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The F-14 began replacing the [[F-4 Phantom]] II in U.S. naval service in September of 1974.<ref>''Fighter'', by Jim Winchester, 2006</ref> It first saw combat over the [[Gulf of Sidra]], off the coast of [[Libya]], in August of 1981. Two Tomcats shot down two Libyan [[Sukhoi Su-22|Su-22 Fitters]] after one of the Fitters had fired a missile at them.<ref>''Historical Atlas of the U.S. Navy'', by Craig L. Symonds, 1995</ref> In January of 1989, F-14s again saw action against Libyan planes, this time two F-14s downed two [[MiG-23]] Floggers off [[Tobruk]].<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,956731-2,00.html Article in Time Magazine]</ref>
The F-14 began replacing the [[F-4 Phantom]] II in U.S. naval service in September of 1974.<ref>''Fighter'', by Jim Winchester, 2006</ref> It first saw combat over the [[Gulf of Sidra]], off the coast of [[Libya]], in August of 1981. Two Tomcats shot down two Libyan [[Sukhoi Su-22|Su-22 Fitters]] after one of the Fitters had fired a missile at them.<ref>''Historical Atlas of the U.S. Navy'', by Craig L. Symonds, 1995</ref> In January of 1989, F-14s again saw action against Libyan planes, this time two F-14s downed two [[MiG-23]] Floggers off [[Tobruk]].<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,956731-2,00.html Article in Time Magazine]</ref>
F-14s were also active over the [[Persian Gulf]] when the US was escorting oil tankers in [[Operation Earnest Will]]. On August 8, 1987, an [[Iran]]ian F-4 Phantom, a type which had been involved in strikes on shipping before, get a little close and two F-14s from the USS ''Constellation'' fired two Sparrow missiles. One missile malfunctioned, and the Phantom crew evaded the other and escaped.<ref>''Iranian F-4 Phantom II Units in Combat'', by Farzad Bishop and Tom Cooper, Osprey Publishing, 2003</ref>
During the [[Gulf War]], F-14s were mainly involved in standing combat air patrols over the fleet and escorting strike packages. One Tomcat was shot down by an Iraqi [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]], the RIO being captured, but the pilot was rescued. On February 6, 1991, a Navy pilot off the USS ''Ranger'' scored the F-14’s final air-to-air victory ever in this conflict, an Mi-8 helicopter.<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/f-14-combat.htm F-14 Tomcat Combat]</ref> Coincidentally, the F-14’s very first air-to-air victory was also an Iraqi helicopter, shot down by an Iranian Tomcat in the first days of the [[Iran-Iraq War]].
[[Image:F-14 Phoenix.jpg|thumb|300 px|right|An F-14 shows off six Phoenix missiles.]]
[[Image:F-14 Phoenix.jpg|thumb|300 px|right|An F-14 shows off six Phoenix missiles.]]