by: Don Poss
© 1995

Hanoi: Air War takes toll of U.S. Aircraft

The Air War over North Vietnam involved the heaviest anti-aircraft fire in the history of warfare. Anti-Aircraft-Artillery (AAA) employed by the North against U.S. aircraft included 23mm, twin 37mm (180 rounds per minute), 57mm, 85mm, and 100mm guns. Many batteries were radar controlled.

A virtual ring of AAA Batteries guarded the boundaries of Hanoi, Sam missile sites, and other major military targets. I hope my custom animated GIFs of Anti-Aircraft-Artillery Batteries firing in mass at U.S. aircraft gives you an appreciation for what our pilots faced in Northern air war combat--it did for me.

Big files for big guns! Cutting their sizes simply was an injustice to the awesome visual fire-power, and brutal Battery Firing (150K: Turn up the Volume!) cannonades of an NVA Anti-Aircraft-Battery in action. Look close at the photos for the artillery men firing and standing around (Which Battery is Jane Fonda's?)