OVERVIEW: The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was a supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. The Mach 2 capable F-105 conducted the majority of strike bombing missions during the early years of the Vietnam War; it was the only U.S. aircraft to have been removed from combat due to high loss rates. Originally designed as a single-seat, nuclear-attack aircraft, a two-seat Wild Weasel version was later developed for the specialized Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) role against surface-to-air missile sites. The F-105 was commonly known as the "Thud" by its crews.

DETAILS: As a follow-on to the Mach 1 capable North American F-100 Super Sabre, the F-105 was also armed with missiles and a cannon; however, its design was tailored to high-speed low-altitude penetration carrying a single nuclear weapon internally. First flown in 1955, the Thunderchief entered service in 1958. The F-105 could deliver a greater bomb load than some American heavy bombers of World War II such as the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The F-105 was one of the primary attack aircraft of the Vietnam War; over 20,000 Thunderchief sorties were flown, with 382 aircraft lost including 62 operational (non-combat) losses (out of the 833 produced). Although less agile than smaller MiG fighters, USAF F-105s were credited with 27.5 kills.

During the war, the single-seat F-105D was the primary aircraft delivering the heavy bomb loads against the various military targets. Meanwhile, the two-seat F-105F and F-105G Wild Weasel variants became the first dedicated Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) platforms, fighting against the Soviet-built S-75 Dvina (NATO reporting name: SA-2 Guideline) surface-to-air missiles. Two Wild Weasel pilots were awarded the Medal of Honor for attacking North Vietnamese surface-to-air missile sites, with one shooting down two MiG-17s the same day. The dangerous missions often required them to be the "first in, last out", suppressing enemy air defenses while strike aircraft accomplished their missions and then left the area.

The Thunderchief was the largest single-seat, single-engine combat aircraft in history, weighing approximately 50,000 pounds (23,000 kg). It could exceed the speed of sound at sea level and reach Mach 2 at high altitude;[4] The F-105 could carry up to 14,000 lb (6,400 kg) of bombs and missiles. The Thunderchief was later replaced as a strike aircraft over North Vietnam by both the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II and the swing-wing General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark. However, the "Wild Weasel" variants of the F-105 remained in service until 1984 after being replaced by the specialized F-4G "Wild Weasel V".

SPECIFICATION: Crew: (1), (2) for F-105C/E/F/G variants || Length: 64 ft 4.75 in (19.63 m) || Wingspan: 34 ft 11.25 in (10.65 m) || Height: 19 ft 8 in (5.99 m) || Max. takeoff weight: 52,546 lb (23,834 kg) || Powerplant: (1) Pratt & Whitney J75-P-19W afterburning turbojet || Dry thrust: 14,300 Ibf (63,74kN) || AB Thrust with afterburner: 24,500 Ibf (109 kN).

PERFORMANCE: Max speed: Mach 2.08 (1,372 mph, 2,208 km/h) || Combat radius: 780 mi (680 nmi, 1,250 km) || Service ceiling: 48,500 ft (14,800 m) || Rate of climb: 38,500 ft/min (195 m/s) || Thrust/weight: 0.74 || Time to altitude: 1.7 min to 35,000 ft (11,000 m)

SENSORS: NASARR R-14A radar || AN/ASG-19 Thunderstick fire control system || AN/ARN-85 LORAN (AN/ARN-92 in Thunderstick II-modified aircraft).

ARMAMENT: (1) 20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan 6-barreled Gatling cannon, 1,028 rounds || Hardpoints: 5 total with (4) under-wing, (1) centerline pylon stations plus an internal bomb bay with a capacity of Up to 14,000 lb (6,400 kg) of ordnance, including conventional and nuclear bombs, and AIM-9 Sidewinder and AGM-12 Bullpup missiles.

SOURCE: [SCO] Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org

