F-101 weapons / fuel pods : Model 96 / XW-5

[Scott Kenny]

The only concern that SAC would have about this in the 1950s is whether four 1.5-kiloton W25s wouldn't be better used as primaries for four 1,100-kiloton B28s.

I was more thinking having to fly towards the blasts because the bombers you were escorting were also flying towards the blasts...

 

[Yellow Palace]

I was more thinking having to fly towards the blasts because the bombers you were escorting were also flying towards the blasts...

That's what the anti-flash paint and eyepatches are for....

 

[NMaude]

The late Chuck Hansen's "Swords of Armageddon, 2nd Ed." CD-ROM has a fair bit of information about the Model-96/W-5 weapons pod.

 

[Scott Kenny]

The late Chuck Hansen's "Swords of Armageddon, 2nd Ed." CD-ROM has a fair bit of information about the Model-96/W-5 weapons pod.

How do I get a copy?

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

How do I get a copy?

https://www.uscoldwar.com/ordering.htm

Its $200 for the full 3000 page PDF as a download or you can buy individual volumes.

VOLUME I. PART I. WEAPONS PHYSICS

VOLUME I.PART II. POSTWAR U.S. FISSION WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT: SEARCH FOR SIMPLICITY, ETC

VOLUME II. PART III. THERMONUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT, 1942 - 1952:
THE SEARCH FOR FEASIBILITY
RACING IN THE DARK
OPERATION GREENHOUSE

VOLUME III: .THERMONUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT, 1952-1954
OPERATION IVY
OPERATION CASTLE

VOLUME IV: .THERMONUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT, 1954-1969
BUILDING A BETTER BOMB
OPERATION REDWING
OPERATION HARDTACK
OPERATION DOMINIC

VOLUME V
AIRCRAFT BOMBS INCLUDING U.S. NUCLEAR BOMBS;
ANTI-SUBMARINE WEAPONS
ATOMIC DEMOLITION MUNITIONS

VOLUME VI
MISSILE & ROCKET WARHEADS
ATOMIC ARTILLERY SHELLS

VOLUME VII.
PART V. ARMING & FUZING: TECHNOLOGIES & EQUIPMENT
APPENDIX I. U.S. NUCLEAR WEAPONS TEST, 1942- 1962
APPENDIX 2. U.S. NUCLEAR WEAPONS SPECIFICATIONS
APPENDIX 3. TYPICAL U.S. NUCLEAR WEAPONS ACCIDENTS, 1950-1981

 

[NMaude]

How do I get a copy?

https://www.uscoldwar.com/ordering.htm

Its $200 for the full 3000 page PDF as a download or you can buy individual volumes.

Snip.

It is definitely well worth buying the CD-ROM or download, the second edition was far better than the first edition but unfortunately there will be no 3rd, 4th, or 5th edition (They would've been better) as unfortunately Chuck Hansen died in March, 2003 from brain-cancer.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

This is the "Configuration B" version of the Model 96 as published in the August 6, 1956 issue of Aviation Week:

Better copy, same source.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Merged topics.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

This is a figure from an undated document that appears to be the original XW-5/F-101 concept, which (if so) would date from late 1952. The original source document can be accessed here:

https://web.archive.org/web/20111012020828/http://www.doeal.gov/FOIADocs/RR00086.pdf

Ron Easley

I can confirm a better copy of this drawing is on page 1916 of the full Swords of Armageddon PDF along with a closeup diagram of just the pod. (Volume V, P.259)

 

[Scott Kenny]

It is definitely well worth buying the CD-ROM or download, the second edition was far better than the first edition but unfortunately there will be no 3rd, 4th, or 5th edition (They would've been better) as unfortunately Chuck Hansen died in March, 2003 from brain-cancer.

#fuckCancer

 

[A_Random_Guy]

The F-101A had AIM-4s. The Flight International article below says "active-homing missiles".

View attachment 725374

View attachment 725375

I've never seen the (non-nuclear) rocket launchers for the F-101 before, you can see them here on the bottom corners of the fuselage in the profile shot.

Contrary to what the article claims I doubt they are "spin stabilized", these look almost like a 70mm SUU-14 submunition dispenser adapted for 70mm FFARs or just SUU-14s used as placeholders until a dedicated rocket launcher could be built.

 

[_Del_]

I've never seen the (non-nuclear) rocket launchers for the F-101 before, you can see them here on the bottom corners of the fuselage in the profile shot.
View attachment 756466
Contrary to what the article claims I doubt they are "spin stabilized", these look almost like a 70mm SUU-14 submunition dispenser adapted for 70mm FFARs or just SUU-14s used as placeholders until a dedicated rocket launcher could be built.

Both the Mark 4 and Mark 40 FFARs were spin stabilized.

 

[A_Random_Guy]

Both the Mark 4 and Mark 40 FFARs were spin stabilized.

I was not aware of that, I thought it was only implemented in the mk66.

 

[_Del_]

I was not aware of that, I thought it was only implemented in the mk66.

In the case of the Mark 4, it was poorly stabilized, but it was spin-stabilized. Mark 40 redesigned the nozzles which resulted in an improvement. No FFAR's are really known for great accuracy.


You can see in actual photos the fins look a bit botched because of the twist to induce spin. You're looking at all the fins from a different angle. The leading edges are canted slightly.

 

[A_Random_Guy]

In the case of the Mark 4, it was poorly stabilized, but it was spin-stabilized. Mark 40 redesigned the nozzles which resulted in an improvement. No FFAR's are really known for great accuracy.

I have heard good things about the Zuni from a Skyhawk pilot in Vietnam, though this may have been down to the gunsight being more useful in targeting them compared to the Mighty Mouse. Probably didn't hurt that it had a big warhead though.

 

[sferrin]

https://www.uscoldwar.com/ordering.htm

Its $200 for the full 3000 page PDF as a download or you can buy individual volumes.

VOLUME I. PART I. WEAPONS PHYSICS

VOLUME I.PART II. POSTWAR U.S. FISSION WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT: SEARCH FOR SIMPLICITY, ETC

VOLUME II. PART III. THERMONUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT, 1942 - 1952:
THE SEARCH FOR FEASIBILITY
RACING IN THE DARK
OPERATION GREENHOUSE

VOLUME III: .THERMONUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT, 1952-1954
OPERATION IVY
OPERATION CASTLE

VOLUME IV: .THERMONUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT, 1954-1969
BUILDING A BETTER BOMB
OPERATION REDWING
OPERATION HARDTACK
OPERATION DOMINIC

VOLUME V
AIRCRAFT BOMBS INCLUDING U.S. NUCLEAR BOMBS;
ANTI-SUBMARINE WEAPONS
ATOMIC DEMOLITION MUNITIONS

VOLUME VI
MISSILE & ROCKET WARHEADS
ATOMIC ARTILLERY SHELLS

VOLUME VII.
PART V. ARMING & FUZING: TECHNOLOGIES & EQUIPMENT
APPENDIX I. U.S. NUCLEAR WEAPONS TEST, 1942- 1962
APPENDIX 2. U.S. NUCLEAR WEAPONS SPECIFICATIONS
APPENDIX 3. TYPICAL U.S. NUCLEAR WEAPONS ACCIDENTS, 1950-1981

Anybody know if these are still available? I tried contacting them several months ago and got no response.

 

[NMaude]

Anybody know if these are still available? I tried contacting them several months ago and got no response.

I don't know if they're still available as I bought my 2nd Ed. CD-ROM in 2003 not long after Chuck Hansen died, it could be that his widow sold off all of the remaining stock and for some reason has done another "Print" run. Anyway here's the email-address: sobernardo@aol.com