Citat:Designed in the years following the Korean War and then manufactured for over 30 years starting in 1960, the A-6 quickly became the most capable attack aircraft in the US Navy’s stable. The first squadron, VA-75, made its initial deployment directly into combat in south-east Asia in 1965, and, over the next eight years, ten US Navy and four Marine Intruder squadrons would conduct combat operations throughout Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. After initial problems and a high loss rate, the type proved itself beyond all doubt as the Naval services’ best night and foul-weather platform, particularly during the region’s notorious monsoon season. The A-6 Intruder became a true classic of naval aviation over the skies of North Vietnam but the cost was high as 69 Intruders were lost in combat to all causes during the war. This work tells the complete story of these aircraft in combat during the Vietnam War.
Iako je bila vec evo je u vecoj rez sa komentarom
Citat:A Grumman A-6A Intruder (then designated A2F-1) with an array of possible ordnance.
Outside ring: in front of the A-6 are five mock-ups of multiple ejector racks. To the right and left are 46 Mk 81 113 kg (250 lb) bombs. The circle is closed by 30 Mk 82 227 kg (500 lb) bombs.
Second ring: In front of the plane are "five classified shapes" (napalm canisters and/or nuclear weapons?). To the right 13 LAU-10 rocket launchers with four 12.7 cm (5 in) Zuni rockets each are arrayed, on the opposite side 13 Aero 7D (LAU-3/A) rocket launchers with 19 7 cm (2.75 in) are displayed. To the right and left of the horizontal stabilizers are 15 Mk 83 454 kg (1.000 lb) bombs, and 12 Mk 79 fire bombs are displayed behind the aircraft.
Inner ring: behind the left wing (with the national insignia) are three Aero 8A practice bomb containers, on the opposite side five Mk 84 907 kg (2.000 lb) bombs are displayed. In front of the left wing are five AGM-12A Bullpup air-to-ground missiles, in front of the right wing are four AIM-9B Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and a Douglas D-704 Buddy-Buddy refueling tank with extendable snorkel (a.k.a. Buddy Store).
The aircraft itself carries four 1.137 l (300 gal) tanks.
On February 3, 1998 a low-flying Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler of the United States Marine Corps hits the support cable of an aerial tramway near the Italian town of Cavalese, severing it. The cabin on the cable falls to the ground, killing the occupants. The aircraft lands safely.
Citat:An EA-6B Prowler belonging to the "Star Warriors" of Tactical Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-209 sits still at NAF Washington, D.C. airfield. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David A. Frech/Released)
