F-4Ks in Northern Sabre

[macelena]

Just in case nobody noticed, there are entries for two RAF FG1 Phantoms in the SF2NA Campaign, arriving in Keflavik as reinforcements. In case you don´t have the DLC, if you have SF2E those will be FGR2s.

 

However, there is another question...as HMS Ark Royal had just been decomissioned, was there any possibility IRL of having RN Phantoms flying of USN carriers as a reinforcement detachment or anything? Besides the fact that the USN/MC already had plenty of them in case they wanted to fill their carriers in with some more. On the other side, could the Ark Royal have been put back in service at that particular time?

[Toryu]

As they were carrier-bourne fighters before, they had anything they needed to operate off an american carrier.

This pic shows an F-4K aboard the Saratoga:

Cross-servicing wasn't possible, as the F-4Ks would eat-up the american decks due to their hotter EGT.

Therefore, detachments/ visits were rather brief. Shuttleing a couple of F-4Ks to Iceland was no big deal, however.

Carquals were also not that much of an issue on the Phantom - there were lots of former FAA Buc or Phantom-Drivers in the RAF. Also, the Rhino was one of the easier aircraft to bring aboard a ship.

 

Fun-fact: One of Keflavik's alternate-fields is Leuchars - some 800nm away. Ferrying is not an issue - either way. The RAF, flying air-policing with their F-4Ms didn't have any trouble operating out of KEF.

 

BTW:

Did the F-4Ms even have bridle-attachment hooks? It didn't have the slotted stab, drooped ailerons and the nose-gear extension (not needed aborad american carriers anyway).

Edited January 4, 2013 by Toryu

[arthur666]

Fun-fact: One of Keflavik's alternate-fields is Leuchars - some 800nm away. Ferrying is not an issue - either way. The RAF, flying air-policing with their F-4Ms didn't have any trouble operating out of KEF.

 

It would probably be more realistic to have the F-4's safely stationed at the Leuchars off-map if a ground battle broke out on Iceland. The Phantoms could refuel to get there, as the North Atlantic in SF2:NA would have been uncontested except for around Iceland and further East.