F-105 rather abnormally large bomb bay

[Anthony W. 0]

Has anyone thought of making a mod to correct the misconception that the F-105 doesn't have a bomb bay? In actuality the F-105 did have a large bomb bay.... Though the bomb bay wasn't used much in its major confrontation(Vietnam)... Either way, for the most part I believe it was used to house a drop tank that could be lowered in flight and released but it was put there for a nuke... It was to fly low at mach speed and release a nuke from the bomb bay.... It would be very nice to see this... I'm a stickler for realism and I'm sure there are others here that are too...

[Fubar512 1,350]

Has anyone thought of making a mod to correct the misconception that the F-105 doesn't have a bomb bay? In actuality the F-105 did have a large bomb bay.... Though the bomb bay wasn't used much in its major confrontation(Vietnam)... Either way, for the most part I believe it was used to house a drop tank that could be lowered in flight and released but it was put there for a nuke... It was to fly low at mach speed and release a nuke from the bomb bay.... It would be very nice to see this... I'm a stickler for realism and I'm sure there are others here that are too...

 

You cannot modify an existing model to that extent without having access to the source file. In short, only TK can perform this on the "D" model. Armour Dave, creator of '105G addon, lost the source file due to a disk crash.

 

That being said, you may want to check the 105D's lod file, using a hex editor, just to see if TK may have included a bomb bay that he never activated in that model's data.ini file.

[DWCAce 19]

IIRC properly, the bay tank was fixed, though i could be wrong...

[zmatt 2]

If you really want to, you can always make one.

[Anthony W. 0]

You cannot modify an existing model to that extent without having access to the source file. In short, only TK can perform this on the "D" model. Armour Dave, creator of '105G addon, lost the source file due to a disk crash.

 

That being said, you may want to check the 105D's lod file, using a hex editor, just to see if TK may have included a bomb bay that he never activated in that model's data.ini file.

 

That "hex editor" and all that stuff sounds very foreign to me.. I have not a clue about 3D modeling or animation... Still, thanks... Note to self... Find time to learn all this stuff... I do know, however, that there are several add on models of the 105... Maybe I should go direct to Column 5... Thanks Fubar.

[mppd 16]

The bomb bay fuel tank definately was fixed in place - it was visible when the bay opened and thus provided maintenance access, but no way could be jettisoned in flight.

[+Dave 2,322]

The Thud used it as a place to hold an extra fuel tank that wasn't dropped when empty.

[zmatt 2]

What is the benefit of a drop tank that you cant drop?

[+Jarhead1 27]

Hence why its not a droptank, lol, its like was posted above, a permanent unjettisonable tank for carrying more fuel.

[zmatt 2]

Could the real F-105 still carry internal munitions?

[Viggen 644]

Not if it has that internal tank.

[+Dave 2,322]

Could the real F-105 still carry internal munitions?

 

Yes it could carry a special store for a LABS delivery, but once it picked up the conventional role, it held an internal tank.

[+Dave 2,322]

The F-105D was originally intended for the nuclear strike role, with the primary armament being a "special store" (a euphemism for a nuclear weapon) housed in the internal weapons bay. This weapon was usually a Mk 28 or a Mk 43. However, an Mk 61 could be carried underneath the left or right inboard underwing pylon and a Mk 57 or a Mk 61 could be carried underneath the centerline pylon. However, as nuclear war became less and less likely, the nuclear weapon carried in the internal weapons bay was usually replaced by a 390-gallon internal fuel tank, the offensive load being carried on four underwing pylons and on a pylon mounted underneath the fuselage on the centerline. From the F-105D-20-RE production block onward, the Thunderchiefs had increased emphasis on conventional weapons delivery, with the capability of carrying a wide-ranging combination of external stores underneath the wings and fuselage. Many of the earlier production block F-105Ds were eventually upgraded to this standard.

[mppd 16]

Interesting. The Misawa/Itazuke and Kadena Thuds stood rotational nuc alert at Osan, and the 36th TFW at Bitburg stood nuc alert I guess there - anyone know which config they used?

 

Mike D.

[+ST0RM 145]

The B-1 also has special removable tanks that are placed in the bomb bays for deployment/redeployment flights.

 

-S

[FastCargo 412]

The B-1 also has special removable tanks that are placed in the bomb bays for deployment/redeployment flights.

 

-S

 

Well, we actually used to use them on a regular basis.

 

18000 lbs of fuel in what looks like a giant white soda can.

 

Of course, back in the early days, there's a story of accidently 'rotating' the tank in the bay, causing it to separate and smash through the bomb doors...the world's biggest FAE.

 

FC

[+ST0RM 145]

Well, we actually used to use them on a regular basis.

 

18000 lbs of fuel in what looks like a giant white soda can.

 

Of course, back in the early days, there's a story of accidently 'rotating' the tank in the bay, causing it to separate and smash through the bomb doors...the world's biggest FAE.

 

FC

 

Was wondering, but I figured they wanted to have all 3 bays available. Great info FC.

 

And that story of the rotating tank is priceless!

 

-S