B-52 Stratofortress vs SA-2 "Guideline" SAM: Vietnam 1972-73

by Peter E. Davies, Jim Laurier (Illustrator), Gareth Hector (Illustrator)

Overview

Ever since its introduction in the late 1950s, the B-52 Stratofortress has been the United States' primary heavy bomber and a powerful symbol of its immense military might. Its powerful electronic countermeasures equipment (ECM) was thought to make the B-52 immune to ground-to-air missile attack, but in Vietnam, and later conflicts such as Operation Desert Storm in 1991, it came up against the Soviet-designed SA-2 SAM which used heavy salvos of missiles to bring down the bombers.

The losses of several of its most feared, powerful, and supposedly invincible bombers per night to a torrent of Soviet missiles during the closing stages of the Vietnam War was sobering to Americans, but the B-52s' crushing attacks virtually eliminated North Vietnam's defenses and forced a peace settlement. This fascinating book analyzes the roles of the SA-2 operators and the B-52 Electronic Warfare Officers (EWOs) using specially commissioned artwork as well as first-hand accounts, and traces the cat-and-mouse tactics that each side employed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472823625
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	10/23/2018
Series:	Duel , #89
Pages:	80
Sales rank:	606,334
Product dimensions:	7.26(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.27(d)

About the Author

Peter E. Davies has specialized in the aircraft of the Vietnam and Cold War periods, analyzing tactics, background politics and technologies in combat situations. His books are always enriched by original first-hand interviews and unpublished illustrative material. Peter has also been a contributor to publications such as Aeroplane Monthly, Aviation News and Aircraft Illustrated. He lives in Bristol, UK.

Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives in New Hampshire. He attended Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut, from 1974–78, and since graduating with Honours, he has been working professionally in the field of Fine Art and Illustration. He has been commissioned to paint for the US Air Force and has aviation paintings on permanent display at the Pentagon.

Gareth Hector is a digital artist of international standing as well as an aviation history enthusiast. He lives in Perthshire, UK.

Table of Contents

Introduction 4

Chronology 7

Design and Development 10

Technical Specifications 16

The Strategic Situation 25

The Combatants 36

Combat 52

Statistics and Analysis 70

Aftermath 76

Further Reading 79

Index 80