Usage of the escort/dogfight loadout? (sans AIM-54)

[Voyager]

I recall one of the design requirements for the F-14 was to replace the F-4 including an escort/dogfight configuration using 4xAIM-7 and 4xAIM-9 missiles. 

As I understand it, it was considerably lighter than the Phoenix loadouts, as it didn't use the weapon rails. But I gather the time to remove the rails, and the utility of a active seeker missile meant they usually uses 2xAIM-54, 3xAIM-7 and 2xAIM-9 loadouts. 

Was the Sparrow+Sidewinder only loadout ever used? And if so what was it used for in practice? 

[sLYFa]

The 4SP/4SW loadout was the only loadout for fighter missions (that is everything that did not include fleet air defense against bombers and strikers) up until the mid/late 80s. It was believed that the Sparrow provided enough of an advantage in the BVR arena against anything the USSR and its allies would field. The Phoenix on the other hand was considered too valuable to be expanded against fighters.

It was not until the R-24 and R-27 were introduced that the Phoenix was also considered for fighter missions as the Sparrow was not superior enough in range and reliability (although that is debatable given the quality of russian fighter radars and radar missiles) to provide favorable kill ratios.

[near_blind]

VF-74 operating in the Gulf of Sydra in 1986

VF-14 in 1990

VF-154 in 1987

VF-32 in 1990

VF-41 and 84 off Iran in 1980 (bonus Eagle Claw invasion stripes)

As Sylfa said, until the introduction of the AIM-54C and the appearance of large numbers of Soviet/Pact medium range missiles in the mid/late 80s there's a dichotomy where AIM-54s are for bombers/missiles, and Sparrows are for fighters and everything else. You tend to find the 0x4x4, 0x4x2 or 0x5x3 loadouts on jets that are around hotspots where it's expected they might have to engage other fighters. Of the six pictures above, two were taken in the Gulf of Sydra during the Naval Action of '86 and El Dorado Canyon. One was taken during the preparations for Operation Eagle Claw. One was during a separate period of tensions with Iran during which two US F-14s fired Sparrows at an Iranian F-4 in response to it shooting a Sparrow at a US P-3, and the remaining two were likely during Desert Shield. 

[Voyager]

Ok, so it wasn't until the MiG-29 and Su-27 started showing up that the AIM-54 started being carried against fighters?

Very cool. Thank you!