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1979 Alexandrian Gulf Incident
Part of Vinalian Struggle
Southern deployment of Sonar buoys in the gulf
Date 16 - 17 April 1979 Location Alexandrian Gulf Result Assertion of South Vinalian claims
Belligerents
South Vinalia	North Vinalia
Commanders and leaders
Dmytro Kotenko	Orest Ishkan Dzik Dun
Strength
16th of April 1 C-130 2 F10G 17th of April 4 F10G	16th of April 1 Foxtrot-Class 2 Su-17 17th of April 5 Su-17 5 FOC-77
Casualties and losses
	3 injured and captured, 1 missing 2 Su-17 destroyed 2 FOC-77 destroyed 1 Foxtrot-Class damaged

The 1979 Alexandrian Gulf Incident, from the 16th to the 17th of August. Was the final incident regarding South Vinalian claims on the disputed Tiza island 175 km's off the Vinalian coast, which was claimed by both North Vinalia, and South Vinalia since their separation in 1933. It had been under South Vinalian control since 1933 Tensions arose after the construction of an airstrip in the island in 1976.

The Tiza Exclusion Zone was a 50 km Southern exclusive zone which had been established in 1942 (as a 30 km zone), and disputed by the North. The North conducted Freedom of Navigation Operations (FON) in the region between 1942 until 1975, when the North seized such operations following their defeat in the 100 Day's War which saw a Northern defeat. In 1976 the Exclusion Zone was expanded a further 20 km's to follow with the construction of an airstrip in the island, prompting renewal of FON operations by the North, through Aerial and Naval means.

During the morning of the 15th of April a Northern submarine the PVN Chervona had been detected in the edge of the perimeter of the zone, after it had submerged a hunt for the submarine sparked deployment of Northern aircraft which had damaged a Southern aircraft in the morning of the 16th of April, prompting a Northern incursion into the zone with 10 aircraft the morning after, where they engaged 4 newly acquired F10G with the loss of 4 aircraft. This was the last incident in the region, and the only one with human and material losses.

Background

Following the division of Vinalia in 1933, the maritime borders remained unsettled until 1938 after Southern fisherman were arrested by Northern authorities prompting an agreement. Following the Second Vinalian Civil War in 1942, which revealed the importance of the island to Southern authorities an exclusion zone of 30 kms was established in 1942, prompting protest from the Northern government which conducted Freedom of Navigation Operations(FON) in the area throughout the years, most prominently in 1962 after North Vinalia withdrew from the 1938 agreement following their victory in the Third Vinalian Civil War when Northern aircraft violated the zone over 10000 times between 1962 and 1969 when Southern enforcement of the zone began once again. Following the Southern victory in the 100 Day's War in 1975, Northern FON operations stopped, with the Exclusion Zone being extended an additional 20 kms to follow the construction of an airstrip in the island in February 1976, by March Northern FON operations resumed usually through the use of submarines which traced the perimeter only to submerge and return. Aircraft launched directly towards the zone entered it briefly before returning upon being intercepted.

Both sides acquired their aircraft from 3rd parties, with North Vinalia acquiring and operating Chistovodian aircraft, while South Vinalia relied on aircraft from Halland, and Nuxica. Following the 100 Days War, the Southern airforce had proven far more capable of countering the Northern aircraft than it had before, and the new acquisition of Hallandic made F10G's in 1978 brought anxiety over the new aircraft. North Vinalia had ordered the acquisition of Mig-23's, and Mig-25's from Chistovodia in 1978 to counter the Southern acquisition but the first of this aircraft would only arrive in 1982.

Incident

16th of April

PVN Chervona in an exercise in Chistovodia 1976

The morning of the 16th of April the Northern submarine the Chervona was ordered to conduct a FON operation in the Tiza Exclusion zone, the Chervona had conducted similar operations most recently in January 1979, such submarine operations were common with one taking place monthly most recently the 21st of March. The Chervona surfaced and continued on it's path a straight line towards the Exclusion Zone as per usual. The submarine was contacted by radio 10 kms away from the zone, and informed to change it's course, it did not respond. A C-130 was launched from Tiza Airforce base to escort the submarine back, the submarine remained on course contrary to radio directions, and began to submerge around 1 km from the exclusion zone, nothing remained out of the ordinary. Southern operators expected the submarine to change it's course after having entered the zone for 2 kms before turning back. sonar buoy deployed by the aircraft maintained this pattern.

Do to a navigation error in the Chervona (the Chervona had experienced earlier instrumental errors the morning before it was to undertake a FON mission back in March 17th and was forced to remain in port), the vessel continued unaware that it had penetrated further into the zone than was expected nor was allowed (the PVN allowed at most a 4 km penetration), the Chervona had entered 5 km's. The aircraft was allowed to drop further sonar buoys to track the submarine and dropped a depth charge to signal it to surface, such an action had never been undertaken and caused concern to the captain of the Chervona Dzik Dun which ordered it to surface. During this however a depth charge had lightly damaged the Chervona, upon surfacing this was reported to the PVN which had aircraft deployed to escort the submarine back. The Chervona immediately began to retreat closely followed by the C-130, and issued protest over the aggressive actions of the aircraft unaware that it had penetrated 6 km's into the exclusion zone.

Two 2 Su-17's had been deployed to escort the Chervona back and promptly informed Southern authorities. Southern F10G's took off from the airforce base to escort the convoy 20 km's away from the zone, the Chervona was instructed to await at the edge of the perimeter (inside the zone), until it could be escorted back, but the C-130 upon noticing the stoppage of the Chervona inside the zone dropped a depth charge some 200 m away from the vessel, prompting the North to launch further aircraft. The Chervona was ordered to continue until it was out of the zone, the Northern aircraft began escorting the vessel back being escorted themselves by 2 F10G's. No further action was taken.

17th of April

F10G in Tiza 1984

Following the actions of the previous days, with intelligence regarding the existence of only 4 F10G's in the island, and a desire to maintain Northern prestige the morning of the 17th 6 aircraft 3 Su-17's, and 3 FOC-77's were deployed in a straight course to the island. Such an operation had last been undertaken in 1975 before the onset of the war. Immediately the 4 F10G's were deployed to intercept them, a further 4 Northern aircraft were deployed behind the first group.

The Northern aircraft were successfully intercepted by Southern aircraft and were instructed to change their course, unnerved by being outnumbered the Southern aircraft were caught between the two Northern groups. Do to cloud cover the secondary group was delayed making the two forward groups of aircraft separated. Evenly paired, Northern aircraft were instructed to return upon reaching the exclusion zone. All 4 aircraft began to maneuver to return to base but the closeness at which this operation was performed caused concern to Southern pilots which closely escorted the group back. The Northern reserve group of 4 aircraft continued on their course, and the Southern group was diverted to intercept them, the second group was ordered to turn back to pass against the Southern aircraft. With the fear of a coalition, a rookie Northern pilot fired his missile missing the Southern aircraft. Both groups quickly turned back into firing positions but do the F10G's superior aerodynamics and speed it was able to reach it's position quicker and the 4 aircraft downed the opposing Northern aircraft with ease, Northern aircraft had fired two missiles all missing.

Upon learning of this the first group which was ordered at first to engage the Southern planes, was ordered to return to base immediately, after the Southern aerial defences in the mainland were put on maximum alert and aircraft began taking off. Out of the 4 planes downed there were 2 Su-17's and 2 FOC-77s, two Southern helicopters were dispatched to rescue the fallen pilots, all were recovered and captured, the parachute of an ejected FOC-77 did not engage and the pilot was never found. All 3 captured pilots were lightly injured, and were returned to the North the 19th of April

Aftermath

As soon as news of this reached the North caused a civilian panic with many fearing a Southern invasion was imminent, panic buying gripped the country with stores emptying overnight, over 2 people were killed throughout the country as people rushed to acquire supplies, the constant flight of Southern B7D Lancer fighter bombers near the border caused great concern for the Northern authorities which feared an immediate attack by the South. Exchanges of fire throughout the DMZ only reinforced this notion, and both nations remained in their highest readiness for two weeks after the incident. The North would not attempt another FON mission again.

The downing of the 4 aircraft showcased the severe disadvantage the Northern airforce had in comparison to the South, orders for further modern Chistovodian aircraft increased, and by 1985 the North held a considerable advantage over the South in aircraft with a core of 50 Mig-23's, and Mig-25's in it's inventory.