Grumman F-14 Tomcat: Bücher - Geschichte und Einsatz (1/2)

The ideas behind the Grumman F-14 Tomcat first began to take shape back in the late 1950s when it was discovered that the Soviet Union was quickly developing an increasingly accurate airborne missile system that would pose a major threat to the US Navy's warships.
Entering service in 1974 with VF-1 and VF-2 on USS Enterprise, the F-14 was one of the most sophisticated, reliable and deadly aircraft of its day.

In this book, author Terry Treadwell looks at the development and evolution of the F-14 and its subsequent operational history with the US Navy, including encounters with Soviet-made Libyan MiG fighters over the Mediterranean as well as the 1991 Gulf War, the war in Afghanistan and the 2003 Iraq war.
The book also looks at the sale of the F-14 to the Shah of Iran. Including more than 100 photos covering the F-14 from development through to the final stages of its career, this book will give the reader an insight into one of the most iconic aircraft of its day.

Designed as the ultimate long range fleet defence fighter interceptor for the US Navy, the Grumman Tomcat entered frontline service in 1973 as a replacement for the legendary F-4 Phantom II. The F-14 achieved its first aerial victories, against the Libyan Arab Republic Air Force, in August 1981, and went on to see action in Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Deliberate Force, Enduring Freedom and, finally, Iraqui Freedom. The F-14 was employed primarily as a precision bomber with the US Navy from the late 1990s until its retirement in 2006.

This book tells the story of this fascinating aircraft.

Probably best-known for its starring role in the Hollywood movie Top Gun, the variable geometry two-seat carrier-based Grumman F-14 Tomcat was the US Navy's primary maritime air superiority fighter and fleet defence interceptor between 1974 and 2006.

Tony Holmes reviews the design, construction and use of the Tomcat, as well as its combat career in Operation Desert Storm (1991), Deliberate Force (Bosnia-Hertzegovina, 1995), and Allied Force (Bosnia and Kosovo, 1999).
In 2001, F-14s led some of the first strikes into Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom), and in Iraq in 2003 (Operation Iraqi Freedom).

This book is the latest in a new reference series for aircraft modellers called "Spotlight On" and presents detailed illustrations of the famous Grumman F-14 Tomcat, the American supersonic, twin-engine, two-seater, variable sweep-wing jet combat aircraft.

The Tomcat was operational with the US Navy from 1970 to 2006 and remains in service with the Iranian Air Force (having been exported to Persia before the fall of the Shah).

The book contains 40 specially-commissioned colour plan and profile views illustrating the different camouflage, colours and markings of various users.