING THE CRITICAL PHASE OF CLOSE SUPPORT WHEN THE WERE PULLING UP AFTER A ROCKET ATTACK.
TALLY: SABRE 0 - GNAT 1
THIRD ROUND
DATE: SEPTEMBER 6, 1965
PLACE: IAF PATHANKOT AIRBASE
IAF: NO AIRCRAFT AIRBORNE
PAF: EIGHT F-86F SABRES
RESULT: TWO GNATS DESTROYED ON GROUND
COMMENTS: IT WAS RATHER A ONE SIDED CONTEST WITH THE SABRES GETTING THE BETTER OF THE GNATS. NONETHELESS, A KILL IS A KILL.
TALLY: SABRE 2 - GNAT 1
FOURTH ROUND
DATE: SEPTEMBER 13, 1965
PLACE: AMRITSAR
IAF: TWO GNATS
PAF: TWO F-86F SABRES
RESULT: ONE GNAT SHOT DOWN (FLT LT KALE EJECTED) BY FLT LT YUSUF ALI KHAN FLYING THE SAME SABRE WHICH WAS DAMAGED IN ROUND ONE
COMMENTS: A GNAT SHOT DOWN IN A CLASSICAL DOGFIGHT WHILE THE OTHER GNAT WAS DAMAGED.
TALLY: SABRE 3 - GNAT 1
FIFTH ROUND
DATE: SEPTEMBER 18, 1965
PLACE: TARAN TARAN
IAF: FOUR GNATS
PAF: FOUR F-86F SABRES
RESULT: STALEMATE
COMMENTS: A CLASSIC DOGFIGHT ENSUED IN WHICH BOTH SIDES FIRED UPON EACH OTHER AND CLAIMED AN AIRCRAFT EACH, BUT THE FACT WAS THAT ALL AIRCRAFT RETURNED SAFELY
TALLY: SABRE 3 - GNAT 1
SIXTH ROUND
DATE: SEPTEMBER 19, 1965
PLACE: CHAWINDA
IAF: FOUR GNATS
PAF: FOUR F-86F SABRES
RESULT: ONE IAF GNAT SHOT DOWN (FLT LT MAYADEV EJECTED AND TAKEN POW) ONE PAF SABRE SHOT SOWN (FLT LT S M AHMED'S F-86 WAS DAMAGED AND CRASHED ON THE THRESHOLD OF THE MAIN RUNWAY AT SARGODHA. HE WAS THROWN CLEAR UPON INTACT AND SURVIVED THE CRASH WITH MINOR INJURIES)
COMMENTS: A CLASSIC DOGFIGHT ENSUED IN WHICH BOTH SIDES SHOT DOWN AN AIRCRAFT EACH
TALLY: SABRE 4 - GNAT 2
SEVENTH ROUND
DATE: SEPTEMBER 20, 1965
PLACE: LAHORE
IAF: TWO HUNTERS AND TWO GNATS
PAF: FOUR F-86F SABRES
RESULT: TWO IAF HUNTERS WERE SHOT DOWN DECAPCIATING BOTH THE HUNTER PILOTS. ONE PAF SABRE, FLOWN BY FLT. LT. A. H. MALIK WAS SHOT DOWN BY A GNAT
COMMENTS: A CLASSIC DOGFIGHT IN WHICH THE GNAT GOT AWAY WITH ONE KILL, WHILE IAF LOST TWO HUNTERS
TALLY: SABRE 4 - GNAT 3
Thus when the September 1965 war ended, PAF Sabres had notched four IAF Gnats (two in air combat and two on ground), while IAF Gnats had downed three PAF Sabres in bargain (all in air combat). Out of seven Sabres lost in air combat PAF lost four to Hunters and three to Gnats. Thus Gnat does not deserve to be called a Sabre Slayer following this campaign.
Sabres and Gnats met again after a gap of six years, however their clash was not as frequent as in the 1965 war.
EIGHTH ROUND
DATE: NOVEMBER 22, 1971
PLACE: BOYRA
IAF: FOUR GNATS
PAF: THREE F-86E SABRES
RESULT: TWO PAF F-86E SABRES WERE SHOT DOWN, WHILE THE THIRD ONE HALF ROLLED OUT OF THE COMBAT AND ESCAPED
COMMENTS: THE SABRES WERE ATTACKED DURING THE CRITICAL PHASE OF CLOSE SUPPORT WHEN THE WERE PULLING UP AFTER A STRAFING RUN. THE GNATS WERE OPERATING UNDER THEIR OWN RADAR COVER WHILE THE SABRES WERE OPERATING OUTSIDE THEIR RADAR RANGE AND SUBSEQUENTLY WERE BOUNCED BY THE GNATS
TALLY: SABRE 4 - GNAT 5
NINTH ROUND
DATE: DECEMBER 14, 1971
PLACE: SRINAGAR
IAF: ONE GNAT
PAF: SIX F-86F SABRES
RESULT: AS EXPECTED, THE GNAT WAS SHOT DOWN BUT AFTER A MUCH SPIRITED FIGHT BY THE LONE GNAT. FLYING OFFICER NIRMAL JIT SINGH SEKHON WAS KILLED IN THIS FIGHT.
COMMENTS: THIS WAS THE LAST OCCASSION WHEN THE SABRE AND GNAT MET EACH OTHER.
TALLY: SABRE 5 - GNAT 5
After the end of this conflict, PAF Sabres had shot down one Gnat as opposed to two by Sabres shot down by the Gnats. However in the final tally we see five Gnats being destroyed by the guns of PAF F-86 Sabres as compared to five Sabres being lost to the IAF Gnats.
It took nine rounds between both types to complete this tally. The only consolation given to the Gnats is that they downed all five Sabres in air combat, while PAF downed three Gnats in air combat and destroyed two on ground. Out of the five Sabres, three were shot down without their pilots knowing what hit them (absence of radar cover / absence of warning), two Sabres were downed in classic dogfights. In contrast, all three Gnats were shot down after a much contested dogfight.
After the 1965 war, IAF had to save its face and it used the term Sabre Slayer for the Gnat to save its face. PAF on the other hand never needed a propaganda to highlight its feats as it believed in ACTION SPEAKING LOUDER THAN WORDS.
Total: Sabre 25, GNAT 19
GNAT: SABRE SLAYER OR SLAIN BY SABRE!
Comparison done by Sarmad Hassan Sharif
The Folland Gnat was a small, swept-wing British subsonic jet trainer and light fighter aircraft developed by Folland Aircraft for the Royal Air Force, and flown extensively by the Indian Air Force. The IAF was impressed by the Gnat's performance, but the aircraft had problems including hydraulics and unreliable control systems. Added to it the Gnat was also a victim of the gremlin that plagued most of the diminutive fighters in the thick of combat, that was its cannons tend to jam frequently. The Gnat which had two 30mm cannon placed on the inlet walls by the side. They were placed in such a pattern that the links that joined the bullets were deposited in the ammunition box of the gun on the opposite side. So instead of falling out into the sky, they traveled across a cross-feed before depositing themselves in the ammo box of the other gun. So when one gun refused to fire, the other gun also stopped firing, as the links had no place to go.
However its plus points were that due to its small size and light weight, its Orpheus 701 turbojet engine delivering 4,520lbs of thrust, could push the fighter at a maximum speed of 715 mph (621 kts), with an endurance of 1,181 miles (1,900 km) and a service ceiling of 50,000 ft. Thus it was lighter, faster and had a better endurance than the F-86F Sabre. It was this factor which led this aircraft as the IAF's main air superiority fighter. Also in DACT, the Gnats had the last laugh against Hunter and Mystere pilots, both considered superior than the Sabre. It was when the 1965 war came in, the Gnats were piloted by senior and experienced pilots which could utilize the maximum out of the aircraft despite its shortcomings.
On the other hand the F-86F Sabre was a battle tested and combat proven aircraft, and had a reputation behind it. It was highly maneuverable and the F model incorporated several features which enhanced the original F-86 design. These Sabres had improved flight control system and an "all-flying tail" (This system changed to a full power-operated control with an "artificial feel" built into the aircraft's controls to give the pilot forces on the stick that were still conventional, but light enough for superior combat control. It improved high-speed maneuverability). They also had a new slatted wing, with a slight decrease of speed, but also a much better agility at high and low speed with a landing speed reduced to 124 mph (200 km/h).
The only disadvantage the Sabre had against the Gnat was power. The Gnats had better acceleration and top speed than the Sabre and had the luxury to enter or exit the combat at their own will. But the PAF Sabre pilots were no rookies. Majority of them had plenty of experience on the Sabre having flown on this type for more than five years. Thus it was more or less the battle of the men behind the gun, rather than the battle of machines.
FIRST ROUND
DATE: SEPTEMBER 3, 1965
PLACE: CHAMB JAURIAN SECTOR
IAF: EIGHT GNATS
PAF: TWO F-86F SABRES (LATER JOINED BY A SINGLE F-104A STARFIGHTER)
RESULT: ONE PAF F-86F DAMAGED BUT RECOVERED SAFELY. ONE IAF GNAT AIR ARRESTED AND LANDED (INTACT AND FULLY FUNCTIONAL) AT PASRUR AIRSTRIP, SQUADRON LEADER BRIJ PAL SINGH SIKAND TAKEN POW.
COMMENTS: EIGHT SABRE SLAYERS ATTACKED TWO F-86F SABRES BUT FAILED TO DOWN EVEN A SINGLE AIRCRAFT. WHILE ALL PAF AIRCRAFT RETURNED BACK TO THE BASE, ALL BUT ONE GNAT RETURNED BACK TO THEIR BASE.
TALLY: SABRE 0 - GNAT 0
SECOND ROUND
DATE: SEPTEMBER 4, 1965
PLACE: CHAMB JAURIAN SECTOR
IAF: FOUR GNATS
PAF: FOUR F-86F SABRES
RESULT: ONE PAF F-86F SHOT DOWN (FLYING OFFICER N. M. BUTT EJECTED AND WAS RESCUED BY A SAR TEAM)
COMMENTS: THE SABRES WERE ATTACKED DURING THE CRITICAL PHASE OF CLOSE SUPPORT WHEN THE WERE PULLING UP AFTER A ROCKET ATTACK.
TALLY: SABRE 0 - GNAT 1
THIRD ROUND
DATE: SEPTEMBER 6, 1965
PLACE: IAF PATHANKOT AIRBASE
IAF: NO AIRCRAFT AIRBORNE
PAF: EIGHT F-86F SABRES
RESULT: TWO GNATS DESTROYED ON GROUND
COMMENTS: IT WAS RATHER A ONE SIDED CONTEST WITH THE SABRES GETTING THE BETTER OF THE GNATS. NONETHELESS, A KILL IS A KILL.
TALLY: SABRE 2 - GNAT 1
FOURTH ROUND
DATE: SEPTEMBER 13, 1965
PLACE: AMRITSAR
IAF: TWO GNATS
PAF: TWO F-86F SABRES
RESULT: ONE GNAT SHOT DOWN (FLT LT KALE EJECTED) BY FLT LT YUSUF ALI KHAN FLYING THE SAME SABRE WHICH WAS DAMAGED IN ROUND ONE
COMMENTS: A GNAT SHOT DOWN IN A CLASSICAL DOGFIGHT WHILE THE OTHER GNAT WAS DAMAGED.
TALLY: SABRE 3 - GNAT 1
FIFTH ROUND
DATE: SEPTEMBER 18, 1965
PLACE: TARAN TARAN
IAF: FOUR GNATS
PAF: FOUR F-86F SABRES
RESULT: STALEMATE
COMMENTS: A CLASSIC DOGFIGHT ENSUED IN WHICH BOTH SIDES FIRED UPON EACH OTHER AND CLAIMED AN AIRCRAFT EACH, BUT THE FACT WAS THAT ALL AIRCRAFT RETURNED SAFELY
TALLY: SABRE 3 - GNAT 1
SIXTH ROUND
DATE: SEPTEMBER 19, 1965
PLACE: CHAWINDA
IAF: FOUR GNATS
PAF: FOUR F-86F SABRES
RESULT: ONE IAF GNAT SHOT DOWN (FLT LT MAYADEV EJECTED AND TAKEN POW) ONE PAF SABRE SHOT SOWN (FLT LT S M AHMED'S F-86 WAS DAMAGED AND CRASHED ON THE THRESHOLD OF THE MAIN RUNWAY AT SARGODHA. HE WAS THROWN CLEAR UPON INTACT AND SURVIVED THE CRASH WITH MINOR INJURIES)
COMMENTS: A CLASSIC DOGFIGHT ENSUED IN WHICH BOTH SIDES SHOT DOWN AN AIRCRAFT EACH
TALLY: SABRE 4 - GNAT 2
SEVENTH ROUND
DATE: SEPTEMBER 20, 1965
PLACE: LAHORE
IAF: TWO HUNTERS AND TWO GNATS
PAF: FOUR F-86F SABRES
RESULT: TWO IAF HUNTERS WERE SHOT DOWN DECAPCIATING BOTH THE HUNTER PILOTS. ONE PAF SABRE, FLOWN BY FLT. LT. A. H. MALIK WAS SHOT DOWN BY A GNAT
COMMENTS: A CLASSIC DOGFIGHT IN WHICH THE GNAT GOT AWAY WITH ONE KILL, WHILE IAF LOST TWO HUNTERS
TALLY: SABRE 4 - GNAT 3
Thus when the September 1965 war ended, PAF Sabres had notched four IAF Gnats (two in air combat and two on ground), while IAF Gnats had downed three PAF Sabres in bargain (all in air combat). Out of seven Sabres lost in air combat PAF lost four to Hunters and three to Gnats. Thus Gnat does not deserve to be called a Sabre Slayer following this campaign.
Sabres and Gnats met again after a gap of six years, however their clash was not as frequent as in the 1965 war.
EIGHTH ROUND
DATE: NOVEMBER 22, 1971
PLACE: BOYRA
IAF: FOUR GNATS
PAF: THREE F-86E SABRES
RESULT: TWO PAF F-86E SABRES WERE SHOT DOWN, WHILE THE THIRD ONE HALF ROLLED OUT OF THE COMBAT AND ESCAPED
COMMENTS: THE SABRES WERE ATTACKED DURING THE CRITICAL PHASE OF CLOSE SUPPORT WHEN THE WERE PULLING UP AFTER A STRAFING RUN. THE GNATS WERE OPERATING UNDER THEIR OWN RADAR COVER WHILE THE SABRES WERE OPERATING OUTSIDE THEIR RADAR RANGE AND SUBSEQUENTLY WERE BOUNCED BY THE GNATS
TALLY: SABRE 4 - GNAT 5
NINTH ROUND
DATE: DECEMBER 14, 1971
PLACE: SRINAGAR
IAF: ONE GNAT
PAF: SIX F-86F SABRES
RESULT: AS EXPECTED, THE GNAT WAS SHOT DOWN BUT AFTER A MUCH SPIRITED FIGHT BY THE LONE GNAT. FLYING OFFICER NIRMAL JIT SINGH SEKHON WAS KILLED IN THIS FIGHT.
COMMENTS: THIS WAS THE LAST OCCASSION WHEN THE SABRE AND GNAT MET EACH OTHER.
TALLY: SABRE 5 - GNAT 5
After the end of this conflict, PAF Sabres had shot down one Gnat as opposed to two by Sabres shot down by the Gnats. However in the final tally we see five Gnats being destroyed by the guns of PAF F-86 Sabres as compared to five Sabres being lost to the IAF Gnats.
It took nine rounds between both types to complete this tally. The only consolation given to the Gnats is that they downed all five Sabres in air combat, while PAF downed three Gnats in air combat and destroyed two on ground. Out of the five Sabres, three were shot down without their pilots knowing what hit them (absence of radar cover / absence of warning), two Sabres were downed in classic dogfights. In contrast, all three Gnats were shot down after a much contested dogfight.
After the 1965 war, IAF had to save its face and it used the term Sabre Slayer for the Gnat to save its face. PAF on the other hand never needed a propaganda to highlight its feats as it believed in ACTION SPEAKING LOUDER THAN WORDS.
Total: Sabre 25, GNAT 19
