F-104C Vietnam question

[+snapper 21 799]

Am setting up my F-104C-10 for my SF2 Vietnam install. Have added Starfighters cockpit and all looks well.

 

My question is about the weapon loadouts for this plane. In the readme and on the web it says they carried 4 sidewinders, does this mean 2 wingtip and 2 on the wing rails? Most of the pictures I can find just show wingtip fuel tanks, so I am wondering if the F-104 in Vietnam had dual Sidewinder rails?

 

 

Any help much appreciated.

 

Cheers

 

Snapper 21

[+ST0RM 145]

I found this photo, but it is not carrying AIM-9s. It is carrying underwing pylons.

 

F-104C

 

If I recall correctly, the under-fuselage rails were not introduced until the F-104G.

Edited June 30, 2009 by ST0RM

[MAKO69 186]

The F-104C was used as a strirke platform for its limited deployments in 1965 and 1967. However it was used as an interceptor when needed to deter NVAF Migs. I would say that it was extremly rare to have wingtip mounted sidewinders. The F-104 would have needed the wingtip tanks for the range and payload of air to ground role it was used mostly for.

[+snapper 21 799]

Hi Storm and Mako69

 

Thanks for your replies. Have done some more searching on the internet and in the KB here(should have looked here first!), and as far as I can tell the wing pylons were for bombs or tanks. I think the four sidewinder loadout included 2 under the fuselage and as Wrench points out they were not used much because of the low ground clearance and damage to the seaker heads.

 

So going with Wrench Air to Air just has to wingtip sidewinders and long range Air To Air has Wingtip sidewinders and wing drop tanks.

 

Cheers

 

Snapper 21

[mppd 16]

The 476th TFS, 479th TFW deployed to Da Nang in April 1965 and flew both escort duties and may have shared the alert commitment there with the F-102s of PACAF. They were replaced by the 436th TFS in July 1965, and operated until withdrawn in November. I have seen photos of these silver airplanes with wingtip AIM-9s and two underwing tanks. The Starfighter returned to SEA in June 1966 in camouflage flying from Udorn with the 435th TFS - these flew both escort and strike/ground support. Photos I have seen were never with Sidewinders, tip tanks only, until conversion to F-4D in mid-1967.

[+Dave 2,322]

The 476th TFS, 479th TFW deployed to Da Nang in April 1965 and flew both escort duties and may have shared the alert commitment there with the F-102s of PACAF. They were replaced by the 436th TFS in July 1965, and operated until withdrawn in November. I have seen photos of these silver airplanes with wingtip AIM-9s and two underwing tanks. The Starfighter returned to SEA in June 1966 in camouflage flying from Udorn with the 435th TFS - these flew both escort and strike/ground support. Photos I have seen were never with Sidewinders, tip tanks only, until conversion to F-4D in mid-1967.

 

Tip tanks when flying strike, escort they flew with wing winders. In both silver and camo schemes.

[Vigilant 1]

I have a photo of F-104C in Vietnam in escort configuration with wingtip sidewinders and underwing droptanks. Can't post it now as I am not at home (and won't be till Tuesday).