Uncle Dick Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 Came across the following photo and need help identifying the small white pod that appears at centre bottom of photo? Looks a little like an LAU-59/68 (7 shot) 2.75 Inch rocket pod with front and rear cones but never seen an intruder with it... http://www.aircraftslides.com/Auction/AuctionDetail.aspx?ID=1764706 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 Looks to small in cross section for a LAU ? My guess is a chaff/flare pod ? Though i could be wrong ? Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorfinn Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 Judging from its location and size, it looks like some sort of data-link pod...similar to what the Marines' ATARS-equipped F-18s carry to send realtime data back to Command. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnl42 Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 What does @Tailspin Turtle have to say? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Collin Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 Date of photo 1974. Looks like a static at an airshow display, and the pod is small enough to fit nicely on the rear lower fitting of the MER under the centerline. It's not a LAU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT7567 Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 Quite a mystery! Angle of the photo is deceptive, but Colin is correct that it's a small pod on the MER, not an antenna directly mounted to the fuselage. This is confirmed from a 1975 photo linked below (still as Joker 501). This was an early A-6E, last of the third production batch, so there shouldn't be anything unique about the airframe. https://www.flickr.com/photos/gerrit_kok_collection/36333952985 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hook Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 Intriguing! It almost looks like one of those navigation pods used on the F4D Skyray, but I cannot imagine that a DIANE equipped Intruder would need that kind of help. Cheers, Andre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 Radar simulator pod? Similar pods mounted on QF-86F and QF-4. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT7567 Posted July 31, 2019 Share Posted July 31, 2019 Did some more googling and while I didn't find an answer I'll post what I've ruled out (to save others time and possibly suggest another answer). The AGM-53 Condor was a guided missile tested on the A-6 in the early 70s. Unlike later "fire and forget" weapons, this was a TV-guided weapon that required a datalink between the missile and the guiding aircraft after launch (basically a powered Walleye). The datalink pod was a contender for our mystery object, unfortunately (a) the Condor guidance pod was substantially larger (pic below), and (b) the Condor was cancelled before entering service (VA-34 was a regular Atlantic Fleet squadron, ergo unlikely to carry any test pods/weapons). Still, a guided weapon datalink would make sense based on the shape and the placement in the original photo, so maybe someone knows of similar system it may actually be? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony.t Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 Okay, let's have some fun. Clearly, it's not a pod to carry sausage rolls back from Greggs. In the early 1970s the CVW concept was coming into being which included anti-submarine warfare. A-6Bs carrying AGM-78 ST ARM missiles would drop sonobuoys from rearward-ejecting SUU flare pods and pick up "pings" on the radarscope using the ST ARM seeker as a receiver. This pod might be something similar for regular A-6A/Es. The Intruders experimented using different drop speeds and spacings and passed the info to the fledgling S-3A Viking units. Or, it could be a thermos flask for ice cold Cola or even a jamming pod. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tailspin Turtle Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 On 7/30/2019 at 9:42 AM, dnl42 said: What does @Tailspin Turtle have to say? I’ve got nothing better than the best speculation so far. However, I have asked my A-6 subject matter experts about it and will report what they have to say. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finn Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 Maybe a Threat emitter pod of some sort to simulate a hostile a/c or missile. Jari Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troffa Posted August 6, 2019 Share Posted August 6, 2019 Looks similar size and shape to the HARM targeting system (HTS) pod used on the F16- bit early for that though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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