[hyair]

It is not an easy task to compare between the two.
We are talking about the rolleing thunder operation 1965 - 1968 period.
The Phantom was the right plane at the right time as was the F-105.
As the phantom served in 3 units - USAF NAVY MARINES there were more Phantoms in the war theatre than any other fighter.
The F-105 was built in a much lighter scale of 860 from all types and only the D and two seatters were in Vietnam.
No less than 395 where lost due to all reazons. The 105 was the heaviest single engine fighter with 25 ton onboard and the J75 delivered 12.5 ton thrust with water injection ! - the F-4 had two J79 engines with 14.5 ton thrust for the same weight !
In low level flight no one could outrun the 105 !
A speed of 600 knots when bumbing and 750 knots after bomb release in afterburner
When flyning escort the F-4 where always lagging behind the F-105 .
As the F-105 was the main bomber in Vietnam with 75% of the strikes the North Vietnamese where throwing everything they could against - anti aircraft guns from all calibers from 37mm to 100 mm SAM 2 missiles were used in high numbers and migs . Later in the war a groups of wild weasels were originated to deal with the SAM threat. The F-105 had a kill ratio of 1.2 in his favore against the mig -17 while the F-4 had 2:1 ratio against all types but only 1:1 against the mig -21 !!!_
The F-4 had a black smoke coming from the engines ( solved in 1973 ) after Vietnam war -something that made identification easy but could carry AIM 7 Sparrow missiles guided with radar but the F-105 had from the start the vulcan 20 mm gun with a barrel of 1069 bullets ( the F-4 E recieved later a Vulcan with 600 only ) !
The mach 2.0 ability of the two was useless as most of the time speed is subsonic during a battle !!!
Will continue !!!

Yair