brahio Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Hi, Can someone help me with photos of Vietnam-era Corsairs with GBU please? Or at least can say which stations were used for the bombs? By the way, what kind of GBU they used? TIA Yury Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pete Wenman Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 (edited) Yury hi I'm no expert, but I thought only the F-4D used LGBs, with the designator being a PaveKnife pod carried on an inner pylon. I'm not aware any other aircraft carried LGB's during the conflict. 2000 pound LGBs seem to be the only ones used, along with 2000 pound electro-optical guided bombs (EOGB) which I assume was an early Maverick Pete Edited September 20, 2009 by Pete Wenman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andre Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 (edited) I'm no expert, but I thought only the F-4D used LGBs, with the designator being a PaveKnife pod carried on an inner pylon. I'm not aware any other aircraft carried LGB's during the conflict. A couple of A-6's (from VA-145 "Swordsmen" at least) lobbed GBU's with Pave Knife on their centrelines in SEA as well. There's a b/w pic in Robert F. Dorrs "A-6 Intruder: Carrier-Borne Bomber" volume. In addition, the "Tropic Moon" B-57G's dropped GBU-12's in theatre as well. HTH, Andre Edited September 20, 2009 by Andre Quote Link to post Share on other sites
muswp1 Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 (edited) Yury hiI'm no expert, but I thought only the F-4D used LGBs, with the designator being a PaveKnife pod carried on an inner pylon. I'm not aware any other aircraft carried LGB's during the conflict. 2000 pound LGBs seem to be the only ones used, along with 2000 pound electro-optical guided bombs (EOGB) which I assume was an early Maverick Pete The EOGB's used in Vietnam was the GBU-8 HOBOS bombs. I know the F-4's carried them and maybe the F-111A's during their brief tour over there. Edited September 20, 2009 by muswp1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Reddog Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 I don't think the Navy had GBU's during Vietnam, if they did it would be very late in the war. I believe the GBU-10 came out first, followed my the -12 and -16. For the A-7E you could use any station but for GBU-10's we stayed away from putting them on the outbaord wing stations (sta 1 and 8) due to the stresses is put on the wings. Post Vietnam the A-7 flew the following GBU,s; GBU-10, GBU-12 and GBU-16's. We also flew just about everything else except for Harpoon, Sparrow and Phoenix, everything else was fair game for us. Just remember, back them we did not have all the new fancy weapons that they have today, no JDAM, JSOW, DMLGB or Laser JDAM. We did it the old fashion way, we planned where the bomb would land and planned out deliveries. Reddog :blink: Disclaimer: This opinion/answer is based on 20 years in Naval Aviation and is not meant to be an over arching answer for the whole aviation industry and foreign nations. :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
brahio Posted September 20, 2009 Author Share Posted September 20, 2009 (edited) Thanks a lot guys As I know, A-7E of VA-146 used LGBs in December 1971 for the first time in naval aviation history. And also on 15 Jan 1972 Corsairs of VA-25 attacked some bridges with LGBs. So, I suppose it will be OK to load my model with drop tanks on sta 3 and 6 and GBU-10 on sta 2 and 7. What do you think? BTW, do I have to make the thermal ablative coatings on GBUs? UPDATE I think I shouldn't use drop tanks as it would be too tightly for big GBU-10 Paveway I with their fixed fins. Edited September 20, 2009 by brahio Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 In the Osprey US Navy A-7 Corsair II Units of The Vietnam War book on pg 69 there is a pic of a VA-105 A-7A with what looks like a GBU-12 (500lb LGB) on the middle pylon on the left wing. A GP bomb (Mk-82?) on the left outboard pylon, nothing on inboard pylon and an AIM-9 on the fuselage. The right wing load can't be seen. Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
brahio Posted September 20, 2009 Author Share Posted September 20, 2009 In the Osprey US Navy A-7 Corsair II Units of The Vietnam War book on pg 69 there is a pic of a VA-105 A-7A with what looks like a GBU-12 (500lb LGB) on the middle pylon on the left wing. WOW!!! You've got a really sharp eye Jari, thank you very much for the pointing out! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Reddog Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Thermally protected bombs didn't start hitting the fleet until around late 72/73 and did not become common until mid to late 73. Reddog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rex Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Mark's Wolf pack decals have the loadouts in the instructions for A-6 and A-7's with LGB's in 'Nam the two jets were VA-145 and VA-146 on that sheet hth Quote Link to post Share on other sites
brahio Posted September 20, 2009 Author Share Posted September 20, 2009 Thermally protected bombs didn't start hitting the fleet until around late 72/73 and did not become common until mid to late 73. I think I've read here on ARC that second yellow ring on a bomb means it has thermal coating. Correct me if I wrong please. This is the photo: It looks like GP bomb on outboard pylon has two yellow rings. Is it possible it was one of the first bomb with coating? The photo was taken late July - early August 1972. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gerard Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Did the A-7 use the AGM-62 Walleye instead of the GBU family at the time ? I can't see the USN not having some form of precision strike capability at the time, especially as the USAF was already using the GBU-8 HOBOS off the F-4D. The AGM-12 was rather old, and had a limited warhead / range / performance. Did they use the AGM-12 Bullpup at all on the A-7, or were they out of favour by the time the A-7 replaced the A-4 ? I know that I've seen several photos of the AGM-12 on A-4's. Regards, Gerard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Reddog Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 I think I've read here on ARC that second yellow ring on a bomb means it has thermal coating. Correct me if I wrong please.It looks like GP bomb on outboard pylon has two yellow rings. Is it possible it was one of the first bomb with coating? The photo was taken late July - early August 1972. Yes, the second stripe means it's thermally protected. And that may be the first batch to hit the fleet. Also, I'm not sure that was taken during the during the time frame stated. My dad was on that cruise and those don't look like the markings VA 105 had during the Saratoga's Vietnam cruise, that may have come from the 74/75 Med cruise. Next time I'm at my dad's I will look at it but as a kid I studied those cruise books, those markings are not familiar. Reddog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gary F Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 I was in VA-196 in early '72 (in SEA) an installed a hand held laser designator in our A-6A's on 3 occasions. It would be plugged in to the BN's side console after removing one of the other panels on that side. It was about the size of a shoe box but a bit longer, with a telescopic sight mounted on top. As I understood, we were designating for drops by F-4J and A-7E's from our airwing but I never saw, or don't remember seeing the weapons themselves. regards, Gary F Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Reddog Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 Did the A-7 use the AGM-62 Walleye instead of the GBU family at the time ?I can't see the USN not having some form of precision strike capability at the time, especially as the USAF was already using the GBU-8 HOBOS off the F-4D. The AGM-12 was rather old, and had a limited warhead / range / performance. Did they use the AGM-12 Bullpup at all on the A-7, or were they out of favour by the time the A-7 replaced the A-4 ? I know that I've seen several photos of the AGM-12 on A-4's. Regards, Gerard Yes, we (A-7's) used the Walleye, flew it regularly after Vietnam. Back then it was not called the AGM-62, they were Mark and Mod and you had Walleye I, II and III. Percision Strike was not in the fore-front until the end of the A-7's career. In fact, it did not come into mind until Desert Storm and that was the driving force fo the percision bombs that we have today. LGB's were used infregently and only against targets that were hard to hit. 99% of the time the bombs dropped and used in training were dumb bombs, LGB's where special. The A-7 bombs system was very good, infact, it was as good as the F-18's, it could also fly longer and carry more bombs, it it's day it was the percision bombs for the Navy. Reddog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 That photo is the same one in the Osprey book and that particular a/c was lost on August 6 1972. As for the bullpup on A-7s, in the old Profile Publications book #239 LTV A-7A/E Corsair II by David Anderton on pg 98 there is a pic of an A-7A of VA-37 with a pair of Bullpups on the middle pylons and Mk-82 Snakeyes in a slant two config on the outboard MERs. Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mrvark Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Dambuster's Feb-Nov 72 cruise on the Kittyhawk (I think!) IIRC the photo is Barry Miller's. At the conclusion of Sep-Nov 71 testing, Mk 82 and Mk 84 LGBs were authorized on USN/USMC A-4, A-6, A-7, and F-4 aircraft. The Mk 83 LGB followed in Aug 72. (The GBU designations weren't assigned until 1973 after the Vietnam War was over, so the correct term to use is Mk 8x LGB). The Navy dropped nearly 1,300 LGBs during Vietnam, the Marines 89 (the USAF dropped over 25,000). The bombs on this A-7E were high-speed Mk 82 LGBs (those were the PAVE Way Is with the low speed portion of the fins/wings broken off--literally). They are found in Hasegawa 1/72nd weapon Set 2 (the low speed version is found in the 1/48th Set 2). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted March 6 Share Posted March 6 Stirring up an old thread, some more LGB pics: Â Â Â Â Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ikar Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 During the war the F-4D as well as the F-111 carried laser bombs. I don't remember seeing any other aircraft using them, but then, I was Air Force. Our A-7Ds were used for close in work and took over the job the A-1 had as an escort for the rescue helicopters, using the call sign Sandy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ElectroSoldier Posted March 8 Share Posted March 8 4 hours ago, ikar said: During the war the F-4D as well as the F-111 carried laser bombs. I don't remember seeing any other aircraft using them, but then, I was Air Force. Our A-7Ds were used for close in work and took over the job the A-1 had as an escort for the rescue helicopters, using the call sign Sandy. How about the B-57G from Ubon? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mrvark Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 On 3/7/2023 at 11:46 PM, ikar said: During the war the F-4D as well as the F-111 carried laser bombs. I checked with a couple of friends who were there and they confirmed that F-111As did NOT carry LGBs during Vietnam. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Collin Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 Great shots of these early generation GBU series.   Collin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Crash Test Dummy Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 On 3/6/2023 at 11:37 AM, Finn said: Stirring up an old thread, some more LGB pics:  Jari @Finn Do you have any context to go with the photos you posted Monday? Like date and place? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 (edited) Found them here: Â https://digitalcollections.museumofflight.org/items/show/43191#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0&xywh=-160%2C0%2C1578%2C842 Â edit: if LGB isn't of interest how about a SLUF with a large Walleye: Â Â also found at the above link. Â Jari Edited March 9 by Finn Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mrvark Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 Most of those pics appear to have been taken during the Kitty Hawk's 17 Feb to 28 Nov 72 cruise that included Operations Line Backer 1 and  Praying Mantis 1. CVW-11 (NH) units included: HC-1 Det 1 & HC-7 Det 110 (00x) SH-3G & HH-3As, VAW-114 (01x) E-2Bs, VF-213 (1xx) F-4Js, VF-114 (2xx) F-4Js, VA-192 (3xx) A-7Es, VA-195 (4xx) A-7Es, VA-52 (5xx) A-6A-B & KA-6Ds, RVAH-7 (60x) RA-5Cs and VAQ-135 Det 1 (61x) EKA-3Bs.  The A-4Fs (and some of the A-6 pics) appear to be from the Hancock's 7 Jan to 3 Oct 72 cruise that included Operation Line Backer 1. CVW-19 (NP) units included HC-1 Det 7 (00x) SH-3Gs, VAW-111 Det 2 (01x) E-1Bs, VF-111 (1xx) F-8Js, VF-211 (2xx) F-8Js, VA-212 (3xx) A-4Fs, VA-164 (4xx) A-4Fs & TA-4Fs, VA-55 (5xx) A-4Fs, VFP-63 Det 1 (6xx) RF-8Gs and VAQ-135 Det 5 (61x) EKA-3Bs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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