Luftwaffe Grumman F14G "Seekatze", October 1980

[nönöbär]

Luftwaffe Grumman F14G "Seekatze", October 1980


The aircraft:

After the USN had introduced the Grumman F-14 in September 1974, the US government approached Germany to introduce the F14 at the Marineflieger. This move was not without second thoughts.
At this time, Germany operated one Aircraft carrier, the Graf Zeppelin. Build during WW2 and modernized after the war, Germany operated the F4N as the primary carrier-based fighter. However, with the approach of more modern Soviet build aircraft, the need for a more modern fighter jet was seen by the German military.
As the Graf Zeppelin was a small carrier, it was not very well suited for operations of larger aircraft like the F14, therefore the USA suggested a package of F14 plus the option of a non-nuclear aircraft carrier slightly bigger than the last class of conventional US carrier.

This idea was not rejected directly in Germany, however it was decided to prioritize the F14 first, while keeping the carrier option open. Contracts for 36 F14 were signed in April of 1977, with an option of additional 36 aircraft.

Based on the F14A model, Grumman constructed the F14G with slightly modified avionics, but more or less, the aircraft was similar to the F14A used by the USN.

On October 3rd, 1980, the first F14G had its rollout at Grumman's factory in Calverton, Long Island, followed by its successful maiden flight the next day.
But only one week after that, the Graf Zeppelin had its fatal engine breakdown which lead to the decommissioning of the ship.
The original US plan to sell a new carrier to Germany was not accepted by the Bundesregierung as the costs for a new ship was seen as too expensive. Therefore, the Graf Zeppelin was not replaced.

The F14G's "Seekatze" were introduced at the Marienflieger and based in Jagel from 1981 on. From there, the aircraft mainly operated over the North and Baltic Sea. Together with Luftwaffe F4, they were also used on quick alert duty to protect German Airspace.

F14G also operated on US carriers from time to time, mainly on ships in the North Atlantic, but also in the Mediterranean.

From 2010 on, the F14Gs were taken out of service, the last of them left active duty in 2013. Most of them were scrapped by the US military directly – to prevent that parts of the planes would come into Iranian hands – the only other operator of the F14.

Three of the planes are now displayed in museums.

The model shows a  Luftwaffe F16G "Seekatze" during its initial rollout on October 3rd, 1980 on a faked carrier deck.










The model:

The model is a 1/72 scale Italieri Kit of a F14 Bomb Cat. Luckily the kit also contains all AA missiles so they could be used. Besides this, the model is built OOB. Airbrushed with Revel Aqua Color, I used some of the original decals and some HaHen ones.
   

[comrade harps]

Neat 

Btw, is that an extra part on the left nose behind the radome?

[zenrat]

 

[Old Wombat]

 

[chrisonord]

Very nice, and natural in German  navy  markings.

[Glenn Gilbertson]

Good-looking & plausible!

[McColm]

Well done