[Profile] Grumman F/A-111N "Sea Vark" USN 1979

[Cliffy B]

Evening all!  Been working on the first of my profiles and thought I'd post up the first two.  These are about 90% done, don't feel like drawing ordnance and wing pylons tonight.  "Sea Vark" is just a place holder for now until I can come up with an appropriate name; any ideas?  I used the F-111E as a base and grafted on the nose cone and targeting camera of an F-14, added a nose cat attachment bar, and an arrestor hook.  Mounted in the internal weapons bay will be an M-61 Vulcan with over 2,100 rounds!  Seldom used by the USAF in reality, I opted to include it with the USN version.  Wings will have 4 pylons that swing with the wings with glove stations for Sidewinders on the outboard pylons.

Backstory:

Development of the nasalized F-111 didn't stop when the USN rejected the interceptor version back in the late 1960's.  Grumman secretly continued the design and approached the USN with a carrier based strike version in 1972.  The USN was impressed with the performance of the USAF F-111s in Vietnam and jumped at the chance to get a carrier capable version for themselves.  The prototypes performed beyond even Grumman's expectations and the USN placed an order for 36 aircraft to outfit 4 Heavy Attack squadrons (VAH).  Two squadrons are assigned to each coast with four plane detachments (or DETs) deploying with the carriers as needed.  The first FB-111Ns were assigned to VAH-11 in 1977.  The USMC also joined in and ordered a like number for the CAS role.

Missing Vietnam, the new "Sea Vark's" combat debut was in the skies over Taiwan, flying from the decks of the USS Saratoga and USS Constellation from late 1978 until mid 1979.  The Varks performed admirably, using their speed to literally run circles around the Chinese air defenses.  Their actions proved crucial to the lightening success of the ground war, finally ending in early 1979.  The 1980's and 1990's saw USN and USMC Varks over the skies of many a South American and Middle Eastern country, each time proving their worth more and more.  In the mid 1990's Grumman introduced an updated version of the Sea Vark dubbed the F/A-111P with all new avionics and an integrated ECM system.

After the introduction of the Su-24N into the Russian Navy the USN decided to ship a few surplus Sea Varks over to one of their aggressor squadrons; VFC-111.  Painted in a disruptive scheme of light and medium blue the new "Sea Varkskis" proved an excellent likeness for the Fencers.

Profiles:

Taiwan Crisis 1978-1979:

F/A-111N of VAH-9 "The Hoot Owls" - Line Bird - TPS Scheme 1


F/A-111N of VAH-11 "The Checkertails" - Line Bird - TPS Scheme 1



Operation Praying Mantis 1988:

F/A-111N of VAH-7 "The Peacemakers" - CAG Bird - TPS Scheme 2


F/A-111N of VAH-7 "The Peacemakers"  - Line Bird - TPS Scheme 2



Operation Desert Storm 1991:

F/A-111N of VAH-11 "The Checkertails" - CAG Bird - TPS Scheme 2


F/A-111N of VAH-11 "The Checkertails" - Line Bird - TPS Scheme 2



USN Aggressors:
F/A-111N of VFC-111 "The Sundowners" - Line Bird - Flanker Blues


F/A-111N of VFC-111 "The Sundowners" - Line Bird - Arctic Green Scheme


F/A-111N of VFC-111 "The Sundowners" - Line Bird - Arctic Gray Scheme


Yes I know I wrote that two are aboard the Indy for Desert Storm and left Connie's name on their sides.  Connie began her SLEP in 1989 and therefore her DET from VAH-11 was shore based for the duration.  When war seemed all but inevitable in the Persian Gulf, the Indy was ordered to scoop up DET I on her way to the Gulf.  Being aboard only temporarily, they didn't bother to repaint the ship's name or CVW tail code. Upon Connie's emergence from the yard in 1992, DET I returned to her decks.

Line art courtesy of Coops213's blanks found here http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,28426.0.html


Any comments, thoughts, ideas, etc... are appreciated as always.

-Mike

[Cobra]

Hey Cliffy, how about calling your Navy F-111 as the Wolf Shark? it has a Kind of Almost Shark like look with a Tomcat nose! Can't wait to see more. Dan

[Shasper]

What about Mako? I'm having the same problem with the official name too!

[Cliffy B]

For the sake of organization I'll be amending my initial post with new profiles and additions to the story.  Added two VAH-7 birds from Operation Praying Mantis, one colorful CAG and one subdued line bird, both loaded for maritime strike.

Also drew up some ordnance and wing pylons.  For the outboard pylon I grafted on the lower section of an F-14 pylon in order to provide clearance for the Sidewinder rail and missile.  I also corrected the location of the "Danger Ejection Seat" triangles and some landing gear issues.

More to come!

Any comments, thoughts, ideas, etc... are appreciated as always.

-Mike

[sideshowbob9]

Nice profiles and I love the idea of keeping the VAHs around! 

[ysi_maniac]

Naval F-111 is just COOL!
BTW did you know that tail fin was taller in first studies? 

[KJ_Lesnick]

While I think the artwork is very well done, I'm thinking the F-111B probably wouldn't be as good as the F-111A at low-altitude due to the aircraft possessing a shorter, comparatively blunter nose.  I could be wrong though.

[Hammer]

Put two vertical surfaces in the F-111Ns back and you got yourself a winner!

Great art!

Regards, Hammer

[Cliffy B]

Two vert surfaces huh?  Do tell sir, do tell...

By the way, the next installment of profiles will be a few Sea Varks over Taiwan in 1978.  Time for some Gull Gray over white!

[KJ_Lesnick]

Would using a tandem-cockpit, an F-14 nose, and twin vertical stabilizers deviate too much from the group-build contest requirements?

[Cliffy B]

Alright, well after a long break I've returned to my Sea Varks and added 3 new ones.  A pair of subdued line birds from VAH-9 and VAH-11 over Taiwan in 1979 and a colorful aggressor bird from VFC-111 in 1992.  I also added a little bit to the backstory.  I'll type up a more complete story later on before posting the final lineup in the finished profiles thread.

That's all for now.  Think I'll do some more aggressors and VAH-9 birds.  Until then enjoy!


Any comments, thoughts, ideas, etc... are appreciated as always.

-Mike

[Maverick]

Very tasty Varks Mike.  A couple of years ago, I added Marine birds to the mix, along with the usual Navy suspects.

Regards,

Mav

[Cliffy B]

Evening gents!  I updated a few of the profiles above with some minor fixes as well as changed two of them completely.  VAH-11 LB 1979 and 1991 CAG got a markings change and all birds are now armed.  Just a quick update, I'm working on a few more aggressor birds for VFC-111 right now.  Check back a bit later for the bandits.

Edit:  Added some Arctic camo bandits from VFC-111, enjoy!