Waltz41 Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Hello, ok, so I have been searching the forums and internet, and I still have some loadout questions for the superhornet. I know, I know, it seems like this stuff comes up every other day! I have two I'm working on right now, and kicking around different ideas (as well as for future builds). I basically want to use some AGM-84's, whether they are D,E or H's. With the H (SLAM-ER), you need a data link pod (or another Hornet needs it, correct?). I saw alot of pics of legacy hornet's carrying Harpoons (d's) but didn't find anything really with Superhornet's carrying them. And as far as carrying them, you could load up two? D or E's, but would probably only carry 1 H? And lastly, what else would you probably carry with the -84's, from what I saw I was thinking a Maverick? Thanks for any help. Brian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VFA-103guy Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 (edited) Hey Brian- Super hornets are typically carrying these load outs (in the pics below) right now. I can't say I've seen the SLAM-ER loaded operationally, but I haven't been keeping up with things like I used to. Anyway, you should at least have the ATFLIR loaded on the left cheek station. Anyway, here's a few pics for ya. This last pic is on navy.mil, but a friend of mine took the original and I have the 10mb version..lol Edited January 7, 2012 by VFA-103guy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waltz41 Posted January 7, 2012 Author Share Posted January 7, 2012 Thanks! Yeah, i've been all over navy.mil looking at generic superhornet shots, then searching squadrons, even weapons. Great resource to use. If not the SLAM-ER, what about the Harpoon or Slam? Any ideas on those, even if it's training? I can't find too much on them both, in regards to the SuperHornet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waltz41 Posted January 7, 2012 Author Share Posted January 7, 2012 This last pic is on navy.mil, but a friend of mine took the original and I have the 10mb version..lol I did notice this as well, which I have seen in so many pictures, they seem to really like to leave off a pylon, or two, or three!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mawz Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 I did notice this as well, which I have seen in so many pictures, they seem to really like to leave off a pylon, or two, or three!! Unsurprising, the canted Rhino wing pylons are high drag, so leaving as many off as possible is to be desired. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Hegedus Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Thanks! Yeah, i've been all over navy.mil looking at generic superhornet shots, then searching squadrons, even weapons. Great resource to use. If not the SLAM-ER, what about the Harpoon or Slam? Any ideas on those, even if it's training? I can't find too much on them both, in regards to the SuperHornet. SLAM is a non-player. There are no more SLAMs, they have all been converted to SLAM-ER. Harpoon may be used very occasionally for training or a missile shoot, in which case it would likely be the only weapon loaded on the jet with maybe a fuel tank or 2. Harpoon is only loaded on the middle wing pylon. The only thing authorized to be carried on the adjacent inboard pylon, other than an empty pylon or no pylon installed, is a fuel tank. i'm not 100% positive and don't have the proper documentation handy, but I believe the only thing allowed to be carried on the adjacent outboard pylon is an AGM-88 or an AIM-120, but in the scenarios noted in my third sentence, neither would probably be loaded as there would be no real purpose to it. There were some interesting Harpoon loads used in testing, but those are specific to one airplane for the tests. Decals are available for that airplane, and if it is something that you might be interested in I can see if I can locate the specific loads used-but you'd have to scratchbuild the wingtip, tail, and pylon camera mounts also. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VFA-103guy Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 I did notice this as well, which I have seen in so many pictures, they seem to really like to leave off a pylon, or two, or three!! It's all due to mission requirements. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spook498 Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Ive seen a few of the squadrons here us the SLAM-ER in an inert form. It is usually loaded on station #3. I do not remember if they used the data link pods when carrying the round for training. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Brian, when I was on the Stennis last month, the ONLY loadout I saw on all four Hornet squadrons was a single GBU-12 and a single GBU-31. On one jet (A VFA-41 F-model) a laser AGM-65 was carried in addition. Jake Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VFA-103guy Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 Brian, when I was on the Stennis last month, the ONLY loadout I saw on all four Hornet squadrons was a single GBU-12 and a single GBU-31. On one jet (A VFA-41 F-model) a laser AGM-65 was carried in addition. Jake Jake- I kinda figured the supers are currently flying with the load out in the top pic I posted. Guys..if you haven't gotten Jake's Super Hornet book, you are missing out! It is a MUST HAVE for modelers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VFA-103guy Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 (edited) Random question, but why do birds carry both an LGB and a JDAM? I know the A-10 targeting pod better than others (thanks to the awesome game DCS A-10C), but what can an LGB due that a JDAM can't? At least on the A-10C, the targeting pod can track a moving target and assign JDAMs to them. That was the only thing I could thing of. I'm about 99% sure it's about mission requirements and collateral damage control. Plus, the mixed load offers the ability to attack different types of targets. Edited January 8, 2012 by VFA-103guy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 D'oh! Guys, that was supposed to be a GBU-38, not GBU-31. Sorry for my typo. Jake Thanks for the kind words, Brian! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VFA-103guy Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 D'oh! Guys, that was supposed to be a GBU-38, not GBU-31. Sorry for my typo. Jake Thanks for the kind words, Brian! No worries Jake! Your books are the bomb! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bobski Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 But that's my question. I don't know of any attack capability that an LGB has that is not matched by a current JDAM. I'm hoping someone can enlighten me regarding this difference, as if there's nothing an LGB can do that a JDAM can't why not simplify the loadout and carry 2 identical weapons? I know early JDAMs were principally limited to fixed target, however my understanding was that with the newer targeting pods and/or LJDAMs, this was no longer a limitation. That's the only difference I could think of in capability between a LGB and JDAM (perhaps this is still the issue?). In terms of collateral damage, there are 500, 1000 and 2000 lbs JDAMs just like varied weights on the LGB's so I don't think this is the reason alone. I believe (but don't know for certain) that an LGB is more accurate than a JDAM due to the laser guidance (you can put an LGB through a window, which you can't do with a JDAM) but the flip side of that is the laser will struggle in bad weather. The solution is the Laser JDAM, or in the RAF, Enhanced Paveway and Paveway IV. These combine the two, giving the best of both worlds. Then there's the way you can quickly divert an LGB by moving the laser spot if you suddenly spot some civvies in the area, as demonstrated several times by RAF Harriers in Afghanistan. I don't think you can do that with a JDAM. All pure speculation on my part, but I'm sure someone with some more knowledge will pipe up soon enough. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waltz41 Posted January 9, 2012 Author Share Posted January 9, 2012 Unsurprising, the canted Rhino wing pylons are high drag, so leaving as many off as possible is to be desired. Well that makes perfect sense now thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waltz41 Posted January 9, 2012 Author Share Posted January 9, 2012 SLAM is a non-player. There are no more SLAMs, they have all been converted to SLAM-ER. Harpoon may be used very occasionally for training or a missile shoot, in which case it would likely be the only weapon loaded on the jet with maybe a fuel tank or 2. Harpoon is only loaded on the middle wing pylon. The only thing authorized to be carried on the adjacent inboard pylon, other than an empty pylon or no pylon installed, is a fuel tank. i'm not 100% positive and don't have the proper documentation handy, but I believe the only thing allowed to be carried on the adjacent outboard pylon is an AGM-88 or an AIM-120, but in the scenarios noted in my third sentence, neither would probably be loaded as there would be no real purpose to it. There were some interesting Harpoon loads used in testing, but those are specific to one airplane for the tests. Decals are available for that airplane, and if it is something that you might be interested in I can see if I can locate the specific loads used-but you'd have to scratchbuild the wingtip, tail, and pylon camera mounts also. That's perfect, thanks Joe, think I got all that. So I can throw a Harpoon on, with a fuel tank or 2 and it works. And as far as SLAM, they were all converted to -ER's after the Superhornet was around, so back when there were SLAM's still, could the Superhornet carry it and what would a loadout look like? Same as the mentioned Harpoon, just that and some tanks? If I did any testing plane it would be a Salty Dog, but wasnt' thinking about one of those right now. Thanks though! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waltz41 Posted January 9, 2012 Author Share Posted January 9, 2012 Brian, when I was on the Stennis last month, the ONLY loadout I saw on all four Hornet squadrons was a single GBU-12 and a single GBU-31. On one jet (A VFA-41 F-model) a laser AGM-65 was carried in addition. Jake thanks Jake. And it looks like they are only carrying a belly tank now rather than 'goofy' configuration too, is that right? Your superhornet book is the only one I don't have yet, was hoping to get it for christmas, but apparently my wife found some other presents for me. Looks like I will have to 'gift' myself soon! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Collin Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 That's perfect, thanks Joe, think I got all that. So I can throw a Harpoon on, with a fuel tank or 2 and it works. And as far as SLAM, they were all converted to -ER's after the Superhornet was around, so back when there were SLAM's still, could the Superhornet carry it and what would a loadout look like? Same as the mentioned Harpoon, just that and some tanks? If I did any testing plane it would be a Salty Dog, but wasnt' thinking about one of those right now. Thanks though! Baseline SLAM was out of the fleet when the SuperHornet came on line. It was all SLAM-ER by the time. Only time I saw a Hornet with a SLAM was a baby Hornet. Cheers Collin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Hegedus Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Baseline SLAM was out of the fleet when the SuperHornet came on line. It was all SLAM-ER by the time. Only time I saw a Hornet with a SLAM was a baby Hornet. Cheers Collin The initial Super Hornet weapons work included SLAM, but they were gone by the time the SH entered squadron service IIRC. It was tested and cleared but never had the chance to be used operationally on the SH. The cleared baseline SLAM loadings were the same as HARPOON. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Collin Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 (edited) 3 or 4 x Harpoon and 2 x drop tanks. That would be a cool Super Hornet loadout. Joe I'm sure will tell me it's not allowed. Collin Edited January 10, 2012 by Collin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Hegedus Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 3 or 4 x Harpoon and 2 x drop tanks. That would be a cool Super Hornet loadout. Joe I'm sure will tell me it's not allowed. Collin It's not. AGM-84 goes on middle pylons only. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Collin Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 See...what I tell ya....don't mess with the Joe. Middle pylons only...weak. You can make fun of me the next time I am down there Joe. Cheers Collin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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