Skinny_Mike Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 Hello all! I am hoping someone can help me identify the pod on the centerline of this phantom. Looks like a gun pod to me, but defiantly not a SUU-23. I appreciate any help! Thanks Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 I think it is an early SUU-23, shorter muzzle. Only other thing I can guess is a SUU-16 but I don't see the air-intake above the barrel. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GW8345 Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 (edited) Looks like a Mk 4 Gun Pod. https://combatace.com/forums/topic/95901-mark-4-gun-pod-with-single-barrel/ 7th pic down http://www.chinalakealumni.org/1965/1965mo.htm#thumb Edited June 5, 2022 by GW8345 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 2 minutes ago, GW8345 said: Looks like a Mk 4 Gun Pod. https://combatace.com/forums/topic/95901-mark-4-gun-pod-with-single-barrel/ Could be. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Michael A. Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 Backstory: The Mk 4 Gun Pod was taught as part of the Aircraft Armament Systems block of instruction when I was in EOD school circa 1969. It apparently had a horrible maintenance record and the Marines really hated to spend time monkeying with it. With that said, my review of available photographs indicates that at least one A-4 and one F-4 Squadron were able to work out the bugs and used it to good advantage. Notes to modelers: (1) If it worked it was extremely dirty, soot and gun-blast residue was all over everything, particularly the gun pod itself. (2) Hasegawa provides a Mk 4 in some of their Weapons Kits. It requires an enormous amount of work to make it presentable on kit. Good luck! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SCOUT712 Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 The MK 4 was used extensively by VMFA-122. They even flew 3-gunpod configurations with one at the centerline and one each on stations 1 and 9. What is really interesting for me is the way it is attached to the belly station. There seems to be a different shaped rack attached to the belly than th usual bomb rack. Cheers Michael Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 Here is a monthly report of VMFA-122 for April 1968: https://vva.vietnam.ttu.edu/images.php?img=/images/1201/1201079092.pdf scroll down to pg 6 to see the total amount of ordnance expended that month, including over 15,000 rounds of 20mm using the Mk 4 gun pod. Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Skinny_Mike Posted June 6, 2022 Author Share Posted June 6, 2022 Thanks everyone! This was very helpful. Does Hasegawa have the only one available in 1/48 scale? Seems like an opportunity for the aftermarket guys considering the Tamiya F-4B's popularity. Thanks again Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Niels Posted June 7, 2022 Share Posted June 7, 2022 The Hasegawa version is the onlt Mk 4 available, but it is nice. I have plans to build my Academy F-4B as VMFA-122 bird with atleast one gun pod myself Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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