Hit the North

The República de Colombia is the northern-most South American country, and occupies a unique position with significant coastlines on both the East and West of the continent, either side of the border with Panama. Because of this, it has developed a large force of long-range fixed-wing aircraft to patrol the regions of the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean off its shores.

The tandem-winged Libélula (Dragonfly) long range patrol craft are capable of staying in the air for days at a time, refuelled in-flight by Nodriza class support vessels. Replenishment is a tricky operation that involves the aircraft flying alongside and slightly below the mothership, matching course and speed. Cranes are used to lower supplies and fuel lines into a large dorsal hatch where they are gathered by the crew. This involves considerable skill on the part of the pilot, and a not-insignificant amount of bravery on the part of the handlers on top of the plane. Each Nodriza can handle two aircraft at a time, and carries food, fuel and spare parts to keep a whole squadron in action for several weeks.

The Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana also operates several wings of Albatros gunships; these have bombs for attacking surface targets, and light, rapid-fire guns for aerial targets.

Colombian aircraft in close formation with a Nodriza mothership.

The FAC also has a small force of conventional aéronef, based around the aging Cundinamarca class light battleships, built locally but armed with British-supplied weapons. These are backed up by several smaller classes of vessel.

Colombian patrol group

VANFP-3101 – Colombian Fleet Pack – £24.00
VANFP-3111 – Colombian Air Squadron – £16.50
VAN-3101 – Cundinamarca class Light Battleship – £7.00
VAN-3102 – Marroquin class Light Cruiser – £2.50
VAN-3103 – Almirante Tono class Destroyer – £1.50
VAN-3104 – Defensora class Patrol Vessel (x2) – £1.50
VAN-3105 – Nodriza class Support Vessel – £6.50
VAN-3106 – Libélula Patrol Aircraft (x3) – £4.50
VAN-3107 – Albatros Gunship (x3) – £4.00