Wild Weasel...

Revenant

What's a Shrike???

 

AGM45 anti radiation missile

Revenant

What's a Shrike???

 

AGM-45 Shrike. The US's first Anti Radiation Missile. It was tuned to home in on pre set radar frequencies at their emitter, the radar's antenna. It's range was less than that of the SA-2, but it gave the Weasels some stand off capability compared to rackets, bombs, and guns. It could be countered by the radar being shut down (causing any SAMs in flight to go blind), and if this happened, it would not "remember" where the radar was, and go blind itself.

it was supplemented by the AGM-78 Standard ARM which was a modified Navy Surface to Air Missile that had its' SAM seeker head replaced with an ARM head. It was faster and longer ranged than the Shrike, and also had a memory to remember the position of any radars it was homing in on and shut down after launch. Only the F-105G, F-4G, and A-6B had the systems and wiring to carry this missile operationally

both types were later supplemented in the 80s and then eventually replaced by the AGM-88 HARM in US service. The HARM has most of the capabilities of the Standard ARM in a missile slightly larger than the Shrike, and in a system that can be used on more aircraft types. It has been improved and is still in use currently.

stikpusher

 

 

Revenant

What's a Shrike???

 

 

 

 

AGM-45 Shrike. The US's first Anti Radiation Missile. It was tuned to home in on pre set radar frequencies at their emitter, the radar's antenna. It's range was less than that of the SA-2, but it gave the Weasels some stand off capability compared to rackets, bombs, and guns. It could be countered by the radar being shut down (causing any SAMs in flight to go blind), and if this happened, it would not "remember" where the radar was, and go blind itself.

it was supplemented by the AGM-78 Standard ARM which was a modified Navy Surface to Air Missile that had its' SAM seeker head replaced with an ARM head. It was faster and longer ranged than the Shrike, and also had a memory to remember the position of any radars it was homing in on and shut down after launch. Only the F-105G, F-4G, and A-6B had the systems and wiring to carry this missile operationally

both types were later supplemented in the 80s and then eventually replaced by the AGM-88 HARM in US service. The HARM has most of the capabilities of the Standard ARM in a missile slightly larger than the Shrike, and in a system that can be used on more aircraft types. It has been improved and is still in use currently.

 

 

Wish someone would build build that Trumpeter offering so I can see how well it builds...

Revenant

 

Wish someone would build build that Trumpeter offering so I can see how well it builds...

 

NATO has very good service from the Tornado ECR. Of course now SEAD is the work of drones.

Gotta love the F-105 though.

This link is for an episode of Dogfights that was on the History Channel a few years ago, but this one is called "Long Odds" and discusses Leo's Mig Kill while flying a F-105 over Vietnam. It's inspiring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eDPyvyt-MQ

Leo?  Who is Leo?  

We need more Wild Weasel in here!!!

Thorsness.

Revenant

Leo?  Who is Leo?  

 

We need more Wild Weasel in here!!!

 

Just in case you are not kidding:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_K._Thorsness

Dont forget Merlyn  Dethlefsen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlyn_Hans_Dethlefsen

Revenant

What plane in history was the most effective wild-weasel, in your opinion and why?  

 

As much as I love the F-105, and it truly wrote the book on Wild Weasels, all things considered, I would have to say that the most effective Weasel is the F-4G. In 1991 they truly tore the Iraqi air defense system to shreds in short order. And that system was every bit as deadly as that of North Vietnam. The F-4G retained air to air ability with AIM-7 Sparrows, which by 1991 were far more lethal and reliable than in 1965-1972, as well as the ability to carry all US ARM types. Plus it had the ability to carry other "fire and forget" PGMs such as the AGM-65 Maverick, or GBU-15 that could be used to stand off precision strike inactive sites that could not be targeted with ARMs and "dumb bombs" would put the aircraft in a higher threat area.

Question....since I've started on a pair of these (105's)...

Would there be a stick for the G.I.B.?

My bro is a WSO (G.I.B.) on F/A-18D's, and he said that there is almost never a stick back there (on the 18)...since he is busy, doing his job and watching out for traffic/enemy, removing the stick keeps it from getting bumped, and out of the way, etc. He did say there is a "nub" left, where the stick attaches, so he can, and has, "flown the nub"...but it's not at all practical, cuz ya gotta bend down to reach it, so ya can't see outside!

fermis

Question....since I've started on a pair of these (105's)...

Would there be a stick for the G.I.B.?

My bro is a WSO (G.I.B.) on F/A-18D's, and he said that there is almost never a stick back there (on the 18)...since he is busy, doing his job and watching out for traffic/enemy, removing the stick keeps it from getting bumped, and out of the way, etc. He did say there is a "nub" left, where the stick attaches, so he can, and has, "flown the nub"...but it's not at all practical, cuz ya gotta bend down to reach it, so ya can't see outside!

 

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Upcoming/Photos.aspx?igphoto=2000474908

...That a museum bird, though?

Guess it could go either way. I've found pics of F-18D's with the stick in back, too. My bro did say that it is there, sometimes, but never on a combat mission(in his experience).

fermis

...That a museum bird, though?

Guess it could go either way. I've found pics of F-18D's with the stick in back, too. My bro did say that it is there, sometimes, but never on a combat mission(in his experience).

 

True, but that 105G was likely restored to operational configuration there. The Gs were conversions of F airframes.

Looking at my copy of "Wild Weasel", photos there show a rear cockpit stick. Evryhting I can turn up online so far makes no mention of the rear cokpit stick being removed.

Didn't the Navy fly the same type of mission that they called 'Iron Hand?'

Airforce doctrine gives the guy in back full controls. Navy doesn't. 

Revenant

Didn't the Navy fly the same type of mission that they called 'Iron Hand?'

 

Yes, but they use a different doctrine, and aside from the A-6B, had no specific aircraft type for the Iron Hand role. Instead any Attack aircraft that could carry an ARM and/or CBUs was used in the Iron Hand role from any of the squadrons in the Carrier Air Wing. A-4s, A-6s, and A-7s flew the role in Vietnam. F/A-18s were tasked since Libya in 1986.

stikpusher

 

fermis

...That a museum bird, though?

Guess it could go either way. I've found pics of F-18D's with the stick in back, too. My bro did say that it is there, sometimes, but never on a combat mission(in his experience).

 

 

 

 

True, but that 105G was likely restored to operational configuration there. The Gs were conversions of F airframes.

Looking at my copy of "Wild Weasel", photos there show a rear cockpit stick. Evryhting I can turn up online so far makes no mention of the rear cokpit stick being removed.

 

Very interesting question and one I never thought about as most if not all USAF planes have dual controls unlike the Navy.

All I have found on line is that both F and Gs did have dual controls. Here is a Scale & Detail picture of the rear G pit:

http://www.boxartden.com/gallery/index.php/Profiles/Detail-Scale/08-Republic-F-105/08-F-105-Thunderchief_Page_39-960

I love me some Wild Weasel...

Revenant

I love me some Wild Weasel...

 

WW Hunter Killer team, 1991

More weasel please...

The original Wild Weasel, the F-100F

Prototype

The first SAM site killer

The original Weasel Crews

I spoke to one of guys in the first operational weasel crew--last name, Lamb---back in the 90's...he flew in the 100...

We need more weasel! 

Yeah, the Hun Weasels were seriously gutsy. No ARMs, just the RHAW gear to locate the site, and the kill was done with rockets, bombs, and cannon fire. 

Revenant

 

We need more weasel! 

 

How about more Weasel handiwork?

So were the Hun Misty flights. Two tanks and a canister of WP rockets.

I'd like a second helping of weasel please...

...test...

3, 2, 1...

Very cool!