F-4E Weasel killers

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Enzo Matrix - 04 May 2006 11:48 GMT

OK, not F-4Es that kill weasels, but the F-4Es that were used in a
hunter/killer combination with F-4Gs...

I'm currently building a 52TFW F-4E. What was the operational armament fit
of these aircraft?

The aircraft is fitted with TISEO, so I assume that it was capable of using
Mavericks. Or was the fit more likely to be CBUs of some description?

I'd like to be able to fit a GBU-8 or GBU-15, but am I right in saying that
these were only deployed operationally by F-15Es and F-111s? Besides, I
would imagine something so big would be used against high-value targets,
rather than SAM and radar sites.

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Enzo

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Don Stauffer - 04 May 2006 14:46 GMT

> OK, not F-4Es that kill weasels, but the F-4Es that were used in a
> hunter/killer combination with F-4Gs...
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> would imagine something so big would be used against high-value targets,
> rather than SAM and radar sites.

Boy, it has been a long time, so my memory is not serving me well. I am
trying to remember when HARM was introduced into service, compared to
service period of F4E. Wasn't there a predecessor ARM prior to HARM?
Can't remember name or details, though.

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Enzo Matrix - 04 May 2006 17:15 GMT

>> OK, not F-4Es that kill weasels, but the F-4Es that were used in a
>> hunter/killer combination with F-4Gs...
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> to service period of F4E. Wasn't there a predecessor ARM prior to
> HARM? Can't remember name or details, though.

There was the AGM-45 Shrike and the Standard ARM. The 52 TFW deployed some
F-4Gs to RAF Sculthorpe in 1984, so I went up to have a goosy. I was told
that only the Weasels themselves carried ARMs and that the Standard had been
removed from the inventory. I never thought to ask about the armament of the
F-4Es.

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Enzo

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Alan B. Martin - 09 May 2006 01:13 GMT

As I recall, when I worked on these in '84-85 at George AFB the E carried
mostly AIM 7's and AIM 9's. The E was the SAM target and the G was the
killer. There were occasions, like when we went to Red Flag that we had
Mavericks. I really think that it just depended on what kind of mission the
E was fragged for that day. On the other had the G always had the Shrike and
Standard Arms.

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JJ - 21 May 2006 11:47 GMT

The SP F-4Es usually carried AGM-45 Shrikes and/or iron/cluster bombs. The
USAF F-4E were not capable of carrying the AGM-88 HARM.

HTH

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> OK, not F-4Es that kill weasels, but the F-4Es that were used in a
> hunter/killer combination with F-4Gs...
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> would imagine something so big would be used against high-value targets,
> rather than SAM and radar sites.

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Enzo Matrix - 21 May 2006 17:26 GMT

> The SP F-4Es usually carried AGM-45 Shrikes and/or iron/cluster
> bombs. The USAF F-4E were not capable of carrying the AGM-88 HARM.

Thanks, JJ. That has confirmed my choice.

The model is almost complete - I just have to add the canopies. I eventually
decided on a TGM-45 Shrike trainer on the port inboard pylon, with an empty
TER on the stbd inboard.

Once again, this group has helped me immensely. Thanks to all who responded
to my questions.

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Enzo

I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.

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JJ - 21 May 2006 21:41 GMT

Enzo,

You're welcome. Your load-out sounds realistic to me.

Regards,

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>> The SP F-4Es usually carried AGM-45 Shrikes and/or iron/cluster
>> bombs. The USAF F-4E were not capable of carrying the AGM-88 HARM.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> responded
> to my questions.

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Model Forum / General / Models / May 2006

F-4E Weasel killers