Mig-19 vs F-5 (Vietnam War period)

Which will prevail in 1 vs 1 air combat without third party support

  • Mig-19

    Votes: 4 20.0%
  • F-5

    Votes: 15 75.0%
  • Draw

    Votes: 1 5.0%

  • Total voters
    20
An unknown report on the results of tests in the USA of captured MiG-21F-13. Recommendations for types are as follows:


What the Planes Should Do If Encountering a MiG-21

• If you are flying an F4C, D, or E and a MiG 21 finds you below an altitude of 15,000 feet you had better run away. Speed is life.
• If you are flying an F-105 and a MiG 21 finds you, avoid prolonged maneuvering engagements. Get into the MiG-21 blind cone, use mutual flight support, and use hit-and run tactics. Maintain maximum airspeed below 15,000 feet and do not get in a turning fight. Speed is life, and you can only go in a straight line.
• If you are flying an F-111 and a MiG 21 finds you, remember the MiG has superior turn performance everywhere. Below 15,000 feet, the MiG-21 has superior level acceleration up to its speed limit. When attacked get below 15,000 feet and above the MiG-21 speed limit of .98 Mach. Again, speed is life, and you can only go in a straight line.
• If you are flying an F-100D and a MiG 21 finds you, remember the MiG-21 has significant turn performance and level acceleration advantages. Avoid maneuvering, use hit-and-run, mutual support, and again, Speed is life, and you can only go in a straight line.
• If you are flying an F-104 and a MiG 21 finds you, remember the MiG-21 has superior turn capability. Avoid maneuvering, use hit-and-run, mutual support, and defend yourself by accelerating above MiG-21 limit speed. Speed is life, and you can only go in a straight line.
• If you are flying an F-5A, you can closely simulate the MiG-21 up to Mach 1.2 for combat engagements.
• If you are flying an RF-101 and a MiG 21 finds you, remember the MiG-21 has a slight advantage in afterburner and superior turn capability everywhere. When caught by a MiG-21 dive and run, speed is life.
• If you are flying a B-66 and a MiG 21 finds you, you are a target.
• If you are flying an RF-4C and a MiG 21 finds you, dive, and run, speed was life.
• If you are flying a Navy F-8E and a MiG 21 finds you, the MiG can out turn the F-8 in a close in fight. Speed if life.
• If you are flying at Navy A-4F, A-6A, or A-7A and a MiG 21 finds you; the MiG-21 pilot can choose to engage or disengage you at will. You are a target, however, with a chance to live.

The MiG-21 was far superior at close in maneuvering than the F-4. Never attempt close in maneuvering unless it becomes apparent the MiG-21 pilot is incompetent or holding a definite position advantage.
 
Furthermore, I would take any AIM-9 variant over K-13s.
The success rate of AIM-9B in Vietnam was only 12%, similar to R-3S.
And most F-5s were often equipped with AIM-9B.

But is that 12% figure any less a success rate than the success rate for a cannons-only F-5 or MiG-19 in any given interception mission?
 
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Furthermore, I would take any AIM-9 variant over K-13s.
The success rate of AIM-9B in Vietnam was only 12%, similar to R-3S.
And most F-5s were often equipped with AIM-9B.

But is that 12% figure any less a success rate than the success rate for a cannons-only F-5 or MiG-19 in any given interception mission?
The success rate of the three 30mm cannons of the MiG-19 must have been quite good. In any case, better than anything an R-3S/AIM-9B could do.
 
F-5A Freedom fighter top speed was only Mach 1.3, from what I've read.
Wouldn't doubt it. I'm probably looking at F-5E stats then.
According to an article in Air Int'l 37 about the N-156F family, the maximum speed of the F-5A is 1490 km/h (925mph) at 11 000m (36,090ft) & 1176 km/h (731mph) at sea level.
 

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