Agree USN fighters would soon run out of tanks if they dropped them on
every hop but, since we're talking F-4 and Vietnam, let me point out
there were very few ocassions where we had F-4/Mig encounters. If
tanks were dropped after a talley on Migs, nobody would have been
upset. We had some F-4 guys actually take on Migs and forget to drop
their tanks. It was always considered a Delta Sierra in the ready room
after action discussions. If Migs were encountered every day our F-4's
would soon be out of tanks as not that many were carried aboard the
boat but, an AK loaded with tanks could get to us on Yankee Station
from Cubi in about two days if they were red flagged. And 1+45 cycles
would be changed to 1+30 or whatever it took. Mig action daily would
probably have most F-4 boats shifting fron cyclic to Alpha mode anyway
with clear decks after launch until the strike returned. Clean F-4's
could make a 1+30 cycle if no ACM. Airborn fuel would be mandatory in
any case. Any F-4 boat with no airborn fuel was an emergency. Nearby
F-8 boats would likely send tankers to cover if that happened. The old
KA-3s were great, later EA-3's not so great but adequate.

One last thought on dropping F-4 tanks, usually not a big problem
separation-wise when the tank was full but if you pickled off an empty
centerline, you'd best be pulling a few G's or it might just bite you
in the ass. Or worse yet, the stabilator.