What weapons did the 105s in 'Nam use to kill the radar sites???
They used anti radiation missiles and iron bombs. Here is a great Thud site with lots of info:
Do you have a hot-link?
So what’s the Trumpeter kit like? Any reviews?
What about the EA18G Growler? They are capable of SEAD/DEAD missions as well, and cause all sorts of chaos with ground radars.
The Growler replaced the Prowler. Again its’ primary mission was Electronic Warfare Defense Suppression, with a secondary active SAM hunting role using HARMs. The A-6B was an active SAM hunter carrying no additional ECM pods as the EA-6A, EA-6B, and EA-18G do. And since the Gowler’s introduction into operational service, they really have not had to go up against an enemy with an air defense really worthy of their abilities. Just like our fighter pilots have not gone head to head against enemy fighters since Spring1999 over Kosovo/Serbia/Bosnia. It has been over 17 years since we have engaged in air to air combat. Light AAA and MANPADS are the biggest threats the US aircraft in the air on current combat operations.
Well CBU’s worked great against the sites themselves… lots of little bomblets to cover the dispersed area of the site and hit all those soft targets lile launchers, missiles, control vans…
early EF-105F loadout with CBUs and Shrikes
sometimes teh Weasels were paired with a standard Shrike armed F-105D in “hunter killer” teams where the Weasel would locate the site and intiate the attack and the D would help finish it off
Let me check my stash, Don. I’ve collected a fair number of the Hasegawa 1/72 Phantoms over the years; more then I’ll ever build.
What’s a Shrike???
AGM45 anti radiation missile
AGM-45 Shrike. The US’s first Anti Radiation Missile. It was tuned to home in on pre set radar frequencies at their emitter, the radar’s antenna. It’s range was less than that of the SA-2, but it gave the Weasels some stand off capability compared to rackets, bombs, and guns. It could be countered by the radar being shut down (causing any SAMs in flight to go blind), and if this happened, it would not “remember” where the radar was, and go blind itself.
it was supplemented by the AGM-78 Standard ARM which was a modified Navy Surface to Air Missile that had its’ SAM seeker head replaced with an ARM head. It was faster and longer ranged than the Shrike, and also had a memory to remember the position of any radars it was homing in on and shut down after launch. Only the F-105G, F-4G, and A-6B had the systems and wiring to carry this missile operationally
both types were later supplemented in the 80s and then eventually replaced by the AGM-88 HARM in US service. The HARM has most of the capabilities of the Standard ARM in a missile slightly larger than the Shrike, and in a system that can be used on more aircraft types. It has been improved and is still in use currently.
Hmmmm…I think I’ve seen a 'Nam 105 w that middle missile slung underneath it???
Wish someone would build build that Trumpeter offering so I can see how well it builds…
Build, build?..as in 2!!!
It just so happens, I know a guy…stay tuned!
NATO has very good service from the Tornado ECR. Of course now SEAD is the work of drones.
Gotta love the F-105 though.
This link is for an episode of Dogfights that was on the History Channel a few years ago, but this one is called “Long Odds” and discusses Leo’s Mig Kill while flying a F-105 over Vietnam. It’s inspiring.
Leo? Who is Leo?
We need more Wild Weasel in here!!!
Thorsness.
Just in case you are not kidding:
Dont forget Merlyn Dethlefsen