Tactical Nuclear Bombers vs Fighter-Bombers

[PR19_Kit]

1 Weirdly FAS (http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/airdef/f-86.htm) states that the F-86 was redesigned as a fighter bomber in the F-86H!

AFAIK that's correct. See here for instance :-

http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p86_16.html

and many other references say the H was a dedicated ground attack model.

[KJ_Lesnick]

Mr. Creak

But, if carrying bombs had had an impact on the primary mission they'd have been left out.

Not if they weren't needed at all, the F-86D for example was a pure interceptor, other than drop-tanks it didn't need to carry anything outside.

Ah, got it.

Understood

It wasn't until the closing stages of Korea that F-86s were assigned to ground attack. Up until then it had been a case of "any old type will do that job".

I didn't know that.

Weirdly FAS (http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/airdef/f-86.htm) states that the F-86 was redesigned as a fighter bomber in the F-86H!

Crazy huh?

[Mr.Creak]

AFAIK that's correct. See here for instance :-
http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p86_16.html
and many other references say the H was a dedicated ground attack model.

Yeah, but the point is that the "dedicated ground attack model" actually carried less air-surface ordnance than the "fighter" version.   

[KJ_Lesnick]

Mr. Creak

Yeah, but the point is that the "dedicated ground attack model" actually carried less air-surface ordnance than the "fighter" version.  

Maybe in theory, but for practical purposes, no...

The F-86F could carry the following

• 8 x HVAR, possibly 2 x 120 gallon tanks: 1072 lbs (just 8 x 5" HVAR); 2644 lbs to 2656 lbs with everything (JP-4 is either 6.55 or 6.6, I've heard both figures used and truthfully temperatures will have affect on exact density)
  
• 2 x 750 pound napalm tanks & 2 x 120 gallon tanks: 3072 to 3084 lbs
  
• 2 x 1000 pound bombs & 2 x 120 gallon tanks: 3572 to 3584 pounds
  
• 1 x 1200 pound nuclear store (inboard left), 2 x 200 (inboard right), 2 x 120 gallon tanks: 4082 to 4104 lbs
  
• Maximum payload was 5,300 but evidently the pylons couldn't hold all that unless you could occupy all four hardpoins and carry the HVAR (I'm not sure if that was do-able)
  

.
The F-86H-10NH could carry the following

• 2 x 1000 pound bombs, 2 x 200 gallon tanks: 3620 to 3640 lbs
  
• 1 x 1200 pound nuclear bomb, 3 x 200 gallon tanks: 5130 to 5160 lbs
  

If you look at the OEW's, the fuel weight, the MTOGW's and you'll find there's 6,000 to 7,000 pounds to spare.  While theoretically the F-86F can carry more; in practice, the F-86H could haul a greater load.

[Mr.Creak]

Ah, the light begins to show.
Thanks for that.