REPUBLIC F-105 THUNDERCHIEF The "THUD"
F-105 over Mt FUJI
The Republic F-105 Thunderchief, was a supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. The Mach 2 capable F-105 bore the brunt of strike bombing over North Vietnam during the early years of the Vietnam War. Originally designed and deployed as a single seat aircraft, a two-seat Wild Weasel version was later developed for use in the specialized Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) role against surface-to-air missile sites. It was commonly known as the Thud by its crews.
As a follow-on to the Mach 1 capable F-100, the F-105 was also armed with missiles and a cannon; however, its design was tailored to high-speed low-altitude penetration carrying a single nuclear bomb internally. First flown in 1955, the Thunderchief entered service in 1958. As the largest single-engined fighter ever employed by the USAF, the single-seat F-105 would be adapted to deliver a greater bomb load than the four-engined, 10-man strategic bombers of World War II like the B-17 and B-24. The F-105 would be best remembered as the primary strike bomber over North Vietnam in the early stages of the Vietnam War. Over 20,000 Thunderchief sorties were flown, with 382 aircraft lost (nearly half of the 833 produced) including 62 operational losses. Although it lacked the agility of the smaller MiG fighters, USAF F-105s demonstrated the effectiveness of guns, and were credited with downing 27.5 enemy aircraft.
During the war, the two-seat F-105F and F-105G Wild Weasel variants became the first dedicated Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) platforms, fighting against the Soviet-built S-75 Dvina/(SA-2 Guideline) surface-to-air missiles. Two Wild Weasel pilots were awarded the Medal of Honor for attacking North Vietnamese surface-to-air missile sites, with one shooting down two MiG-17s the same day. The dangerous missions often required them to be the "first in, last out," suppressing enemy air defenses and keeping them suppressed while strike aircraft accomplished their missions and then left the area.
Although the F-105 weighed 50,000 lb (22,680 kg), the aircraft could exceed the speed of sound at sea level and Mach 2 at high altitude. It could carry up to 14,000 lb (6,350 kg) of bombs and missiles. The Thunderchief was later replaced as a strike aircraft over North Vietnam by both the F-4 Phantom II and the swing-wing F-111.[2] However, the "Wild Weasel" variants of the F-105 remained in service until 1984, when they were replaced by a specialized F-4G "Wild Weasel V". The USAF F-4G was subsequently replaced by the USAF F-16CJ Fighting Falcon aircraft, currently employed in the SEAD role.
Vietnam War
F-105D on the ramp at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand
Location of the Thud Ridge and the MiG airfield on its southern tip.
In spite of a troubled early service life, the F-105 became the dominant attack aircraft during the early Vietnam War. The F-105 could carry more than twice the bomb load further and faster than the F-100, which was used mostly in South Vietnam.[11] In a foreshadowing of its Wild Weasel role, the first F-105D combat mission of the war involved an attack on 14 August 1964 against an anti-aircraft artillery site on Plaine des Jarres.[1] This mission was carried out by aircraft of the 36th TFS, 6441st Tactical Fighter Wing deployed from Yokota Air Base Japan to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base.[12] The first Thunderchief of the war was also lost in this mission (the pilot managed to eject safely). The first strike mission took place on 13 January 1965 with the destruction of the Ben Ken bridge in Laos.[1] Following the start of Operation Rolling Thunder on 1 March 1965, a large number of F-105Ds were deployed in Royal Thai Air Force Bases at Khorat and Takh
li.
On 2 August 1967, F-105Ds from 335th and 338th Tactical Fighter Squadrons made the first of many successful raids on the Paul Doumer bridge.[1] While the planes were first deployed with their original natural metal finish, they soon adopted the distinctive two-green and tan Vietnam camouflage scheme which blended into the jungle landscape.
General characteristics
* Crew: 1
* Payload: 14,000 lb (6,700 kg) of weapons
* Length: 64 ft 4.75 in (19.63 m)
* Wingspan: 34 ft 11.25 in (10.65 m)
* Height: 19 ft 8 in (5.99 m)
* Wing area: 385 ft² (35.76 m²)
* Airfoil: NACA 65A005.5 root, NACA 65A003.7 tip
* Empty weight: 27,500 lb (12,470 kg)
* Loaded weight: 35,637 lb (16,165 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 52,546 lb (23,834 kg)
* Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney J75-P-19W afterburning turbojet
o Dry thrust: - (-)
o Thrust with afterburner: 26,500 lbf (118 kN)
* * Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0173
* Drag area: 6.65 ft² (0.62 m²)
* Aspect ratio: 3.16
Performance
* Maximum speed: Mach 2.08 (1,372 mph, 2,208 km/h) at 36,000 ft (11,000 m)
* Combat radius: 780 mi (680 nmi, 1,250 km)
* Ferry range: 2,210 mi (1,920 nmi, 3,550 km)
* Service ceiling: 48,500 ft (14,800 m)
* Rate of climb: 38,500 ft/min (195 m/s)
* Wing loading: 93 lb/ft² (452 kg/m²)
* Thrust/weight: 0.74
* Lift-to-drag ratio: 10.4
* Time to altitude: 1.7 min to 35,000 ft (11,000 m)
Armament
* Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.79 in) M61 Vulcan cannon, 1,028 rounds
* Hardpoints: 5 plus bomb bay with a capacity of Up to 14,000 lb (6350 kg) of ordnance, including conventional and nuclear bombs, and AIM-9 Sidewinder and AGM-12 Bullpup missiles.,
*Other:
Avionics
* NASARR R-14A radar
* AN/ASG-19 Thunderstick fire control system
* AN/ARN-85 LORAN (AN/ARN-92 in Thunderstick II-modified aircraft)