EA-18G "Growler"

Same as what happened in the mid-1970s, when we migrated to the CV deck (from the split CVA / CVS dedicated decks). Among other taskings was that the A-6s would become secondary SSSC platforms, and the primary delivery platform for the later-cancelled CAPTOR (encapsulated torpedo) weapon.

Deja-vu all over again.

--
Mike Kanze

"Lisa, if you don't like your job you don't strike. You just go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way."

-- Homer Simpson

wrote in message oups.com...
Mike Kanze wrote:
EA-18G "Growler"Woody,

IMHO the 28-bomb loadout was almost a "ferry tail" given that at least one drop tank was required for on station time-at least in my experience.

True...or lots of "give" available overhead. (My head is still locked in the Days of Wine and Roses, when each cycle had at least one EKA-3 and one or two A-6 duty tankers in orbit.)

******

Nasty crack that circulated in the early 1970s, just as the EA-6Bs were about to make their first sea deployment, was one that asked how much "give" they could offer. On at least one occasion, this sort of comment came from a "heavy" who had never taken the time to notice that the EA-6B was an electron-chaser by design, and not a hypermorph like the Whale had become.

And now it appears we are coming full-circle, with the Growler being the new hypermorph.

--
Mike Kanze

Speaking of hypermorphing...An interesting article in the Sept. 2005
Proceedings, "Creatively Bridging the Gap" by Captain Gordon E. Van
Hook, USN, and Captain Thomas C. Cropper, USN, declares that the
APS-130 on the EA-6B makes it useful in an ASW/SSSC role (like it's not
tasked in too many roles already). Also, "Every aircraft in CVW-11 is
an ASW aircraft".

Mike Kanze wrote:
Same as what happened in the mid-1970s, when we migrated to the CV deck
(from the split CVA / CVS dedicated decks). Among other taskings was
that the A-6s would become secondary SSSC platforms, and the primary
delivery platform for the later-cancelled CAPTOR (encapsulated torpedo)
weapon.

Regarding CAPTOR, "later canceled" must mean "served for more than 20
years and was retired". CAPTOR was fielded in 1979 and phased out
around 2002.

--
Tom Schoene lid
To email me, replace "invalid" with "net"

Tom,

I had heard otherwise, but then I've been gone from the Canoe Club for 30 years now. Thanks for the correction.

--
Mike Kanze

"Lisa, if you don't like your job you don't strike. You just go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way."

-- Homer Simpson

"Thomas Schoene" wrote in message k.net...
Mike Kanze wrote:
Same as what happened in the mid-1970s, when we migrated to the CV deck
(from the split CVA / CVS dedicated decks). Among other taskings was
that the A-6s would become secondary SSSC platforms, and the primary
delivery platform for the later-cancelled CAPTOR (encapsulated torpedo)
weapon.

Regarding CAPTOR, "later canceled" must mean "served for more than 20
years and was retired". CAPTOR was fielded in 1979 and phased out
around 2002.

--
Tom Schoene lid
To email me, replace "invalid" with "net"