MiG-23 Cheburashka

History

Produced as an attempt to create an indigenous Soviet design, the @MiG-23 Cheburashka is notable for its ambitious attempt at incorporating variable-wing technology into its jump units. The usage of US-originated technology has given the machine the distinction of being a quasi-2nd generation TSF; however, this has resulted in the machine having inferior maintainability and poor operational uptime as compared to the MiG-21 Balalaika. Its low rate of operational readiness made it unpopular amongst pilots; it was soon replaced in Soviet service by the @MiG-27 Aligatori. It is interesting to note that its design bears signs of influence from the F-5 Freedom Fighter.

Its body frame is lightweight by comparison to the MiG-21, and built for improved speed and maneuverability; the MiG-23's design, overall, is notable for being the basis of most MiG-based designs to appear later. Its forearms sheaths contain @Close Combat Daggers for close combat, and the head-mounted wire cutter, already present, is carried on to the MiG-23; this, too, would later become part of the standard MiG design.

It is possible to use parts from the MiG-21 on the MiG-23, as demonstrated by the East German 666th Schwarzemarken, which used the head of a MiG-21PF. This singular unit was dubbed the "Cheburashka Zwei" by the mechanic who built it.

Deployment

Despite its components being more prone to wear and tear than the well-used MiG-21, the MiG-23's combat performance overshadowed a good deal of TSFs that were deployed to the frontlines at that time, including the MiG-21 used by most communist countries. Entering service in 1980, several MiG-23s saw deployment to @Europe, @African and @Asian combat theaters to justify its production.

A more infamous utilization of the MiG-23 would be with the GDR's Ministerium für Staatssicherheit, known in short as the Stasi. Duties of the Stasi included weeding out and hunting down defectors, and to that end the Stasi's Werewolf Battalion, commanded by Major Beatrix Brehmer, were equipped with MiG-23s to hunt down those who attempted to betray the nation or flee for West Germany.

One such encounter took place on March 27, 1981, when a flight of MiG-21s from the NVA's 609th TSF Squadron attempted to flee to West Germany via the Harz mountain ranges, and were subsequently shot down and executed by an element of MiG-23s from the Werewolf Battalion. This incident also served as an announcement to the people of the GDR about the strength of the Stasi, and as a deterrent to all would-be defectors.

MiG-23s of Werewolf Battalion were also present as military enforcers during the retreat from Poland, although they were not above coming to the aid of other TSF units in combat.

The difference in combat capability between the base MiG-23 and the @MiG-27 Aligatori was made apparent to the GDR's forces during a combat simulation exercise on the August 16, 1982, where a flight of MiG-23s of the Stasi were soundly routed by an element of Soviet MiG-27s in close-quarters urban combat.

Variants

MiG-23MLD

An upgraded variant, the MiG-23MLD was the result of hasty modifications done to the MiG-23, in order to fix the flaws of the original model. This variant was offered to various @Asian and @African nations at a lowered price as part of Soviet efforts to maintain political relations with them.