Vietnam Phantoms...

[Lucky13]

Right....

This one...

...with three gun pods underneath, which I think VMFA-122 were the only unit flying with that set up.
Question is, were they SUU-23/A's or HIPEG's pods?

 

[Lucky13]

Either way, two of these will be needed....

 

[fubar57]

Jan, I know there was an experiment using extra gun pods but they never saw action, though this may have been a version using more pods(5?). Last night in camp so I'll do some checking in the A.M..



Geo

 

[Airframes]

I might have a spare SUU pod, possibly two, if you need them old boy.

 

[Lucky13]

Look more like HIPEG's, two barrels instead for the Vulcan's four, or am I wrong?

Much obliged old chap....pour yourself a large snifter!

 

[Airframes]

I think you're right ole chap. The overall shape doesn't match the SUU Vulcan pod either.

 

[mikewint]

Those are Mk 4 Mod 0 pods, 3 per aircraft. One centerline and two outboard on the wings devised by VMFA-122 armament team at Da Nang. Developed by the US Navy, this pod is fitted with the Mk 11 Mod 5 20 mm cannon, along with 750 rounds of ammunition. The gun had a reputation for jamming which posed a recoil problem to the aircraft if just one of the wing guns jammed. The high explosive rounds could also tumble and explode in front of the aircraft which then flew into the shrapnel created. It was used on a variety of US Navy and Marine Corps aircraft including the A-4 Skyhawk, F-4 Phantom II, A-7 Corsair II, and OV-10 Bronco. Without a gunsight they were useless in a air-to-air engagements and inaccurate in strafing runs unless frequently boresighted plus the drag induced by the pods reduced performance.
The F4-E finally received an internal 20mm Vulcan cannon

 

[Airframes]

Good info Mike.

 

[fubar57]

Couldn't find the info I was looking for but I found these....

....you might need a few more of those weapons kits.



Geo

 

[Lucky13]

Ouch...!

 

[mikewint]

Thanks Terry it's from Peter Davies book: US Marine Corps F-4 Phantom Units of the Vietnam War

 

[Lucky13]

Cheers gentlemen!

 

[Lucky13]

Couldn't find the info I was looking for but I found these....

View attachment 303690
View attachment 303691

....you might need a few more of those weapons kits.



Geo

They look badass with those pods, is the bottom one a Kansas Air National Guard bird or?

 

[fubar57]

Can't rightly say for sure Jan as I got it from this Tumblr(of all places) site and it says Kansas ANG...https://www.tumblr.com/search/phantom+ii




Geo

 

[Lucky13]

Some good shots there!

What a devastation those four gunpods would bring!

 

[mikewint]

But there is no gunsight except "Spray and Pray"

 

[Lucky13]

I wonder if that is F-4C Phantom II, 63-7461 in 1967 with USAF 15th TFW.
She crashed on the 20th of December that year she lost control and crashed on the Avon Park Range, FL....

It's the only "C" I can find with "461"....

 

[Lucky13]

View: https://youtu.be/zQvObtxH2EY