I appreciate that often used publicity photographs may not portray aircraft in representative operational condition. However, can anyone explain why there are virtually no pictures of Royal Navy FG1's with missiles loaded, even acquisition rounds or drill rounds? Am I right in thinking that RAF Phantoms usually carried at least two forward sparrow drill rounds,as it was beneficial to the C of G? If so, why not Navy Phantoms?
When I was crawling around under the belly of the beast we usually had a ballast Sparrow shape and a strike camera fitted in the forward Sparrow stations. I understood this to be a balance for the no 7 fuel tank which was in the spine under the fin. This was installed in the F4E which had a natural 'counterweight' courtesy of the cannon in the nose.
We used to have to check that the no 7 tank was disabled during refuelling and I don't think I ever knew of one being filled. Not sure the FG1 had the 7 tank which might be why they didn't carry the shape all the time.