Biafran Babies - Mini-COIN

10,643 Views | 2 Replies | Last: 10 yr ago by Rock1982
CanyonAg77
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AG
Stumbled across this event in other reading, thought the forum might find it interesting. From 1967 to 1970, there was a breakaway Republic of Biafra that declared its independence from Nigeria. Their air force consisted of a couple of B-25s, a B-26 and a DC-3. They were up against the Nigerian AF with Mig-17s, L-29s and IL-28s.

Carl Gustaf von Rosen a Swedish mercenary and quite a character, thought that small counterinsurgency aircraft (mini-COIN) would be effective against the Nigerians. He remembered a Swedish trainer, the Malmo MFI-9


And apparently thought, "Hey! I could totally take on a Mig-17 in that!" Okay, not really. He did think that they could be used to harass the Nigerians and give some relief to Biafra. So he got five of them, slung some rocket pods under the wings, and proceeded to give the Nigerians hell, including knocking a power plant out for 6 months, and allegedly taking out some Nigerian Migs. Okay, the Migs, were parked on the ground, but still...





He called the squadron the Biafran Babies and they were highly effective for not much $$$$$. An interesting bit of aviation history/craziness.




Youtube Video

Sorry it isn't in English, but it has some footage.

outlaw96
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Let's assume you and your neighbors start your own country. Where do you get rocket pods from?
Endo Ag
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So long as you talk bad about the west, I'm sure the Russians would throw some your way.
Rock1982
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AG
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/03/to-replace-drone-strikes-us-to-give-yemen-hellfire-armed-crop-dusters/

http://www.buzzfeed.com/aramroston/exclusive-for-a-new-type-of-targeted-killing-yemenis-and-ame
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