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Royal Navy A-7E Corsair


Gekko_1

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Guys, today I have three Royal Navy A-7E Corsairs. Instead of the traditional modern day roundel I've replaced it with the World War 2 Royal Navy roundel. One of the roundels has an anchor on it as I think it better portrays its Naval heritage, but I realise traditionalists won't like it so I've provided both.

1.

RoyalNavy1-1.jpg

2.

RoyalNavy2-1.jpg

3.

RoyalNavy3.jpg

OK, opinions please!

Which one?

With anchor in roundel or without?

Low-vis greys or WWII camo?

Cheers

Richard.

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Hi, all,

Well, of course it is a "What if...", but even whatifs have rules...

The colour in that timeframe would have been the cheesy bland Extra DSG over White with tri colour roundels and White lettering, or the better looking EDSG wrap-around.

Why the stripped fin? It should reproduce Buccanneer squadrons heraldry (guess the whatiffing scenario reads "Buccs were not adopted so foreign machines bought").

Why the British Pacific Fleet roundels (they are not "WW2 FAA roundels"... they were last seen on Seafires XV during a tour to Australia, and they can be argued to be non-operative!

Fernando

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Although I like the grey green scheme, as above I think we should be looking at EDSG over white for the timeframe. A nice 899 Flying Fist (Fist's of the Fleet), or the checker board rubber. The a green and white Admirals Barge would look quite splendid!

Colin

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OK guys, by way of explanation. What I’m trying to illustrate here is an alternative look at how things might have been if history and or political events and tactical considerations were different from how they actually turned out in reality. Hence “What if?”. The purpose here is to explore variations on the norm. “Logic” does not necessarily have to play a part here as none of it is real. The “rules” of real history need not be relevant here either, it’s just to illustrate and alternate version.

Therefore schemes that in reality were applied to aircraft like the Buccaneer and Harrier need not be applied here and in fact in the true sense of fictitious exploration won’t be applied since that is exploring a more “real world” direction.

The stripped fin here pays homage to my theme of a World War 2 type pallet. You may be familiar with the F6F-5 Hellcats of VF-12 aboard the USS Randolph in 1945? They flew in combat with a stripped fin. The second homage is the colour scheme, similar to that worn on FAA Corsair and Avenger aircraft for example, just minus the underside colour.

The reason for the stripped fin refers to the squadron in question here. 771 Squadron’s Crest shows three bees. So I combined the well known theme of bees and stripes with the fin idea from VF-12’s Hellcats.

To reproduce the Buccaneer colours and squadron markings here wouldn’t really be exploring the possibilities of “what if?” far enough for my own purposes, plus I’m sure others have illustrated such things in the past.

British Pacific Fleet roundels are used simply because they look different to that used today. Imagine if they were still used today. Who knows maybe in some future conflict they may need to be re-introduced for some political/tactical reason? Perhaps an influential high ranking individual in the Royal Navy may have decided that he wanted ‘his’ aircraft to have a more distinctive look, different from land based RAF aircraft and the decision was made to reflect that, with the addition of paying homage to the British Pacific Fleet roundels of World War 2. It’s just exploration.

Below is the Squadron Leaders mount, exploring the theme with a little more colour and flare.

RoyalNavy4-1.jpg

Cheers

Richard.

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Suggest you choose a squadron other than 771. FAA squadrons in the 7xx range are second line (training, experimental, target-towing, etc) squadrons. Their aircraft may well have visited carriers but would not be based on them and so wouldn't have been marked with a carrier tailcode (like your H for Hermes).

Agree with others on use of the British Pacific Fleet marking: that died around 1946-7.

No anchors: too French!

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#3 would be a wicked 'anniversary' scheme for an appropriate Naval squadron. Ditto BPF roundels on Gloss Sea Blue!

regards,

Martin

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Very cool "pictures". But like PererW has said the anchors are not such a good idea reminds me of the French Aeronavale, also I believe the Argentinans (spelling?) used them to some capacity too. The A-7's look very cool painted up like that, you could always say its an anniversary scheme like the RAF Hawks wore a few years back. They are your pictures however, so do them as you like. :) keep em coming

Kind Regards

Dazz

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RoyalNavy10.jpg

Lt P Watson downed an Su-25 Frogfoot in this aircraft with an AIM-9L Sidewinder whilst in support of SAS troops attempting to rescue BP engineers being held hostage.

Cheers

Richard

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Any chance of an 892 Sqn 1977 Jubilee scheme in EDSG/white PLEEEEAAASSSSE?

Trevor

Not really my thing Trevor, I'm more of a low-vis fan, but I'll do my best..........................

Like this??

RoyalNavy11.jpg

Cheers

Richard.

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RoyalNavy12.jpg

RoyalNavy13.jpg

Just before dawn on the morning of the 29th of April 1984, HMS Hermes Strike Wing launched for an attack on a Mauritanian Air Force FOB (Forward Operating Base). Hermes three Corsair FGR.2 Squadrons 892, 890 and the newly redesignated 871 Squadron participated in the attacks.

The attacks resulted in the destruction of the airfield, fifteen aircraft parked about the airfield and six surface to air missile batteries. The Corsairs were armed with various combinations of Matra rocket pods, BL755 cluster bombs, 1000lb bombs, Skipper II LGRP bombs, Maverick missiles and Shrike missiles.

Lt George Williams, of 892 Squadron, flying Corsair 203 (illustrated above), managed to destroy two MiG-23's and a MiG-17 during his attack. The HMS Hermes Attack Wing concept proved to be so successful that the previously designated 771 Squadron (a shore based training Squadron), which had been dispatched at short notice, was re-designated 871 Squadron and brought up to front line combat status.

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Not really my thing Trevor, I'm more of a low-vis fan, but I'll do my best..........................

Like this??

RoyalNavy11.jpg

Cheers

Richard.

Now that looks very interesting indeed....I have an unfinished Fujimi A7 that might get pushed up the 'to be completed' pile as a what if.

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RoyalNavy21.jpg

This Corsair FG.2, number 207 of 892 Squadron, flown by Lt Sarah MacIntosh, claimed an SA-8 Gecko on the morning of 29/4/84. This same Corsair was shot down by a Mauritanian MiG-25 two days later, the pilot ejecting safely.

Cheers

Richard.

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Lookin' good there Richard, any chance of a green and white or blue and white Admirals Barge two holer?

Colin

Sorry Colin, I don't have a two seater profile done at the moment. However, there is a guy who does and may be interested in doing this for you. If you have a look at this thread you'll see Steven Lewis's two seat Royal Navy Corsair GR.3 , he may do it for you.

http://s362974870.onlinehome.us/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=130242&st=2760

Cheers

Richard.

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