In a Washington Special Actions Group Meeting on 15 May 1972, five days after the start of the Linebacker I, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Admiral Thomas Moorer said North Vietnam introduced a new mobile SAM, the SA-4 Ganef.
https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v08/d149
The Command History of the United States Pacific Command (PACOM) in 1972 mentioned this, saying "Although the evidence was tenuous, the apparent characteristics of the missiles fired pointed to the ramjet powered SA-4 and SA-6."
However, later in August 1972 the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC) advised the JCS that "it had been determined that the new SAM was an unknown guided missile and not the SA-4 (GANEF). The associated equipment was unidentified but probably compatible with the SA-2 system. The T-8209 emitter, it was believed, was a modification of the WHIFF/FIRECAN AAA radar to enable operation in the "I" band. "
To counter this new threat, the USAF sent 50 ALQ-119 jamming pods to Thailand in August 1972, just in case.
Adm. Moorer: Yes. We haven’t attacked the airfields, though. There’s also a new element: the SA–4 missile. This is a mobile, with the launcher and radar on tracks. The missile is not as fast as the SA–2, and it can be easily identified. So far, there have been no hits with it.
https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76v08/d149
The Command History of the United States Pacific Command (PACOM) in 1972 mentioned this, saying "Although the evidence was tenuous, the apparent characteristics of the missiles fired pointed to the ramjet powered SA-4 and SA-6."
However, later in August 1972 the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC) advised the JCS that "it had been determined that the new SAM was an unknown guided missile and not the SA-4 (GANEF). The associated equipment was unidentified but probably compatible with the SA-2 system. The T-8209 emitter, it was believed, was a modification of the WHIFF/FIRECAN AAA radar to enable operation in the "I" band. "
To counter this new threat, the USAF sent 50 ALQ-119 jamming pods to Thailand in August 1972, just in case.
Last edited: