USN Vought F7U-3M Cutlass

[comrade harps]

Vought F7U-3M Cutlass 
a/c 141379, VFAW-3, USS Oriskany, Pacific Ocean, 21 October 1958
Personal mount of Commander Chris Richards (Pilot) and Lieutenant Joe Scally (Radar Intercept Officer).



The Vought F7U Cutlass was designed to meet a 1945 US Navy requirement for a jet powered fleet night/all-weather fleet defence fighter. Initial design studies used a twin finned tailless swept wing planform, before settling on a pod and boom layout with swept wings. Twin-engined and radar equipped, the Cutlass was crewed by a pilot and a radar intercept officer (RIO), the latter sitting buried in the fuselage. 


Early versions of the Cutlass were dangerous. All 3 XFU-7 prototypes crashed, and the initial production model, the F7U-1N, was limited to 24 machines due to being significantly underpowered. These early versions used variants of the Westinghouse J34 turbojet and the AN/APQ-50 radar.





Whereas the limited edition -1N was used exclusively for trials and training, the J46 powered F7U-2N was mass produced and deployed for combat duties. Entering service in 1953, it replaced F2H-3 and -4 Banshees and F3D-2M Skynights. Featuring the AN/APQ-36 fire control radar, the -2N was armed with 4 20mm Mk 12 Colt cannon mounted in the wing roots (outboard of the booms), 2.75 inch Mighty Mouse rockets fired from retractable trays and additional rockets carried in up to 6 pods. During 1954 production switched to the -2M model. This featured the AN/APQ-41 fire control radar, which was able to designate targets for the beam-riding AAM-N-2 Sparrow I missile. This was replaced by the semi-active homing (SARH) Sparrow III in 1956. That same year IR guided Sidewinders were added to the -2M's arsenal. Although of shorter range than the Sparrow, Sidewinders proved to have a higher kill probability. 35 -2s were built as -2P photo-reconnaissance machines and 35 as -2Qs for electronic warfare duties.



The -3 series featured significant airframe changes to accommodate a pair of J65 turbojets. The -3M omitted the Colt cannon and the rocket trays in favour of SARH guided Sparrow IIIs (with targets illuminated by the AN/APQ-50B fire control radar), podded rockets and, from early 1956, AAM-N-6 (AIM-9B) Sidewinders. The 6 hardpoints could also carry air to surface ordnance, (including AGM-12 Bullpups) and external fuel tanks. The standard fighter loadout was a mix of 2 Sparrows, 2 Sidewinders and 2 drop tanks. -3P and -3Q models were also produced. Finally equipped with sufficient power, the accident rate fell with the -3 series. 



The Marine Corps' A2U-1 was next on the production line. Designed as an all-weather fighter-bomber, the A2U-1 was powered by a pair of J52 turbojets. The A2U-1 was armed with 4 20mm Colt Mk.12 cannon, housed 2 each in forward boom extensions. Other weapons included Sidewiders, rocket pods, napalm tanks, free-fall bombs and Bullpups. The type performed anti-shipping, close air support and interdiction missions. It was equipped with the LABS (Low-Altitude Bombing System) and was capable of delivering atomic bombs. A2U-1s were in service from 1956 to 1961. 



The F7U-4 was the definitive Cutlass fighter. Entering service in 1957, it was built in F7U-4M, -4P and -4Q models. The -4 series shared the powerplant and enlarged booms of the A2U-1, but was optimised for air-to-air combat. Thanks to the combined power of their 2 J52s, both the A2U-1 and F7U-4 were marginally supersonic, the airframe being the major limiting factor.



Vought proposed several unfunded models of the Cutlass. A single seat day fighter version with 4 20mm cannon and an AN/ALQ-51 radar was quickly dismissed by the Navy. Demands for increased range resulted in engineering proposals to house additional fuel in an extended fuselage and wingtip tanks; these studies resulted in a brochure for a specialised air refueling tanker version. However, the prospect of a flying fuel tank with a high accident rate was little appreciated. An "urgent COD" proposal featured a stretched fuselage with accommodation for upto 6 personnel, light cargo or casualties on stretchers. An unsolicited submission from 1954 proposed to build a Super Cutlass. This was to have significant airframe changes, thinner wings with greater sweep and be powered by twin J79 turbojets. Both crew members sat in tandem seating under an elongated canopy. Although promising, the Navy overlooked the type in favour of what became the F4H Phantom II. As production orders dried up, Vought recommended using surplus Cutlass airframes as electronic warfare trainers, as drone controllers, as radio controlled targets and as target tugs, but the Navy passed on these ideas. The best they could do in retirement was service as fire training hulks and ground targets. 

No Navy Reserve or Marine Corps Reserve squadrons were equipped with the Cutlass. All attempts at gaining export orders failed.



The last Cutlass cruise was in early 1961 and it was completely withdrawn from service by August. The rapid retirement of the Cutlass was due in part to the success of the next generation of Navy aircraft, including the EA-3 Skywarrior, the A-4 Skyhawk and the F-4 Phantom II. But perhaps the most critical factor in its swift demise was the fact that wing cracks were found in -4s and A2U-1s after just a few years of service due to manufacturing defects. These were discovered as a result of several high speed inflight breakups, leading to groundings and placarded speed and g force limits being imposed. Although local structural reinforcements were adopted as a temporary fix, the Navy and Marines didn't want to invest in what was now seen as an obsolete type and disposed of the Cutlass as soon as possible. 



This F7U-3M was the personal mount of Commander Chris Richards (pilot) and Lieutenant Joe Scally (RIO). Commander Richards was a former Skyknight and Banshee pilot, with 6 kills to his name from those platforms. Cmdr Richards would later shoot down 2 Vietnamese Fluffies and a Fishbed whilst flying F-4B Phantom IIs in 1965. Lt Scally was on his 2nd Cutlass tour, having survived a deployment as a ferret (electronic warfare officer) in the F7U-2Q. He would go on to fly in the back seat of F-4Bs over Vietnam and be credited with 3 Fishbed and a single Fresco kill during a 1965-66 deployment. Together the pair were credited with 4 kills of Red Chinese aircraft whilst flying from USS Oriskany during the 1958 Taiwan Straits Crisis. 

Between 24 and 30 September 1958, Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF) Sabre pilots shot down 31 Chinese Migs over the disputed Taiwan Straits. In return, the Reds had destroyed just 2 F-86F Sabres. The difference was largely down to the Sabres being armed with Sidewinders, whilst the MiGs were without air-to-air missiles. 

With the RCoAF having established daylight air superiority, the Reds turned to nocturnal air interdiction from 5 October. Beagle bombers began patrolling the sea around Kinmen (Quemoy) and engaging Taiwanese ships supplying the vulnerable islands close to the Chinese mainland. They also attacked land targets, but their accuracy was low and they caused little damage and few casualties. Being equipped for day combat, the RoCAF was in a poor position to intercept these low flying threats. Similarly, the USAF combat assets rushed to Taiwan were also day fighters. Fortunately for the UN, the US Navy's States Seventh Fleet aircraft carrier wing aboard the USS Oriskani included F7U-3M Cutlass all weather interceptors. Cruising "near the Taiwan Straits in international waters" the Cutlass' of VFAW-3 were assigned the task of neutralising the Beagle threat. Armed with Sidewinders and Sparrows, the 2-man crews of VFAW-3 claimed 14 Beagle victories from 7 to 23 October, after which the Reds ceased offensive air operations in the area. 



Richards and Scally shot down a Beagle with Sidewinders on 7 October. On the 9th they engaged 2 Beagles, but failed to shoot either down. More near misses happened on the 10th, 12th and 15th. On the night of 17/18 October they downed a Beagle with a Sparrow and another with 2 Sidewinders. A combination of Sparrow and Sidewinder shots destroyed their final victory over the Taiwan Straits on the night of the 20th October. All victories were scored flying 105, which is modelled as photographed before their mission on 21 October.

[Spino]

What a complete abomination 

[PR19_Kit]

What a complete abomination 

It sure is one that we in the UK can't see the pics.     

[comrade harps]

What a complete abomination 

It sure is one that we in the UK can't see the pics.     

I've posted the pics
to my old Blogger.

[PR19_Kit]

I've posted the pics
to my old Blogger.

Magic, thanks very much. 

[Later] The backstory's a BELTER!   

[NARSES2]

I've posted the pics
to my old Blogger.

Thank you   

Clean looking bird 

[HarryPhishnuts]

I've always thought that was such a weird looking plane. Great Whiff though. 

[comrade harps]

I've always thought that was such a weird looking plane. Great Whiff though. 

As is the real Cutlass, which is what gave me the idea.

[su27rules]

      

[chrisonord]

Very nice Comrade