Some background:The North American FJ-4 Fury was a swept-wing carrier-capable fighter-bomber, originally developed for the United States Navy and Marine Corps. It was the final development in a lineage that included the Air Force's F-86 Sabre. The FJ-4 shared its general layout and engine with the earlier FJ-3, but featured an entirely new wing design. And it was, as a kind of final embodiment with the FJ-4B, a very different aircraft from the F-86.
1:72 North American FJ-4B 'Fury'; aircraft '202', 860th Squadron, Netherlands Marine-Luchtvaartdienst/MLD; on board of HNLMS Karel Doorman R81, New Guinea/Indonesia region, 1960 (Whif) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 North American FJ-4B 'Fury'; aircraft '202', 860th Squadron, Netherlands Marine-Luchtvaartdienst/MLD; on board of HNLMS Karel Doorman R81, New Guinea/Indonesia region, 1960 (Whif) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 North American FJ-4B 'Fury'; aircraft '202', 860th Squadron, Netherlands Marine-Luchtvaartdienst/MLD; on board of HNLMS Karel Doorman R81, New Guinea/Indonesia region, 1960 (Whif) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
The first FJ-4 flew on 28 October 1954 and delivery began in February 1955. Of the original order for 221 FJ-4 fighters, the last 71 were modified into the FJ-4B fighter-bomber version, of which the Netherlands received 16 aircraft under the designation FJ-4B from the USA in the course of NATO support. Even though the main roles of the MLD were maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue, the FJ-4B was a dedicated fighter-bomber, and these aircraft were to be used with the Dutch Navy’s Colossus-Class carrier HNLMS Karel Doorman (R81).
1:72 North American FJ-4B 'Fury'; aircraft '202', 860th Squadron, Netherlands Marine-Luchtvaartdienst/MLD; on board of HNLMS Karel Doorman R81, New Guinea/Indonesia region, 1960 (Whif) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 North American FJ-4B 'Fury'; aircraft '202', 860th Squadron, Netherlands Marine-Luchtvaartdienst/MLD; on board of HNLMS Karel Doorman R81, New Guinea/Indonesia region, 1960 (Whif) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
Compared to the lighter FJ-4 interceptor, the FJ-4B had a stronger wing with six instead of four underwing stations, a stronger landing gear and additional aerodynamic brakes under the aft fuselage. The latter made landing safer by allowing pilots to use higher thrust settings, and were also useful for dive attacks. Compared to the FJ-4, external load was doubled, and the US FJ-4Bs were capable of carrying a nuclear weapon on the inboard port station, a feature the MLD Furies lacked. The MLD aircraft were still equipped with the corresponding LABS or Low-Altitude Bombing System for accurate delivery of ordnance.
The Dutch Furies were primarily intended for anti-ship missions (toting up to five of the newly developed ASM-N-7 missiles - renamed in AGM-12B Bullpup after 1962 - plus a guidance pod) and CAS duties against coastal targets, as well as for precision strikes. In a secondary role, the FJ-4B could carry Sidewinder AAMs for interception purposes.
1:72 North American FJ-4B 'Fury'; aircraft '202', 860th Squadron, Netherlands Marine-Luchtvaartdienst/MLD; on board of HNLMS Karel Doorman R81, New Guinea/Indonesia region, 1960 (Whif) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 North American FJ-4B 'Fury'; aircraft '202', 860th Squadron, Netherlands Marine-Luchtvaartdienst/MLD; on board of HNLMS Karel Doorman R81, New Guinea/Indonesia region, 1960 (Whif) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 North American FJ-4B 'Fury'; aircraft '202', 860th Squadron, Netherlands Marine-Luchtvaartdienst/MLD; on board of HNLMS Karel Doorman R81, New Guinea/Indonesia region, 1960 (Whif) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
The MLD's FJ-4B became operational in 1956, just in time to enhance the firepower of the Karel Doorman, which just had its 24 WW-II era propeller driven Fairey Firefly strike fighters and Hawker Sea Fury fighter/anti-ship aircraft backed up with 14 TBF Avenger ASW/torpedo bombers and 10 Hawker Sea Hawk fighters (the MLD owned 22 of these) for an ASW/Strike profile. The Furies joined the carrier in late 1957 and replaced the piston-engined attack aircraft.
1:72 North American FJ-4B 'Fury'; aircraft '202', 860th Squadron, Netherlands Marine-Luchtvaartdienst/MLD; on board of HNLMS Karel Doorman R81, New Guinea/Indonesia region, 1960 (Whif) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 North American FJ-4B 'Fury'; aircraft '202', 860th Squadron, Netherlands Marine-Luchtvaartdienst/MLD; on board of HNLMS Karel Doorman R81, New Guinea/Indonesia region, 1960 (Whif) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
In 1960, during the Dutch decolonization and planned independence of Western New Guinea, a territory which was also claimed by Indonesia, the Karel Doorman set sail along with two destroyers and a modified oil tanker to 'show the flag'. In order to avoid possible problems with Indonesia's ally Egypt at the Suez Canal, the carrier instead sailed around the horn of Africa. She arrived in Fremantle, Australia, where the local seamen's union struck in sympathy with Indonesia; the crew used the propeller thrust of aircraft chained down on deck to nudge the carrier into dock without tugs! In addition to her air wing, she was ferrying twelve Hawker Hunter fighters to bolster the local Dutch defense forces, which the Karel Doorman delivered when she arrived at Hollandia, New Guinea.
1:72 North American FJ-4B 'Fury'; aircraft '202', 860th Squadron, Netherlands Marine-Luchtvaartdienst/MLD; on board of HNLMS Karel Doorman R81, New Guinea/Indonesia region, 1960 (Whif) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 North American FJ-4B 'Fury'; aircraft '202', 860th Squadron, Netherlands Marine-Luchtvaartdienst/MLD; on board of HNLMS Karel Doorman R81, New Guinea/Indonesia region, 1960 (Whif) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
During the 1960 crisis, Indonesia prepared for a military action named Operation Trikora (in the Indonesian language, "Tri Komando Rakyat" means "The Three Commands of the People"). In addition to planning for an invasion, the TNI-AU (Indonesian Air Forces) hoped to sink the Karel Doorman with Soviet-supplied Tupolev Tu-16KS-1 Badger naval bombers using AS-1 Kennel/KS-1 Kometa anti-ship missiles. This bomber-launched missile strike mission was cancelled on short notice, though, because of the implementation of the cease-fire between Indonesia and the Netherlands.
This led to a Dutch withdrawal and temporary UN peacekeeping administration, followed by occupation and annexation through Indonesia. While the Dutch aircraft served actively during this conflict, flying patrols and demonstrating presence, visibly armed and in alert condition, no 'hot' sortie or casualty occured, even though one aircraft, 10-18, was lost in a start accident. The pilot ejected safely.
1:72 North American FJ-4B 'Fury'; aircraft '202', 860th Squadron, Netherlands Marine-Luchtvaartdienst/MLD; on board of HNLMS Karel Doorman R81, New Guinea/Indonesia region, 1960 (Whif) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 North American FJ-4B 'Fury'; aircraft '202', 860th Squadron, Netherlands Marine-Luchtvaartdienst/MLD; on board of HNLMS Karel Doorman R81, New Guinea/Indonesia region, 1960 (Whif) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
The MLD FJ-4Bs only served on the carrier until its overhaul in 1964, after which the carrier-borne attack role was eliminated and all aircraft were transferred to land bases (Valkenburg) or in reserve storage. The Seahawks were retired from service by the end of the 1960s after the sale of the Karel Doorman to Argentina, and the FJ-4Bs were returned to the United States, where they were re-integrated into the USMC until the end of the 1960ies, when all FJ-4 aircraft were phased out.General characteristics:Crew: 1
Length: 36 ft 4 in (11.1 m)
Wingspan: 39 ft 1 in (11.9 m)
Height: 13 ft 11 in (4.2 m)
Wing area: 338.66 ft² (31.46 m²)
Empty weight: 13,210 lb (6,000 kg)
Loaded weight: 20,130 lb (9,200 kg)
Max. take-off weight: 23,700 lb (10,750 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Wright J65-W-16A turbojet, 7,700 lbf (34 kN)
Performance:Maximum speed: 680 mph (1,090 km/h) at 35,000 ft (10,670 m)
Range: 2,020 mi (3,250 km) with 2× 200 gal (760 l) drop tanks and 2× AIM-9 missiles
Service ceiling: 46,800 ft (14,300 m)
Rate of climb: 7,660 ft/min (38.9 m/s)
Wing loading: 69.9 lb/ft² (341.7 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: .325
Armament:4× 20 mm (0.787 in) cannon
6× pylons under the wings for 3,000 lb (1,400 kg) external ordnance, including up to 6× AIM-9 Sidewinder AAMs, bombs and guided/unguided ASM, e .g. ASM-N-7 (AGM-12B Bullpup) missiles.
Was neues aus der Bastelküche - der Bausatz ist die alte Emhar Fury, allerdings in einigen teilen gepimpt, u.a. mit einem neuen Scratch-Cockpit plus Pilot, ausgefahrenene Landeklappen, Antennen am Rumpf, einem offenen Lufteinlauf mit Splitter, und neuen Außenlasten. Wie "üblich" ist dies eine Fantasie-Maschine, auch wenn die Umstände real sind/waren - auch der niederländische Flugzeugträger und der Einsatz in Indonesien.
Thema: What if? North American FJ-4B 'Fury'; 860th Squadron, NL-MLD, Indondesien, 1960 (Whif) (Gelesen 3728 mal)