Canadair CF-104: Following the trends.

[StormRyder13]

Would you like to see this in-game?

• Yes
• No

Hello, I am suggesting the Canadian-built and operated Starfighter, something I’m surprised hasn’t been done yet, even more so due to its loadout. Over the time I had worked with this one, I’d given it my own nickname, “nuclear lawn dart”

History:
In the late 1950s, Canada would have its role in NATO defined with a commitment to a nuclear strike mission. The RCAF was also looking at a replacement for its Sabres at the same time. This led to an international fighter competition that involved all current and in-development aircraft from friendly nations at the time, including: Buccaneer, Mirage IIIC, G.91, Super Tiger, F-104G, N-156, F-105. The RCAF wanted the F-105 Thunderchief with an Orenda Iroquois engine, but the requirements stopped this from happening. Additional requirements were that the aircraft had to be manufactured in Canada under licence, which ended up favouring the Lockheed proposal, as Canadair was collaborating with them at the time.

On the 14th of August 1959, Canadair would be picked to manufacture 200 aircraft for the RCAF along with a number of sections for F-104Gs headed to West Germany. Canadiar’s destination would be CL-90, well, the RCAF would at first call them CF-111 before it was switched to the CF-104 name. The CF-104 would be based on the F-104G but optimized for the nuclear strike and reconnaissance role, meaning it was fitted with R-24A NASARR equipment for air-to-ground, along with provisions for a reconnaissance pod that is out of four Vinten cameras. The Canadian-built CF-104s would have their first flight on the 26th of May 1961, and by the end of production, Canadair would have built 200 CF-104s and 140 F-104Gs for Lockheed.

In March of 1962, the CF-104 would enter Canadian service. Although the aircraft was originally designed as a supersonic interceptor aircraft, the RCAF would use it as a low-level strike and reconnaissance aircraft. Originally stationed in Europe, where eight squadrons of CF-104s, but over the years, that would be reduced to six in 1967 and then three in 1970. It would also be equipped with US-supplied nuclear weapons and would have them up until 1971. The exact weapons used were the B28, B43 and B57 nuclear weapons. When the CAF would discontinue the role it had for conventional attack, it would be fitting with Mk 82 snakeye & BL755 bombs and Canadian CRV-7 rockets. Well, Canadian Starfighters would never carry AIM-9s operationally, despite practising air combat tactics with them; other operators of the variant did.

The CF-104 would serve the RCAF for 25 years in which it would have had 110 class A accidents, most of these would be attributed to either teething problems or poor weather conditions. However, this was seen as favourable compared to the Sabres before it, with its 282 class A accidents. it would take part in a number of Red Flag Exercises however due to it’s small size and speed it was never shot down. It was also successful in the number of exercises and other events held by NATO.

More Pics

Specs:

• Crew: 1-2
• Length: 55ft (16.7 m)
• Wingspan: 22ft (6.7m)
• Height: 13ft (4.2m)
• Empty Weight: 6,300 Kg
• Operational Takeoff Weight: 12,100 Kg
• Fuel Load: 5,140 Litres
• Powerplant: Orenda GE J79-OEL7
• Thrust: 10,000 lbs, with Afterburner - 15,800 lbs

Performance

• Maximum Speed - 1,550mph or 2,500 km/h, MACH 2
• Rate of Climb - up to 48,000 feet per minute
• Service Ceiling - 58,000 ft ASL

A clean CF-104 (with no external tanks) could go from a standing start takeoff to 35,000 feet and Mach 2.0 in 6 minutes.

Armament

• Guns - Vulcan M61A1 multi-barrel 20mm Cannon (5,000 rounds per minute)
• CRV-7 rockets, CBU 1, BL-755 and Mk82 500lb bombs
• MK28RE 70 kiloton nuclear weapon

Sources

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter - Wikipedia
CF-104
Canadair CF-104 Starfighter 12703 - Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada
Aircraft Details | Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
Canadian Warplanes 6: Canadair CF-104 Starfighter
https://www.canada.ca/en/air-force/services/aircraft/canadair-starfighter.html
http://canadianstarfighterassociation.org/theaircraft.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxDVehIAK6Y

[Stockholm_Blend]

+1
Better base bomber than Bucc S.2 for ARB? Yes please.
(Evil laughter)

[PlayedStatue626-live]

+1 for another base bomber in a UK subtree (I’m still salty about no F-111K, genuinely a feels like a cheap response from the mods. “It wasn’t needed” certainly more than a T-90S or Mig-21, I would’ve been fine waiting aswell.) or maybe a joint tree with ANZAC.

[Morvran]

@StormRyder13

MK28RE 70 kiloton nuclear weapon

Would still be weaker than Napalm :D

[PlayedStatue626-live]

First bomb with shatter chance

[EL337GH0ST]

+1 perfect premium for US

[HolguineroMambi]

would it not be better for it to go with the British? its kinda annoying to be divided in 3 different countries.

[PlayedStatue626-live]

Shout-out to Australia, Poland and Spain for also being between trees

[StormRyder13]

@Morvran_

Would still be weaker than Napalm :D

Eh? What do you mean by this?

@HolguineroMambi

would it not be better for it to go with the British? its kinda annoying to be divided in 3 different countries.

Indeed, it is very annoying and frustrating, and anyone interested in a nation that’s been treated like that wants it to stop.

Well, I personally make all my suggestions with the hope we get a Canadian or CAN-ANZAC tech-tree, I’d take the UK at worst.

[Morvran]

Making a joke about how strong Napalm is in game compared to any other type of bomb

[Stockholm_Blend]

@StormRyder13

Eh? What do you mean by this?

Maybe he made a joke about ‘overpowered-and-lightweighted’ mighty napalm bomb.
The true techtree wrecker XD

[StormRyder13]

Ah, ya, fair.

I’ve used them a few times to base bomb myself.

[EL337GH0ST]

No, Britain doesn’t need to get every plane in existence.

[Stockholm_Blend]

@EL337GH0ST

Britain doesn’t need to get every plane in existence.

I would’ve agreed with that if CF-104 were one of ‘Lockheed-built F-104 which was bought by Canada.’
Because Canada is part of the Commonwealth but not the United Kingdom.
Just like the C2A1 MEXAS and Leopard 2A4CAN case. :|

But, CF-104 is a Canadair-built F-104, which was built for Canadians.
If you think ‘british are trying to steal American jet’, I humbly can say that we can use the same exact theory on you guys.

If we consider either Canadian or CAN-ANZAC tech-tree never comes out for arguing’s sake (Sorry OP.)
I think the British have a slightly higher priority than the Americans to grab this beauty.
Maybe Americans can get this on the same or next update, just like the Skink did.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t care about the part that American gets CF-104.
just disagreeing about “yes to US but no to UK”

[quartas121]

@Stockholm_Blend

CF-104 is a Canadair-built F-104, which was built for Canadians.

If you bought a deep fryer from a restaurant and used their recipe to make French fries with it with maybe a second or 2 difference, it’s still largely identical to the restaurant’s fries

Same applies to CF-104 it’s still an American airframe, Lockheed was still heavily involved in the design and the changes were not very big on the airframe itself

[WalletWorrier]

The thing is, Britain had zero to do with the aircraft, while the US designed it, it’s a licensed copy. If it was a licensed copy of a British aircraft then Britain should get it. If it was an indigenous design (say, a CF-100 or the CF-105) then it’d also be reasonable for Britain to receive it, as the US would have nothing to do with the design.
But the point stands that this would be a copy, or at very least a modification, of an American vehicle, not ever operated by Britain, in the British tree, just because. Just like some British mains want modified American F-18s, F-111s, A-4s, F-16s, F-15s, Abrams, or German Leopards 1 and 2, Boxers, Lynxes, French Rafales and Mirages, Swedish Gripens, seemingly every popular foreign vehicle unless it’s Russian.

I believe that nations should either have a proper subtree with everything they’ve got (and only one or maybe 2 max per nation), or else if they’re going to be added piecemeal than one home nation for all primarily domestic designs and then foreign vehicles, whether copies or simply purchased, to the nation that developed them.

[StormRyder13]

Why do I even bother with suggestions? The WT community has made itself clear. Canada isn’t allowed a home or an opinion.

I’ll be fank there is no need, nor should the CF-104 join the game untill Canada gets a home.

For the US tree. You have plenty of domestically operated, Lockheed-built ones to join your tree. No need for a foreign-built and operated one.

For the UK tree. You’re missing domestically operated aircraft, so no need for these anytime soon.

AKA, neither tree has a need nor should have a claim for it for a long time.

however(my two cents after my more ideal)

It does fit the UK tree more, have you seen the flag in the images? I see one Union Jack on it not stars and stripes

Rippeing a nation acrrose TT is not to be supported and it scews over those intrested in the nation and shows you look down on them.

The best way for someone to join WT:

Independent tech-tree
Nothing in-game
Sub-tree
.
.
.
Being ripped across TTs.

If we got a sub-tree rework, it would be higher.

[quartas121]

@StormRyder13

It does fit the UK tree more, have you seen the flag in the images? I see one Union Jack on it not stars and stripes

Have you seen the plane itself ???

[StormRyder13]

Anyway, iirc, in order to use the nuke, it had to lose all the other weapons(at least it didn’t have them). I know the gun was removable, able to be replaced with another fuel cell(or was it the cameras).

Eh, it’s unlikely that’ll show up any way that isn’t a new nuke plane for GRB.

[quartas121]

Out of all the options why would the CF-104 be the nuke plane? Why not the existing F-104. CF-104 would be a nice way for US to get an F-104G