F-4E phantom weapon load outs.

[RichyDunn]

Hi. Similar to my other thread about possible loadouts for the A-6A intruder, I'm looking for typical loadouts for the F-4E phantom. I have had a bit of a trawl through the web and found two suggested loadouts, but I wanted to run these by you guys to see if they were correct. The first is as follows;

6 x Mk 82 bombs mounted on MER on the centre line.

3 x M117 bombs mounted on TER on both inner pylons.

3 x AIM-7 sparrows and 1x ALQ-87 mounted in the fuselage recesses.

2 x fuel tanks mounted on the outer pylons.

The second suggestion is as follows;

4 x AIM-7

4 x AIM-9B

8 x M117

2 x external fuel tanks mounted on outboard pylons.

1 x ALQ-87 mounted on right inner pylon.

The problem with this example is that it doesn't state how the stores are organised other than the fuel tanks and ALQ-87. Can anybody shed any light on this one?

Also if anybody has any other suggestions please share them, the more choice the better! I'm looking for a typical load that was used during Vietnam, not sure if the examples above are suitable but that's all I could find.

The kit I'm going to build is the tamiya F-4E phantom early production type, 1:32 product number 60310.

Also would the loadout be that much different for the "marines" F-4J model also by tamiya, product number 60308?

Thanks.

[Giorgio N]

Not sure if there was anything like a "typical loadout" for the Phantoms in Vietnam, I've seen pictures showing pretty much everything, Mk.80 series bombs of various sizes with and without fuse extenders, M117s, CBUs, BLUs, gun pods, Sparrows, Sidewinders, ECM pods, MERs, TERs....

Edited March 3, 2014 by Giorgio N

[Finn]

Here is one:

http://www.keytlaw.com/f-4/wp-content/gallery/35tfs/rayseymour.jpg

tanks o/b, i/b TERs with Mk-82s, c/l with napalm, AIM-7s in aft wells and ECM pod in fwd well. As for your other load, the AIM-9B wouldn't be on the F-4E, they usualy carried the AIM-9E. 5 M117 would be on the c/l MER, either the fwd or aft bottom station on the MER would be empty. The other 3 M117 would be on the i/b TER.

Jari

[Jens]

The second suggestion is as follows;

4 x AIM-7

4 x AIM-9B

8 x M117

2 x external fuel tanks mounted on outboard pylons.

1 x ALQ-87 mounted on right inner pylon.

The problem with this example is that it doesn't state how the stores are organised other than the fuel tanks and ALQ-87. Can anybody shed any light on this one?

The M117s would most likely have been mounted on the four shoulder stations on a centreline MER. If not, two of them were mounted on the shoulder stations on a TER on each of the inner wing pylons.

Jens

[Panoz]

The second suggestion is as follows;

4 x AIM-7

4 x AIM-9B

8 x M117

2 x external fuel tanks mounted on outboard pylons.

1 x ALQ-87 mounted on right inner pylon.

The problem with this example is that it doesn't state how the stores are organised other than the fuel tanks and ALQ-87. Can anybody shed any light on this one?

Eight air to air missiles carried on a bombing mission??? Yeah right...

Complete BS. Go with the loadouts that Finn suggested.

[Giorgio N]

There are some useful pictures of various loads here:

http://366th-tfw.net/f4_gallery.html

Mind, not all are F-4Es, but there are several

[Finn]

A few more:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iDmhY0mVQuk/TjSGycXuN-I/AAAAAAAAClU/HXGccgHCxlo/s1600/F-4E%252C+67-0287%252C+388th+TFW%252C+Korat%252C+1971%252C+RH+Morgan.jpg

http://airforcephotos.togetherweserved.com/199215.jpg

http://www.bobfreitag.net/korat_web/Mullany/f-4e%20night.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/469th_Tactical_Fighter_Squadron_-_McDonnell_F-4E-32-MC_Phantom_-_66-301.jpg

Jari

[XV571]

Hi Richy,

For an unique F-4E load, search for 'Chico the Gunfighter' - ALQ-87 in the right front Sparrow bay, centreline tank, 4x SUU-20 'Rockeyes' on the inboard pylons and two SUU-23 gunpods on the outer pylons.

Most air-ground missions wouldn't carry AIM-9s; if needed the usual load for self defence would be a pair of AIM-7s in the rear wells. A full missile load would be used on CAP with three tanks. Sometimes the front two wells would be empty or carry ECM pods as there was a clearance issue between the Sparrow rear fins and the centre tank which meant the tank required jettisoning before the front missiles could be launched.

On your F-4J question, the US Marines operated mainly in the southern half of Vietnam so had little need to carry air-to-air weapons unless specifically tasked with Combat Air Patrol duties. Again, if needed, the usual load was a pair of AIM-7s in the rear wells (but the fronts were sometimes used instead). The main aim was to carry as much ordnance as possible to support the ground troops, so mostly Mk82 500lb bombs often as retarded 'Snakeyes' but Napalm, unguided LAU-3 or LAU-10 'Zuni' rocket pods, SUU-20 'Rockeyes' or a mix of all these could be used. At least one unit used SUU-16 gunpods on the outer and centre pylons.

HTH,

Jonathan

[Murph]

Once again from various Wolfpak sheets; these are all Vietnam era loads.

AIR TO AIR

Left outer wing pylons - External fuel tank

Left inner wing pylon - Two AIM-9E with AN/ALQ-101 “short” pod on bottom

Aft Sparrow stations - Two AIM-7E-2

Centerline station - 600 gal. external fuel tank (old style)

Forward Sparrow stations - Two AIM-7E-2

Right inner wing pylon - Two AIM-9E with AN/ALQ-71 “special” pod on bottom

Right outer wing pylons - External fuel tank

Left outer wing pylons - External fuel tank

Left inner wing pylon - Two AIM-9J with AN/ALQ-101 “short” pod on bottom

Aft Sparrow stations - Two AIM-7E-2

Centerline station - 600 gal. external fuel tank (old style)

Forward Sparrow stations - Two AIM-7E-2

Right inner wing pylon - Two AIM-9J with AN/ALQ-71 “special” pod on bottom

Right outer wing pylons - External fuel tank

Left outer wing pylons - External fuel tank

Left inner wing pylon - Two AIM-9E

Aft Sparrow stations - Two AIM-7E-2

Centerline station - 600 gal. external fuel tank (old style)

Forward Sparrow stations - AN/ALQ-87 ECM pod either side with other well empty

Right inner wing pylon - Two AIM-9E

Right outer wing pylons - External fuel tank

AIR TO GROUND

Left outer wing pylons - External fuel tank

Left inner wing pylon - AIM-4D on inner rail and TER with three Mk-82

Aft Sparrow stations - Two AIM-7E-2

Centerline station - External fuel tank

Forward Sparrow stations - AN/ALQ-87 in right well and AN/ALQ-101 in left well

Right inner wing pylon - AIM-4D on inner rail and TER with three Mk-82

Right outer wing pylons - External fuel tank

Left outer wing pylons - External fuel tank

Left inner wing pylon - TER with three MK-82 “slicks” with Fuse extenders

Aft Sparrow stations - Two AIM-7E-2

Centerline station - MER with six Mk-82 “slicks”

Forward Sparrow stations - AN/ALQ-87 ECM pod in left well, right well empty

Right inner wing pylon - TER with three MK-82 “slicks” with Fuse extenders

Right outer wing pylons - External fuel tank

Left outer wing pylons - External fuel tank

Left inner wing pylon - Two AIM-9E

Aft Sparrow stations - Two AIM-7E-2

Centerline station - MER with four (“flat four” load) or six Mk-129 chaff bombs

Forward Sparrow stations - AN/ALQ-87 ECM pod in left well, AIM-7E-2 in right well

Right inner wing pylon - AN/ALE-38 Chaff pod

Right outer wing pylons - External fuel tank

Left outer wing pylons - SUU-23/A gun pod

Left inner wing pylon - TER with 2 x Mk-20 CBU

Aft Sparrow stations - Two AIM-7E-2

Centerline station - External fuel tank

Forward Sparrow stations - AN/ALQ-87 ECM pod in right well, left well empty

Right inner wing pylon - TER with 2 x Mk-20 CBU

Right outer wing pylons - SUU-23/A gun pod

TER mounted weapons were carried in an outboard “slant two” configuration whilst the MERs had the rear two bombs carried in a “flat two” configuration

Left outer wing pylons - MER with 5 x Mk-82 “slicks”

Left inner wing pylon - TER with 2 x SUU-30H/B

Aft Sparrow stations - 1 x AIM-7E-2

Centerline station - External tank

Forward Sparrow stations - AN/ALQ-87 ECM pod in right well, left well empty

Right inner wing pylon - TER with 2 x MK-82 “slicks” with Fuse extenders

Right outer wing pylons - MER with 5 x Mk-82 “slicks”

The AGM-12C missiles were parent mounted to their pylons and the SUU-30s were mounted on the fore and aft outboard shoulder stations of the MERs

Left outer wing pylons - MER with 2 x SUU-30H/B

Left inner wing pylon - AGM-12C

Aft Sparrow stations - 1 x AIM-7E-2

Centerline station - External tank

Forward Sparrow stations - 1 x AIM-7E-2 and AN/ALQ-87

Right inner wing pylon - AGM-12C

Right outer wing pylons - MER with 2 x SUU-30H/B

Left outer wing pylons - External fuel tank

Left inner wing pylon - TER with two LAU-3 rocket pods or two SUU-30B/B CBU

Aft Sparrow stations - Two AIM-7E-2

Centerline station - Empty

Forward Sparrow stations - AN/ALQ-87 ECM pod in right well, left well empty

Right inner wing pylon - TER with two LAU-3 rocket pods or two SUU-30B/B CBU

Right outer wing pylons - External fuel tank

The SUU-30s were mounted on the Front inboard and aft outboard shoulder stations of the MERs

Left outer wing pylons - MER with 2 x SUU-30H/B

Left inner wing pylon - TER with three MK-82 “slicks”

Aft Sparrow stations - 1 x AIM-7E-2

Centerline station - External tank

Forward Sparrow stations - Clean

Right inner wing pylon - TER with three MK-82 “slicks”

Right outer wing pylons - MER with 2 x SUU-30H/B

Regards,

Murph

[Finn]

A standard load but in-flight from below:

http://www.366thfmsjetshop.org/albums_43a9041f9db5707870389acfe77487ef/Martien_Heijmen/F-4E_over_SEA_02.jpg

note the empty ECM pod adaptor in one fwd well but it looks like a strike camera pod in the other well.

Jari

Edited March 5, 2014 by Finn