Hey, one more thing.

I found myself wondering a couple of years ago how much more successful we
could have been in the recent conflict if we would have still had the mighty
thunderpig?

An Intruder with a smart MER or TER that was JDAM capable could have carried
a decent load of 10-12 JDAM easily‹provided we¹d have fielded the SWIP Block
1A upgrades.

In March-April 2003, Hornets were flying around with 2-4 bombs on parent
stations. Imagine the striking power of the A-6 armed to the teeth with
JDAM!

--Woody

On 11/13/05 5:55 PM, in article , "Mike
Kanze" wrote:

Woody,

Of course, it’s academic now, but rockets would have made the A-6 a pretty
decent FAC(A) platform.

Again, no argument here.

My point remains, though. Unless there's NOTHING else available, why tie up a
system-centric weapon (like the A-6 was) in a mission where the only "system"
needed is the MK1 eyeball and its owner's ability to successfully prosecute a
rocket attack?

The "NOTHING else available" qualifier goes almost without saying. It's why we
carried and trained with FFARs ad even Sidewinders occasionally, it's why the
A-6 community fooled around with the SSSC mission in the mid-1970s (backup for
the Hoovers in the very new and then-unproven CV airwing concept), it's why we
hung buddy stores on A-7 wing parent stations, etc. It's also why the Tom
became an attack platform, as you point out.

IOW, good to know that you had the capability, but not something you should do
as a normal course of business.

Hey, let the SLUFs have a bit of fun, too.