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Hi everyone,
I'm just wondering if anyone knows the loadout for F-14's in 1981 when they shot down two Libyan Su-22s over the Gulf of Sidra?
I know they carried AIM-7 and AIM-9s (I guess two of each), but did either of them carry AIM-54s?
I'm building a HobbyBoss Tomcat in 1/72 and want to show her just as she looked when she got back aboard....minus a missile. There is this photo of one of the planes taken shortly after but she's clean by then.
(source; Wiki Commons; public domain image)
Many thanks in advance!
Dermot
I'll check a few books I have that cover the incident, but I wont be able to post what I find until tomorrow, I believe both aircraft were loaded out with only Winders and Sparrows
Thanks USMC 6094......that would be great!
Much appreciated.
According to an interview with one of the pilots (as related in "Debrief: A Complete History of US Aerial Engagements 1981 to the Present", the aircraft did have AIM-7 Sparrows and AIM-54 Phoenix in addition to the AIM-9 Sidewinders. Under that premise and looking at AIRtime Publishing's excellent work on the F-14, the loadout would have been Sparrows and Sidewinders on the glove pylons, two Phoenix on the forward under fuselage pallets, and a single Sparrow on the fuselage centerline abaft the Phoenix. The missiles would have been the -9L Sidewinders, the -7F Sparrows, and the -54A Phoenix.
I believe it was a 2X2X2 loadout. I'll have to go back and do some digging. Also, one of the jets (I can't remember if it was 102 or 107) had a pylon go bad and didn't have a missile on one of the rails. Again, I don't recall if it was a Sparrow or Sidewinder.
Also, if you are building them as they came back aboard ship, both Kleeman's number 102 (later 101) and Muczynski's number 107 aircraft fired the port Sidwinder for each kill. This is according to Muczynski's account.
I can't find the missing missile in a quick book skim/search, but, I know it is spelled out somewhere. Maybe it was in one of the old very detailed decal sheet instructions? RepliScale or Expert's Choice?
Rex
almost gone
According to my source, the most frequent load out for C.A.P. was 2 AIM-54, 2 AIM-7, 2 AIM-9.
Chasing the ultimate build.
The instructions with old Detail & Scale decal sheets had detail photos and a description of the evolution of the markings after the event (changing #102 to #101, the different kill markings, names on the canopy rails, etc.). I could probably scan a copy if anyone is interested.
Mark
FSM Charter Subscriber
Thanks for the help everyone - really appreciated!
@RedCorvette - i'd be interested in a scanned copy if you were able to.
All the best,
Dermo Thanks for the help everyone - really appreciated! @RedCorvette - i'd be interested in a scanned copy if you were able to. All the best, Dermot
Be glad to. Get me a day or so to dig it out and scan it.
From Detail & Scale Vol #9 Su-22 Killer Lt Muczynski account Pilot #107 VF -41 160390 Both he and Commander Kleeman (102 160403) each got one Fitter with AIM-9L Sidewinders off Station 1 Alpha Left glove pylon, Shoulder station.
From the D&S F-14 Tomcat -Su-22 Killers decal sheet, load was 2-2-2 Two AIM-9L, one on each launch rail on outboard wing glove pylons. Two AIM-7 Sparrows under each wing glove pylon. Two AIM-54 Phoenix one on each forward missile pallet.
yep my research has pretty much mirrored the rest, both aircraft came back with a clean port side glove pylon
Thanks for all of the information on the weapons load. What about the drop tanks? Did they carry them for this mission?
Ah, I've been wondering about this. Thanks for all the info!
-BD-
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