F-4 Phantom II vs MiG-21 by Gareth Hector

F-4 Phantom II vs MiG-21 by Gareth Hector

From difficult weather conditions to unreliable missile armament to unequal rules of engagement, this book tells the story of the challenges faced by the F-4 and MiG-21 pilots. Using first-hand accounts wherever possible the author draws us into the dangerous world experienced by American and North Vietnamese pilots. Influential leaders and tacticians will be profiled to provide a comparative evaluation of their contrasting skills. This book will also reveal the technical specifications of each jet with an analysis of the weaponry, avionics and survival devices of the Phantom and MiG-21. The fighters' strengths and weaknesses will be compared also, including turn radius, performance at altitude, range and structural integrity. This was an intense and deadly duel between vastly different rivals. In the Phantom, a second crewmember and good radar compensated for the difficulty of providing command and control at long distances from the targets. However, the F-4's smoky engines and considerable bulk made it visible at much further distances than the small, clean MiG-21 and Phantoms were often hit by unseen MiG attacks. On the other hand, the F-4s eight-missile armament compared favorably with the two-missile provision of the MiG. Often pilot skill, if not luck, would be the determining factor between the smaller, faster MiG and bigger, better-gunned Phantom. First-person extracts will reflect on the dangers of these aerial duels while graphics based on records of engagement and technical manuals will illustrate the experience of air combat as they struggled to overcome their shortcomings and survive their deadly duels.

Co-author of the two Combat Aircraft titles on the US Navy MiG killers and the author of the USAF F-4 MiG Killers books in the same series, Peter Davies is a recognised authority on the F-4 and the Vietnam War. This is his fifth book for Osprey.

Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives in New Hampshire. He attended Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut, from 1974–78, and since he graduated with honours, he has been working professionally in the field of Fine Art and Illustration. He has been commissioned to paint for the US Air Force and has aviation paintings on permanent display at the Pentagon.

Gareth Hector is a digital artist of international standing as well as an aviation history enthusiast. Gareth completed the battlescene artwork and cover artwork. This is the second book he has worked on for Osprey Publishing. Gareth completed the cover and battlescene artwork for this title.

Tom Tullis has illustrated a number of books in Osprey’s Aircraft of the Aces and Combat Aircraft series. Tom completed the profiles, wing and gun armament artworks.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781846033162
ISBN 10	1846033160
Title	F-4 Phantom II vs MiG-21
Author	Gareth Hector
Series	Duel
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Osprey Publishing
Year published	2008-09-23
Number of pages	80
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.