Title: Rude Awakening in Southeast Asia
Description: Technology against plain guts
Description: Technology against plain guts
flipzi - October 11, 2005 07:07 AM (GMT)
On April 4, 1965 a strike team composed of F105 Thunderchiefs escorted by F100s took off in an air base in Thailand.
Their mission was to destroy a vital bridge which carries the main North Vietnamese rail and road artery.
The strike team was met by 4 much older "Mig 17" jets. 2 Migs jumped the lead F105 and his wingman in a slashing, diving, hi-speed GUN ATTACK, and after completing the pass, all 4 dived into the haze.
(More info: http://www.globalaircraft.org/planes/mig-17_fresco.pl)
The toll for the mission, which left the bridge intact, was two F105 destroyed, the first US losses in air to air combat since the Korean War.
The tactics the Viets employed were believed to have come from the Soviets while the Mig 17s were supplied by China, North Korea and Russia.
Only the best pilots in North Vietnamese air force were given the chance to fly the meager fleet of Mig 17.
Among the most famous ace pilots were Capt. Nguyen van Bay who scored 7 kills by May 1966.
Another was Col. Toon (the book that i havent finished reading yet wrote it as Col Tomb) who scored 13 kills.
Vietnam never publicized any of his victory then. The US pilots concluded that he and a few other oustanding pilots must have been foreigners. Some surmised that he was a composite of several Chinese, North Korean and even Soviet pilots, who together scored this much and whose identities couldnt be publicized for reasons of diplomacy.
VPAF Aces. From left to right: Nguyen Van Bay (7 kills), Nguyen Van Coc (9) and Nguyen Doc Soat (6).
http://www.acepilots.com/vietnam/viet_aces.html
Their mission was to destroy a vital bridge which carries the main North Vietnamese rail and road artery.
The strike team was met by 4 much older "Mig 17" jets. 2 Migs jumped the lead F105 and his wingman in a slashing, diving, hi-speed GUN ATTACK, and after completing the pass, all 4 dived into the haze.
(More info: http://www.globalaircraft.org/planes/mig-17_fresco.pl)
The toll for the mission, which left the bridge intact, was two F105 destroyed, the first US losses in air to air combat since the Korean War.
The tactics the Viets employed were believed to have come from the Soviets while the Mig 17s were supplied by China, North Korea and Russia.
Only the best pilots in North Vietnamese air force were given the chance to fly the meager fleet of Mig 17.
Among the most famous ace pilots were Capt. Nguyen van Bay who scored 7 kills by May 1966.
Another was Col. Toon (the book that i havent finished reading yet wrote it as Col Tomb) who scored 13 kills.
Vietnam never publicized any of his victory then. The US pilots concluded that he and a few other oustanding pilots must have been foreigners. Some surmised that he was a composite of several Chinese, North Korean and even Soviet pilots, who together scored this much and whose identities couldnt be publicized for reasons of diplomacy.
VPAF Aces. From left to right: Nguyen Van Bay (7 kills), Nguyen Van Coc (9) and Nguyen Doc Soat (6).
http://www.acepilots.com/vietnam/viet_aces.html
flipzi - October 11, 2005 07:26 AM (GMT)
The US was forced to deploy the F4 Phantom.
There were some problems in the beginning though.
The F4 didnt carry any gun. When the Migs are closer than the minimum range of the Sidewinders, the Migs can easily outmanuever the Phantoms to safety.
Later, the next set of Phantoms that were deployed carried a Vulcan canon, which fires 6000 rounds per minute.
Now the Migs are in real danger, both in close air combat and when even miles away because of the radar-guided Sparrow.
This had given the US pilots the capability to level the score.
There were some problems in the beginning though.
The F4 didnt carry any gun. When the Migs are closer than the minimum range of the Sidewinders, the Migs can easily outmanuever the Phantoms to safety.
Later, the next set of Phantoms that were deployed carried a Vulcan canon, which fires 6000 rounds per minute.
Now the Migs are in real danger, both in close air combat and when even miles away because of the radar-guided Sparrow.
This had given the US pilots the capability to level the score.
flipzi - October 12, 2005 03:15 AM (GMT)
Related info:
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/7002/photo2.html
http://www.farfromglory.com/thud.htm
http://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/air/
F105
Originally designed as a supersonic long-range nuclear bomber, the F105 Thunderchief could carry up to five tons of bombs. From 1965 to 1970, the Thunderchief did most of the Air Force's bombing in Vietnam, typically carrying a cargo of eight 750-pound bombs. Though primarily an attack aircraft over Vietnam, the F-105 was able to shoot down several MiG-17s and MiG-21s.
Specifications
Span: 34 ft. 11 in.
Length: 64 ft. 5 in.
Height: 19 ft. 8 in.
Weight: 52,838 lbs. max.
Armament: One M61 Vulcan 20mm cannon and more than 12,000 lbs. of ordnance
Engine: One Pratt & Whitney J75-P-19W of 24,500 lbs thrust with afterburner
Cost: $2,136,668
Performance
Maximum speed: 1,390 mph.
Cruising speed: 778 mph.
Range: 2206 miles
Service Ceiling: 51,000 ft.
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/7002/photo2.html
http://www.farfromglory.com/thud.htm
http://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/air/
F105
Originally designed as a supersonic long-range nuclear bomber, the F105 Thunderchief could carry up to five tons of bombs. From 1965 to 1970, the Thunderchief did most of the Air Force's bombing in Vietnam, typically carrying a cargo of eight 750-pound bombs. Though primarily an attack aircraft over Vietnam, the F-105 was able to shoot down several MiG-17s and MiG-21s.
Specifications
Span: 34 ft. 11 in.
Length: 64 ft. 5 in.
Height: 19 ft. 8 in.
Weight: 52,838 lbs. max.
Armament: One M61 Vulcan 20mm cannon and more than 12,000 lbs. of ordnance
Engine: One Pratt & Whitney J75-P-19W of 24,500 lbs thrust with afterburner
Cost: $2,136,668
Performance
Maximum speed: 1,390 mph.
Cruising speed: 778 mph.
Range: 2206 miles
Service Ceiling: 51,000 ft.
flipzi - October 12, 2005 03:17 AM (GMT)
F100 Super Saber
BASIC INFORMATION :
Designation: F-100C Super Sabre
Type: Fighter
Manufacturer: North American
Country: United States
Service Date: 1953
Crew: 1
DIMENSIONS:
Length: 53 ft 11 in
Wingspan: 38 ft 10 in
Height: 15 ft 6 in
Weight (Empty): NA
Weight (Loaded): 36,549 lbs
PERFORMANCE STATISTICS:
Powerplant: One Pratt & Whitney J57 of 16,000 pounds thrust with afterburner.
Max Speed: 900 mph
Max Range: 1,350 miles
Service Ceiling: 51,000 ft
Rate of Climb: NA
MAIN ARMAMENT(S):
4 x M39 20mm cannons
42 x 2.75 in rockets
5,000 lbs of bombs
HISTORY / NOTES:
The F-100 was the USAF's first operational aircraft capable of flying faster than the speed of sound (760 mph) in level flight. It made its initial flight on May 25, 1953 and the first production aircraft was completed in October 1953.
North American built 2,294 F-100s before production ended in 1959. Designed originally to destroy enemy aircraft in aerial combat, the F-100 later became a fighter-bomber. It made its combat debut during the Vietnam conflict where it was assigned the task of attacking such targets as bridges, river barges, road junctions and areas being used by infiltrating enemy soldiers.
The F-100C, which made its first flight in 1955, featured such advances as an in-flight refueling system, provisions for extra fuel drop tanks and bombs under the wings and an improved electronic bombing system.
http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/de...aircraft_id=114
BASIC INFORMATION :
Designation: F-100C Super Sabre
Type: Fighter
Manufacturer: North American
Country: United States
Service Date: 1953
Crew: 1
DIMENSIONS:
Length: 53 ft 11 in
Wingspan: 38 ft 10 in
Height: 15 ft 6 in
Weight (Empty): NA
Weight (Loaded): 36,549 lbs
PERFORMANCE STATISTICS:
Powerplant: One Pratt & Whitney J57 of 16,000 pounds thrust with afterburner.
Max Speed: 900 mph
Max Range: 1,350 miles
Service Ceiling: 51,000 ft
Rate of Climb: NA
MAIN ARMAMENT(S):
4 x M39 20mm cannons
42 x 2.75 in rockets
5,000 lbs of bombs
HISTORY / NOTES:
The F-100 was the USAF's first operational aircraft capable of flying faster than the speed of sound (760 mph) in level flight. It made its initial flight on May 25, 1953 and the first production aircraft was completed in October 1953.
North American built 2,294 F-100s before production ended in 1959. Designed originally to destroy enemy aircraft in aerial combat, the F-100 later became a fighter-bomber. It made its combat debut during the Vietnam conflict where it was assigned the task of attacking such targets as bridges, river barges, road junctions and areas being used by infiltrating enemy soldiers.
The F-100C, which made its first flight in 1955, featured such advances as an in-flight refueling system, provisions for extra fuel drop tanks and bombs under the wings and an improved electronic bombing system.
http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/de...aircraft_id=114