FCM Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 (edited) Hello friends, I am preparing some images showing the config of weapons used by F-14 Tomcats as some modelers always wanted to see. It is easy to see what weapons could be used on each stations, but I found no info about what weapon to use on each time. So I used the photos I found of in flight Tomcats on OEF, IOF and other missions to prepare those images below. However there might be some mistakes, so I ask to anyone with better info to corret those configs and help me to create more options: It is true that the Sparrow, at some moment, was replaced by AIM-120? Edited December 11, 2010 by FCM Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 Don't think the Tomcat ever carried the AIM-120... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 The Navy used the Rockeye in various forms for it's CBU of choice not the CBU-87. Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Murph Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 Don't think the Tomcat ever carried the AIM-120... Not operationally, they did test it on the kittykat though. Regards, Murph Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cvnf14p3ordy Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 Don't think the Tomcat ever carried the AIM-120... "Jennings" is right FCM, we never flew the AIM-120. The funding for the avionics suite to fly the AIM-120 was redirected by Fighter Wing to in the mid-90's to purchase the ATFLIR and the avionics upgrades to make the F-14 "Bombcat." Luckily this allowed the F-14 to have another 10+ years of service as a strike fighter and she became one of the most effective bomber platforms in both OEF & OIF. The artwork I've seen of yours so far (VF-114) is spot on. I was with them from 91-93 and we flew bloc 90 and bloc 110 Tomcats. We weren't TARPS capable which ended up being our demise and why VF-213 is still on active duty today. During the time frame I was with the Aardvarks I can tell you that as an Aviation Ordnanceman we typically loaded the AIM-9L on sta. 1A & 8A, 2x AIM-7M on sta. 1B & 8B. We'd also fly 1x AIM-154B on sta. 3. We flew the Phoenix once we were operating in the Indian Ocean or "Gonzo Station" as it was called. Hope that helps! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cvnf14p3ordy Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 The Navy used the Rockeye in various forms for it's CBU of choice not the CBU-87.Jari Concur...We used the MK-20 Rockeye and CBU-57 Gator. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FCM Posted December 11, 2010 Author Share Posted December 11, 2010 Thanks for correction, I confused the CBU-87 with CBU-57! Both are similar on poor quality photos! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 What the AIM-120 looked like on a Tomcat ... >>> Clicky Thingy <<< Nice illustrations ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A6BSTARM Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 (edited) Here are some live shots from a Pt. Mugu F-14 doing live testing in the 1980's Picture 1. Missile in flight seconds after launch Missile falling away from the shoulder pylon at the start of the missile launch Missile on the shoulder pylon just before the launch Missile falling away Rocket motor firing as the missile falls Aerial shot of a VX-31 bird with an AMRAAM on the shoulder panel Another shot of the missile on the pylon Some Ground testing in color Into the matress from the shoulder pylon Release and control testing What it looks like up on the pylon in color A color shot of the missile on the pylon Edited December 12, 2010 by A6BSTARM Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FCM Posted December 12, 2010 Author Share Posted December 12, 2010 Thanks for try A6BSTARM, but the defenseimagery.mil is blocked for me... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
THX1138 Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 Thanks for try A6BSTARM, but the defenseimagery.mil is blocked for me... Ask the guys at Wikileaks. Perhaps they can help :huh: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sundowner Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 (edited) Hi Felipe, For me ( and who am I ?? ) the short range interceptor config looks a little strange to me , ie. short range with external fuel tanks . Long range config without external fuel tanks , I know that you look at the missiles the Cat are carrying but I am not sure , but a Tomcat would never carry 6 Phoenix missiles flying from a carrier ( please correct me if I am wrong ) Most of the photo's of Tomcats with 6 Phoenix were for publicity purposes or tests . Haven't heard from you for a while , all OK? Cheers, Henk "OMAR" Edited December 12, 2010 by sundowner Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FCM Posted December 12, 2010 Author Share Posted December 12, 2010 Thanks for your critic Henk. As I wrote, I am open to hear suggestions and corrections. My intention to prepare these drawings is to help modelers who many times come here asking how to arm their models. It is easy to find information about what kind of armament can be carried on each weapon station with all possible options, but no where show the definitive images. Most photos found there are from the aircraft at air shows, always unarmed, or publicity photos, with standard weapons or this setting with six Phoenix. (I had heard that the F-14 could not take off from a ship armed with six Phoenix due to the weight of these...). Some settings that I drew was based on photos found in Osprey's books about OEF / OIF. AsI read on these books, some of these settings were used only by a particular squadron, and on one mission or another. This kind of information I would like to add on those drawings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Matt Roberts Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 I think the knock against the 6 Phoenix load out was that the bird could not land back aboard if none were fired. Now in a full on WW III scenario with waves of Backfire Regiments coming south from the Kola Penensula - maybe Quote Link to post Share on other sites
A6BSTARM Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 (edited) The 6 AIM-54 load out was part of the "Ripsaw" fleet air defense mission. Ripsaw would see the F-14's from the carrier getting thrown out as far as possible via tankers and about four of them being controlled by an E-2. The tankers (A-7s, S-3s, and A-6's) would push the F-14's out to the 300nm limit from the battle group and thier would be 2-3 E-2's in that situtation. Then it would be locking up as many bombers as they had missile, throwing out the AIM-54's and then they would lay outside of Terrier/Talos/Tarter or Standard-MR and Standard-ER range. Waiting for the rest of the engagement to handle. At which they would try to find a tanker or two that still had gas and then try to land back on the surviving carriers. If they were carrying the full load of AIM-54's the aft two missiles hung down too low for a successful landing on the carrier for the F-14 they would scrap up the missiles and the deck, also the planes would be too heavy to recovery successfully on the carrier. Typically during the cold war when the F-14's were in service and the AIM-54 was in service they varied from 1 to 2 AIM-54's and a pair of AIM-7's and then a pair of AIM-9's. I had a photo of a 6 AIM-54 loadout shot that was used by VF-21 as test engagement at Pacific Missile Test Center Pt. Mugu. Edited December 12, 2010 by A6BSTARM Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Matt Roberts Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 Never heard of the problem with the loaded rear palletes before, I had always learned it was weight problems. I have built plenty of Tomcats with all 4 pallates loaded over the years in the 4-2-2 configuration. Now were there similar limitations if they were carrying A/G weaponry on them? Seems the Bombcat racks would cause the ordnance on the aft pallates to hange lower than a Phoenix (thinking of 2000lb JDAM or GBU-24 class of weapon) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Matt Roberts Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 Also another question, was there any problem when carrying a Sparrow in the aft trough if there were anything on the forward pallets? Right now I am looking at my Ali-cat hanging over my bench with Phoenix in the forwad pallets and a Sparrow aft Quote Link to post Share on other sites
muswp1 Posted December 12, 2010 Share Posted December 12, 2010 I think the "Standard Patrol" pic needs another AIM-7 and another AIM-54. I've seen tons of pics of Tomcats using the 2x2x2 configuration Matt, I know Reddog had a pic posted a long time ago of a Tomcat carrying a Sparrow aft and two Phoenixs forward with a Sidewinder and another Sparrow under each wing (before he deleted a ton of his pics). I'll have to see if I saved that pic on my PC. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FCM Posted December 13, 2010 Author Share Posted December 13, 2010 (edited) More two drawings: updated. Edited December 13, 2010 by FCM Quote Link to post Share on other sites
graves_09 Posted December 13, 2010 Share Posted December 13, 2010 I appreciate what you are trying to do, but the problem is there were no "standard" loads for the F-14. Each squadron, mission, situtation etc, had a different configurations based on what the situation called for, what was available or who the guy was doing the mission planning. While your schemes are mostly correct, I would include a note to "check your references" because it is almost impossible to include all loads flown by all squadrons at different time periods. BTW, I don't think the GBU-24's could be carried side by side. They needed to be staggered front and back. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FCM Posted December 13, 2010 Author Share Posted December 13, 2010 (edited) Yes graves, many os those drawings will be updated untill the final result. In this case of GBU-24, I read on Osprey's OIF Tomcats that only one GBU-24 was carried on station 3 ( and I believe that no Sidewinder was carried on station 8A to avoid damage the LANTIRN pod). However I have seen many photos of MODELS armed like this drawing... It is the kind of mistake I intend to fix. I realise that there is no standard for weapons, and I will advise the readers about it as realistc suggestions. :) Edited December 13, 2010 by FCM Quote Link to post Share on other sites
VFA-103guy Posted December 13, 2010 Share Posted December 13, 2010 Felipe- I too appreciate what you are trying to do, and I was wondering if you would have an issue posting your profiles to the "Tomcats 101" article pinned above. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FCM Posted December 13, 2010 Author Share Posted December 13, 2010 No problem Oompa, I can do it soon. Aside the profiles of versions, I intend to do also profiles showing all variations of Tomcats block to block. That is another information easily found in text, but very few images showing those, and there was many F-14A small variations that must to be showed. As soom I get those ready I start to posting there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zotted Posted December 13, 2010 Share Posted December 13, 2010 (edited) Double Post Edited December 13, 2010 by Zotted Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zotted Posted December 13, 2010 Share Posted December 13, 2010 Those GBU-24 need to be staggered as they were too wide and too long. So on the pallets they go something like this. (Maybe other way around depending on which station was on release first) ***| <- GBU-24 ***| ***| ***| ***********| <- GBU-24 ***********| ***********| ***********| Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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