Fact File: The F-4 Phantom in WW III

[Matt Wiser]

Rhino, Double-Ugly, or the Phabalous Phantom, the F-4's war service:


F-4 Phantom Variants of the Third World War:



The McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom, though largely superseded in USAF service by the F-15 Eagle in the air superiority role, proved to be an able and worthy fighter in the Third World War, in the fighter, reconnaissance, and “Wild Weasel” variants. Though out of production at the beginning of the war, Mitsubishi in Japan reopened the production line, and subcontractors in the U.S were able to produce spare parts for the aircraft, as were foreign suppliers such as IAI in Israel.

A list of Phantom variants and users follows:

F-4B: Out of USN/MC service at the beginning of the war. Survivors converted to F-4N versions. USMC Reserve squadrons still operated the aircraft at war's outbreak. Remained in USMC service throughout the war, until replacement by the F/A-18A Hornet.

F-4C: Original USAF version. Out of front-line USAF service, but in ANG service in the fighter and fighter-interceptor roles. Heavy wartime attrition resulted in losses replaced by either new-build E models from Japan, or by the Northrop F-20A Tigershark.

F-4D: Improved C version. Still in active USAF service, as well as ANG and AFRES. Wartime attrition replaced by E models from Japan, or by F-20, though some did convert to F-15C postwar. Also used by ROK AF (replaced by F-15K)

F-4E: Ultimate USAF fighter version, with internal M-61A1 Vulcan cannon. Regular AF and ANG service, with attrition replacement via the Japanese production line. USAF versions from Japan often delivered without bombing computer or air-to-ground weapons capability, to satisfy Japanese export law, but such features installed at the USAF Depot at Hill AFB prior to delivery to USAF squadrons.
A number of E models also saw RAF service in North America during the war. JMSDF operated F-4EJ for air defense of Japan. ROK AF operated Es for Air Defense during the war, and during the fall of North Korea in 2010. Turkish AF also operated Es for air defense during “armed neutrality” period, as did the Greek AF.

F-4F: Luftwaffe version of E, originally delivered without Sparrow missile capability. Saw combat during GDR campaign in 1989.

F-4G: “Wild Weasel” SEAD variant. Fitted for and carried Shrike, Standard-ARM, and HARM missiles. Active USAF only during the war, ANG service (Idaho ANG and Nevada ANG) postwar. Attrition replaced via Japan, with SEAD equipment installed at Hill Aerospace Depot at Hill AFB, UT, prior to delivery.

F-4J: USN version from 1968 onward. Upgraded to F-4S configuration. F-4J (UK) in RAF service during the war.

F-4N: Upgraded F-4B. In service with two USN squadrons (VF-151, VF-161) at war's outbreak; remainder in storage. Served throughout the war, from both carriers and land bases. Replaced by F-14 in both squadrons postwar.

F-4S: Upgraded F-4J. In USN Reserve, USMC active, and USMC Reserve service at outbreak of war. Replaced during and after the war by F/A-18 in USN and USMC.

Phantom FGR.2: Main RAF variant, used in UK Air Defense, until replaced by Tornado F.3.

RF-4B: USMC Reconnaissance version, used in VMFP-3 throughout the war. Replaced in USMC service by RF-18D.

RF-4C: USAF Reconnaissance version; in USAF and ANG service at beginning of the war. Attrition replacement via Mitsubishi in Japan. Replaced postwar by RF-16C. Export version RF-4E.

WW III Operators:

USAF

USN

USMC

RAF

Luftwaffe (1989 only)

JASDF

ROKAF

Greek AF

Turkish AF .


Three major users of the F-4 did not officially take part in wartime combat operations: Both Israel and Egypt were “non-belligerents”, that is, neutrals favoring the U.S. Both IAF and EAF Phantoms flew air sovereignty missions to guard their airspace. Iranian Phantoms continued to fly combat missions against Iraq until the Iran-Iraq War petered out in 1986.

[Wolfman]

The Fighting Vigilantes (VF-151) and the Chargers (VF-161) were flying the F-4S model when the war started, Matt. Edit accordingly, please.

[Poohbah]

The RF-4B was a declining asset at the start of the war, and VMFP-3 was likewise a declining squadron. Their tale is not a happy one. VMFP-4 "Ninjas" and VMFP-5 "Paparazzi" stood up during the war flying RF-4EJs, and VMFP-3 became the RAG for the RF-4EJ until war's end, decommissioning in 1991. The Ninjas ended up becoming the RF-18D RAG, but could deploy on mobilization, and P-5 was the fleet squadron. VMFP-3 reactivated back in 2014, and has apparently avoided the fate of its first incarnation.

NAVAIR, pursuant to an HQMC requirement, has been working on the VFPX program. There are two approaches getting studied: an F-24 recon variant, or jumping straight to a VFX NGAD variant. The question is whether long range supercruise is going to be a requirement. Given that IOC is that expected to be in the latter half of the 2030s, they don't have a lot of time to choose one or the other. My money is on it being included.

I will say this much: some of the range requirements I'm seeing for Major Airborne Weapons Systems only make sense in the context of the Pacific theater. Orange may be the new black, but I'm getting a disturbing sense that the Five-Sided Puzzle Palace may be looking at Orange being the New/Old Orange at some point.

[Wolfman]

If not for the war, the Navy would have gotten out of the dedicated recon aircraft business in favor of just TARPS…

[jemhouston]

If not for the war, the Navy would have gotten out of the dedicated recon aircraft business in favor of just TARPS…

I always thought TARPS was a better solution for phot recon.

[Wolfman]

Maybe, maybe not.

[Poohbah]

If not for the war, the Navy would have gotten out of the dedicated recon aircraft business in favor of just TARPS…

I always thought TARPS was a better solution for phot recon.

On the one hand, it's more flexible, you just repurpose an airframe for the mission instead of having to have a 4 plane det on board.

On the other hand, it's one more mission to be qualified in, and it's not as if F-14 pilots and NFOs are underemployed.