Air
Force Tactical Command 1
Commando
Tactische Luchtstrijdkrachten (CTL)
Part I
| Unit |
Location |
Peace
Strength |
War
Strength |
| Staff
Air Force Tactical Command [a] |
Zeist |
?
|
?
|
| (Staff)
COMTWOATAF [b] |
Mönchengladbach-Rheindahlen (GE) |
?
|
? |
| Unit |
Main
Equipment |
Air
Combat Role |
Peace
Strength |
War
Strength |
Soesterberg
Air Base [c]
|
32
(US) Tactical Fighter Squadron [d]
|
18
x F-15 |
AD |
?
|
? |
334
Squadron [e]
|
12
x F-27 |
|
?
|
? |
| 298
Squadron [f] |
24 x Alouette III |
|
48/45/60
(153) |
56/50/77
(183) |
Maintenance
and Materiel Squadron [f]
|
|
|
6/95/70
(171) |
6/100/98
(204) |
| 221
Squadron |
| └ SHORAD
flight [g] |
2/3
x Flycatcher, 6/9 x 40L70 |
|
(35)
|
(35) |
| └ 73
Assault Firing Unit |
3
x I-HAWK |
|
(±35) |
(±35) |
| 10
Air Force Security Squadron [h] |
|
|
2/21/110
(133)
|
5/19/143
(167) |
| Air
Force Security Platoon x 7 |
|
|
– |
1/4/41 (46)
x 7 |
| 510
Object Security Squadron [Royal Army] [i] |
|
|
– |
5/15/105
(125) |
| 511
Object Security Squadron [Royal Army] [i] |
|
|
– |
5/15/105
(125)
|
Volkel
Air Base [j]
|
306
Squadron [k]
|
9/18
x F-16(R) |
RECCE |
?
|
? |
311
Squadron [l]
|
18
x F-16 |
FBA/S | ?
|
? |
| 312
Squadron [m] |
18
x F-16 from 01.10.1985 |
FBA/S
|
?
|
?
|
| 420
Squadron |
| └ SHORAD
flight [g] |
2/3
x Flycatcher, 6/9 x 40L70 |
|
(35)
|
(35) |
| └ 76
Assault Firing Unit |
3
x I-HAWK |
|
(±35) |
(±35) |
| 40
Air Force Security Squadron [n] |
|
|
4/49/263
(316)
|
5/22/155
(182) |
| Air
Force Security Platoon x 4 |
|
|
– |
1/4/41 (46)
x 4 |
| 501
Object Security Squadron [Royal Army] [i] |
|
|
– |
5/15/105
(125) |
| 502
Object Security Squadron [Royal Army] [i] |
|
|
– |
5/15/105
(125)
|
| 503
Object Security Squadron [Royal Army] [i] |
|
|
– |
5/15/105
(125)
|
| 504
Object Security Squadron [Royal Army] [i] |
|
|
– |
5/15/105
(125)
|
| 523
Object Security Squadron [Royal Army] [i] |
|
|
– |
5/15/105
(125)
|
Notes
| a. |
Peacetime
organisation. Headed by Commander Tactical Air Force (Commandant
Tactische Luchtstrijdkrachten, CTL). On
mobilisation the staff of Air Force Tactical Command would merge with
those elements of the staff of Logistic and
Training Command that were responsible for logistic support,
forming the Tactical Air Force War Staff (Oorlogsstaf
Tactische
Luchtstrijdkrachten, OS/TL). Commander Tactical Air Force would head
the War Staff.2
|
| b. |
Commander Second Allied Tactical Air Force
(COMTWOATAF) had operational control over all units and bases
of Air Force
Tactical Command in peace and wartime, unless noted otherwise.
Operational control was
delegated by Commander Allied
Air Forces Central Europe (COMAAFCE), who held operational
command.3
|
| c. |
Soesterberg
Airbase (Vliegbasis Soesterberg, Vlb SSB) was a Main Operating Base
(MOB) as well as a Collocated Operating Base (COB).4 |
| d. |
32 (US)
Tactical Fighter Squadron was detached from US Air Forces Europe
(USAFE) and fell under operational command of COMTWOATAF in peace and
wartime. The squadron operated with sixteen F15C (single seat) and two
F15D (two seat) fighter aircraft in a tactical air defence role (AD).
Two aircraft were permanently, round-the-clock, on standby for
all-weather quick reaction alert sorties (QRA). Accommodation and
logistic support were provided by the Royal Air Force.5 |
| e. |
334
Squadron operated with nine Fokker F-27 Mk 300M Troopships and three
Fokker F-27 Mk 100 Friendships, primarily in a logistic support role. In
wartime, after NATO General Alert, the
squadron would for six days be busy flying national transport missions.
If ACE Mobile
Force (AMF) would be deployed, which would be in the
early
stages of an emerging conflict, preferably ahead of NATO General
Alert, the squadron would transport personnel and war
consumables for 314 Squadron, which was
assigned to AMF. 334 Squadron would further fly transport missions
for 1
(NL) Corps, the Royal
Navy, and the Royal Air Force air bases in the Netherlands
and the guided weapon squadrons in West Germany. Depending the
circumstances the transport tasks might include dropping
paratroops (Whiskey
Infantry Company and 104
Observation and Reconnaissance Company). After
these six days the squadron would be made available to Supreme Allied Commander Europe
(SACEUR). By 1985 the Fokker F-27 aircraft, though reliable,
were becoming technically obsolete.
Moreover their maximum operating radius
and payload were hardly sufficient for the aforementioned tasks. The
transport requirements for 314 Squadron in its AMF-role for
example "could only be marginally met". Pilots
were mostly experienced former fighter or helicopter pilots who chose
to end their flying careers with 334 Squadron.6 |
| f. |
Peacetime
organisation. Part of the Light
Aircraft Group, 1
(NL) Corps. Under
operational control of Commander 1 (NL) Corps in wartime.7 |
| g. |
SHORAD:
Short range air defence. Some air bases had two, some three
Flycatcher-40L70 sections in their SHORAD flight.8 |
| h. |
Peacetime and wartime
strengths include a security dog group (hondengeleiders) of -/5/16 (21).9 |
| i. |
Filled
by mobilisable personnel from 14 Armoured Infantry Battalion (RIM)
after their fourteen to sixteen-month RIM period in that unit had
expired, up to eight and a half years prior to mobilisation.10 |
| j. |
Volkel Airbase (Vliegbasis Volkel, Vlb VKL) was a Main Operating Base
(MOB).4 |
| k. |
306 Squadron was
the Royal Air Force's tactical photo reconnaissance squadron. The
aircraft of the squadron were regular F-16A/Bs, not specialised
reconnaissance versions, hence the designation F-16(R). Under the
fuselage, on the centerline pylon, they carried the Orpheus day/night
reconnaissance pod developed by Oldelft (Oude Delft) and built by
Fokker. The self-contained pod had five TA-8M photo cameras, an
infrared line scanner and a radar altimeter. With the pod the aircraft
could still carry air-to-air missiles and the squadron operated in
pairs for increased self defence. Besides the reconnaissance role
(RECCE) the squadron also trained the air defence (AD) and
fighter-bomber attack (FBA) roles, the latter presumably without the
Orpheus pod. Because of this 306 Squadron dubbed itself
"NATO's Only Fighting Eyes" and it was the first squadron to apply
in advance the swing-role concept that the Royal Air Force would
develop in the early 1990s. In 1985 the squadron was not yet fully
operational, flying nine F-16(R)s (9 UE, nine units equipped) because the
transition from the RF-104G Starfighter, which began in 1983, was
not yet fully completed. In May 1986 the squadron was fully operational
with 18 UE. In wartime the squadron would operate from De Peel Airbase.11
|
| l. |
311
Squadron was dual capable in the conventional fighter-bomber attack
role (FBA) and in the nuclear strike role (S). In 1986 the squadron was
also meant to be operational in the clear weather intercept role (CWI),
but this was not implemented due to personnel shortages, probably pilot
shortages in particular. The US nuclear bombs for the squadron
were stored at the airbase under custody of 7362 (US) Munitions Support
Squadron (7362 MUNSS), which reportedly had a strength of about 100
men. The nuclear bombs were probably of the B61 type with a variable
yield of 0.3 to 170 kilotons (Mod 3, produced since 1979), or 10
to 150 kilotons (Mod 2, since 1975), or 10 to 340 kilotons (Mod 1,
since 1969). The number of nuclear bombs stored at Volkel Airbase was
estimated to be between thirty-six and seventy-two. The squadron, but
probably 311 and 312 Squadron together, reportedly had three F-16
aircraft on permanent, round-the-clock standby, each armed with one
nuclear bomb (Quick Reaction Alert, QRA). The nuclear release sequence
was probably similar to that of the dual capable artillery of 1 (NL) Corps; ultimately the decision to deploy any US nuclear weapon lay with the President of the United States.12 |
| m. |
312
Squadron was not operational ("non-ops") up to 1 October 1985 due to
the transition from the F-104G Starfighter, which began on 1 July 1984.
From 1 October 1985 the squadron was dual capable in the conventional
fighter-bomber attack role (FBA) and the nuclear strike role (S). For
the nuclear role, see note k above.13 |
| n. |
Peacetime and wartime
strengths include a security dog group (hondengeleiders) of -/8/28 (36).9 |
_________________________________________________
| 1. |
|
Organisation: NL-HaNA
2.13.182, inv. nr. 663, Concept krijgsmachtdeelplan
Koninklijke Luchtmacht 1987-1996 d.d. 20 december 1985, 88-89.
NIMH
430, inv. nr. 54 (Slagorde KL stand 1 juli 1985),
Blad S2. NIMH
723, inv. nr. 75, Organisatie en organisatieschema's m.b.t. de KLu d.d.
1 augustus 1984, 22. HTK 1983-1984,
kamerstuknr. 18169 ondernr. 2
(Defensienota 1984-1993), 133. Air base
ground-based air defence units: NL-HaNA, 2.13.182, inv. nr. 663,
op.cit., 53-54. Helfferich, Squadrons
(1994), passim. Van Loo, Crossing,
342. De Winter, Een eeuw,
160. Air Force Security and Object security units: NL-HaNA
2.13.113, inv. nr. 814, Indeling
LB/OB-eenheden d.d. 18 februari 1980, Bijlagen A, C, D en E. NIMH
430, loc. cit. |
| 2. |
|
NL-HaNA
2.13.182, inv. nr. 663, op.cit., 85.
|
| 3. |
|
Ibid., 85, 86,
88-89. |
| 4. |
|
Ibid.,
55-57. Main Operating Base (MOB): airbase permanently housing one or
more NATO-assigned aircraft squadrons. Collocated Operating Base (COB):
airbase that could accommodate one or more allied combat aircraft
squadrons in times of crisis or war. This was laid down
in bilateral agreements (Netherlands-US and Netherlands-UK). Ibid.
|
| 5. |
|
Ibid., 60,
117. Helfferich, Nederlandse
Koninklijke, 157, 158. De Winter, op.cit.,
204-205. |
| 6. |
|
NL-HaNA
2.13.182, inv. nr. 663, op.cit., 55, 112. Helfferich,
Squadrons
(1994), 209, 212. Van Loo, op. cit., 356, 358.
|
| 7. |
|
There
is a difference in presentation regarding the exact command
arrangement in wartime: the Royal Army order of battle
says under command, the 1985 Royal Air Force plan says
under operational control. NIMH 430, loc. cit. NL-HaNA
2.13.182, inv. nr. 663, op.cit., 88-89. |
| 8. |
|
Between
1985
and 1990 all SHORAD flights on the airbases got three Flycatcher-40L70
sections. Van Loo, op.
cit., 342. This should probably be seen in connection with the
disbandment of 12
Guided Weapon Group in West Germany between 1983 and
1988. Each of its four subordinate Nike Hercules squadrons had two
Flycatcher-40L70 sections. By 1985 four sections would have been freed
up for deployment to the Netherlands. Given the number of 40L70
guns available, eighty-six, it seems likely that by 1985 most
SHORAD-protected airbases had three sections. Van Loo, loc. cit.
Nederlof, Blazing Skies,
Bijlage I en II. |
| 9. |
|
NL-HaNA
2.13.113, inv. nr. 814, op. cit., Bijlage E. |
| 10. |
|
NIMH 205A/10,
Aflossing van mobilisabele eenheden en -aanvullingen d.d. 11 november
1983. |
| 11. |
|
Helfferich, Squadrons (1994), 130-132. Relocation to De Peel in wartime: Helfferich, Nederlandse Koninklijke, 36. |
| 12. |
|
NL-HaNA
2.13.182, inv. nr. 663, op.cit., 50. Helfferich, Squadrons (1994), 135-138. Anonymus, Opslag en transport, 4, 30, 70. Website The Nuclear Weapon Archive, Complete List of All U.S. Nuclear Weapons. Wikipedia, B61 nuclear bomb. Dual capable: "A nuclear certified delivery unit capable of executing both conventional and nuclear missions." US Department of Defense Dictionary, 139. For reference: the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 had a yield
of 15 to 16 kilotons. |
| 13. |
|
Helfferich, Squadrons (1994), 140-142. |
|