Grumman A-6 Intruder
A-6 Intruder | |
---|---|
KA-6D Intruder of Attack Squadron 34 (VA-34 "Blue Blasters") | |
Role |
|
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Grumman |
First flight | 19 April 1960 |
Introduction | 1963 |
Retired | 28 April 1993 (USMC) 28 February 1997 (USN) |
Status | Retired from military use |
Primary users | United States Navy United States Marine Corps |
Produced | 1962–1992 |
Number built | 693 |
Developed into | Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler |
The Grumman A-6 Intruder is an American twinjet all-weather attack aircraft developed and manufactured by American aircraft company Grumman Aerospace and formerly operated by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.
It was designed in response to a 1957 requirement issued by the
The A-6 was in service with the United States Navy and Marine Corps between 1963 and 1997, during which time multiple variants were prototyped and produced. Two of the more successful variants developed were the
Development
Background
As a result of the fair-weather limitation of the
In response to the RFP, a total of eleven design proposals were submitted by eight different companies, including
Grumman's design team was led by Robert Nafis and Lawrence Mead, Jr.
The A2F-1 design incorporated several cutting-edge features for the era. In the early 1960s, it was novel for a fighter-sized aircraft to have sophisticated avionics that used multiple computers. This design experience was taken into consideration by NASA in their November 1962 decision to choose Grumman over other companies like General Dynamics-Convair (the
Test program
The first prototype YA2F-1, lacking radar and the navigational and attack avionics, made its first flight on 19 April 1960,[8][9] with the second prototype flying on 28 July 1960.[10]
The test program required to develop the aircraft took a long time. The very advanced navigation and attack equipment required a lot of development and changes had to be made to correct aerodynamic deficiencies and remove unwanted features.[11] Extending the air brakes, which were mounted on the rear fuselage, changed the downwash at the horizontal tailplane which overloaded its actuator so the tailplane was moved rearwards by 16 inches (41 cm). Later evaluation of the aircraft showed that the airbrakes were not effective enough in controlling the speed of the aircraft and they were moved to the wing-tips.[12] Early production aircraft were fitted with both the fuselage and wingtip air brakes, although the fuselage-mounted ones were soon disabled, and were removed from later aircraft.[10] The trailing edge of each wing-tip split to form a much more effective speed-brake which projected above and below the wing when extended.
The rudder needed a wider chord at its base to give greater exposed area to assist spin recovery.
A major difference between the first six production aircraft and subsequent aircraft were the jet nozzles; close-air support by the Marine Corps required STOL performance to operate from forward airstrips. Jet deflection using tilting tailpipes was proposed. The performance benefits from varying the angle were not worthwhile, whether operating from short strips or carriers, and they were fixed at a 7 degree downward angle.[13]
Further development
During February 1963, the A-6 was introduced to service with the US Navy; at this point, the type was, according to Gunston and Gilchrist, "the first genuinely all-weather attack bomber in history".[14] However, early operating experiences found the aircraft to be imposing very high maintenance demands, particularly in the Asian theatre of operations, and serviceability figures were also low. In response, the Naval Avionics Lab launched a substantial and lengthy program to improve both the reliability and performance of the A-6's avionics suite.[14] The successful performance of the A-6 in operations following these improvements ended proposals to produce follow-on models that featured downgraded avionics.[15]
Various specialized variants of the A-6 were developed, often in response to urgent military requirements raised during the
During the 1980s, a further model, designated A-6F, was being planned. Intended to feature the
Design
The Grumman A-6 Intruder is a two-seat twin-engined monoplane, equipped to perform carrier-based attack missions regardless of prevailing weather or light conditions.
The A-6's wing was relatively efficient at subsonic speeds, particularly when compared to supersonic fighters such as the
For its day, the Intruder had sophisticated avionics, with a high degree of integration.[4] To aid in identifying and isolating equipment malfunctions, the aircraft was provided with automatic diagnostic systems, some of the earliest computer-based analytic equipment developed for aircraft. These were known as Basic Automated Checkout Equipment, or BACE (pronounced "base"). There were two levels, known as "Line BACE" to identify specific malfunctioning systems in the aircraft, while in the hangar or on the flight line; and "Shop BACE", to exercise and analyze individual malfunctioning systems in the maintenance shop. This equipment was manufactured by Litton Industries. Together, the BACE systems greatly reduced the Maintenance Man-Hours per Flight Hour, a key index of the cost and effort needed to keep military aircraft operating.[citation needed]
The Intruder was equipped to carry nuclear weapons (B43, B57, B61) which would have been delivered using semi-automated toss bombing.
Operational history
This section needs additional citations for verification. (August 2011) |
Entering service and Vietnam War
The Intruder received a new standardized
A-6 Intruders first saw action during the Vietnam War, where the craft were used extensively against targets in Vietnam. The aircraft's long range and heavy payload (18,000 pounds or 8,200 kilograms) coupled with its ability to fly in all weather made it invaluable during the war. However, its typical mission profile of flying low to deliver its payload made it especially vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire, and in the eight years the Intruder was used during the Vietnam War, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps lost a total of 84 A-6 aircraft of various series. The first loss occurred on 14 July 1965 when an Intruder from VA-75 operating from USS Independence, flown by LT Donald Boecker and LT Donald Eaton, commenced a dive on a target near Laos. An explosion under the starboard wing damaged the starboard engine, causing the aircraft to catch fire and the hydraulics to fail. Seconds later the port engine failed, the controls froze, and the two crewmen ejected. Both crewmen survived.
Of the 84 Intruders lost to all causes during the war, ten were shot down by
Lebanon and later action
A-6 Intruders were later used in support of other operations, such as the
Intruders also saw action in April 1986 operating from the aircraft carriers USS America and Coral Sea during the bombing of
During the
The Intruder's large blunt nose and slender tail inspired a number of nicknames, including "Double Ugly", "The Mighty Alpha Six", "Iron Tadpole" and also "Drumstick".[27]
Following the Gulf War, Intruders were used to patrol the no-fly zone in
Navy A-6s saw further duty over Bosnia in 1994.
On 4 June 1996, during RIMPAC a US Navy A-6E performing the unusual target towing task to train Japanese Navy air defense crews was mistakenly engaged and shot down by the Japanese destroyer JS Yūgiri with its Phalanx CIWS gun. Both the pilot and BN ejected and were recovered.[29][30]
Retirement
Despite the production of new airframes in the 164XXX Bureau Number (BuNo) series just before and after the Gulf War, augmented by a rewinging program of older airframes, the A-6E and KA-6D were quickly phased out of service in the mid-1990s in a U.S. Navy cost-cutting move driven by the Office of the Secretary of Defense to reduce the number of different type/model/series (T/M/S) of aircraft in carrier air wings and U.S. Marine aircraft groups.
The A-6 was intended to be replaced by the McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II, but that program was canceled due to cost overruns.[31] The Intruder remained in service for a few more years before being retired in favor of the LANTIRN-equipped F-14D Tomcat, which was in turn replaced by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in the U.S. Navy and the twin-seat F/A-18D Hornet in the U.S. Marine Corps. During the 2010s, the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike program was at one point intended to produce an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) successor to the Intruder's long-distance strike role, but the initiative has since changed priorities towards the tanker mission instead.[32] The last Intruders were retired on 28 February 1997.
Many in the US defense establishment in general, and
At the time of retirement, several retired A-6 airframes were awaiting rewinging at the
Variants
This section needs additional citations for verification. (August 2011) |
YA-6A and A-6A
The eight prototypes and pre-production Intruder aircraft were sometimes referred to with the YA-6A designation.[35] These were used in the development and testing of the A-6A Intruder.
The initial version of the Intruder was built around the complex and advanced DIANE (Digital Integrated Attack/Navigation Equipment) suite, intended to provide a high degree of bombing accuracy even at night and in poor weather. DIANE consisted of multiple
Total A-6A production was 480, excluding the prototype and pre-production aircraft.[35] A total of 47 A-6As were converted to other variants.[35]
A-6B
To provide U.S. Navy squadrons with a
Between 1968 and 1977, several Intruder squadrons operated A-6Bs alongside their regular A-6As. Five were lost to all causes, and the survivors were later converted to A-6E standard in the late 1970s.
A-6C
12 A-6As were converted in 1970 to A-6C standard for night attack missions against the
KA-6D
To replace both the KA-3B and EA-3B Skywarrior during the early 1970s, 78 A-6As and 12 A-6Es were converted for use as
A-6E
The definitive attack version of the Intruder with vastly upgraded navigation and attack systems, introduced in 1970 and first deployed on 9 December 1971. The earlier separate search and track (fire control) radars of the A-6A/B/C were replaced by a single Norden AN/APQ-148 multi-mode radar, and onboard computers with a more sophisticated (and generally more reliable) IC based system, as opposed to the A-6A's DIANE discrete transistor-based technology. A new AN/ASN-92 inertial navigation system was added, along with the CAINS (Carrier Aircraft Inertial Navigation System), for greater navigation accuracy.
Beginning in 1979, all A-6Es were fitted with the
In the 1980s, the A-6E TRAM aircraft were converted to the A-6E 'Weapons Control System Improvement' (WCSI) version to extend weapons capability. This added the ability to carry and target some of the first generation precision guided weapons, like the
In the early 1990s, some surviving A-6Es were upgraded under SWIP (Systems/Weapons Improvement Program) to enable them to use the latest precision-guided munitions, including AGM-65 Mavericks, AGM-84E SLAMs, AGM-62 Walleyes and the AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missile as well as additional capability with the AGM-84 Harpoon. A co-processor was added to the AN/ASQ-155 computer system to implement the needed MIL-STD-1553 digital interfaces to the pylons, as well as an additional control panel. After a series of wing-fatigue problems, about 85% of the fleet was fitted with new graphite/epoxy/titanium/aluminum composite wings. The new wings proved to be a mixed blessing, as a composite wing is stiffer and transmits more force to the fuselage, accelerating fatigue in the fuselage. In 1990, the decision was made to terminate production of the A-6. Through the 1970s and 1980s, the A-6 had been in low-rate production of four or five new aircraft a year, enough to replace mostly accidental losses. The final production order was for 20 aircraft of the SWIP configuration with composite wings, delivered in 1993.
A-6E models totaled 445 aircraft, about 240 of which were converted from earlier A-6A/B/C models.
A-6F and A-6G
An advanced A-6F Intruder II was proposed in the mid-1980s that would have replaced the Intruder's elderly
Although five development aircraft were built, the U.S. Navy ultimately chose not to authorize the A-6F, preferring to concentrate on the
Grumman proposed a cheaper alternative in the A-6G, which had most of the A-6F's advanced electronics, but retained the existing engines.[38] This, too, was canceled.
Electronic warfare versions
An
Only 28 EA-6As were built (two prototypes, 15 new-build, and 11 conversions from A-6As), serving with U.S. Marine Corps squadrons in Vietnam. It was phased out of front line service in the mid-1970s, remaining in use in reserve VMCJ units with the USMC and then the United States Navy in specialized VAQ units, primarily for training purposes. The last EA-6A had been retired by 1993.
A much more highly specialized derivative of the Intruder was the
Variant list
- YA2F-1
- Pre-production aircraft, eight built with the first four with rotating jet exhaust pipes, redesignated YA-6A in 1962.[39]
- A2F-1
- First production variant with fixed tailpipe, 484 built, redesignated A-6A in 1962.[39]
- YA2F-1H
- Prototype electronic warfare variant, one modified from A2F-1, redesignated YEA-6A in 1962.[39]
- A2F-1H
- Electronic warfare variant of the A2F-1 redesignated EA-6A in 1962[39]
- YA-6A
- Pre-production aircraft redesignated from YA2F-1 in 1962.[39]
- A-6A
- First production variant redesignated from A2F-1 in 1962.[39]
- YEA-6A
- One YA2F-1H electronic warfare variant prototype redesignated in 1962.[39]
- EA-6A
- Electronic warfare variant redesignated from A2F-1H, had a redesigned fin and rudder and addition of an ECM radome, able to carry underwing ECM pods, three YA-6A and four A-6As converted and 21 built.[39]
- NA-6A
- The redesignation of three YA-6As and three A-6As. The six aircraft were modified for special tests.[39]
- NEA-6A
- One EA-6A aircraft was modified for special test purposes.[39]
- TA-6A
- Proposed trainer variant with three-seat, not built.[39]
- A-6B
- Variant fitted with avionics for the suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), 19 conversions from A-6A.[15]
- EA-6B Prowler
- Electronic warfare variant of the A-6A with longer fuselage for four crew.[39]
- YEA-6B
- The designation of two EA-6B prototypes, which were modified for special test purposes.
- A-6C
- A-6A conversion for low-level attack role with electro-optical sensors, twelve converted.[39]
- KA-6D
- A-6A conversion for flight-refueling, 58 converted.[39]
- A-6E
- A-6A with improved electronics.[39]
- A-6E TRAM
- A-6E upgraded with the AN/AAS-33 Target Recognition Attack Multi-Sensor or "TRAM" pod. Capable of dropping Laser Guided Bombs without a targeting pod. Can also carry the AGM-84 Harpoon.[40]
- A-6E SWIP
- A-6E TRAM upgraded with the AN/ALR-67 RWR and ability to carry the AGM-88 HARM, AGM-62 Walleye, AGM-84E SLAM and AGM-65 Maverick. Several versions had new composite wings.[40]
- A-6F Intruder II
- Advanced version with updated electronics and General Electric F404 turbofans; only 5 built.
- A-6G
- Proposed cheaper alternative to the A-6F, with its advanced electronics, but existing J52 turbojets.
- G-128-12
- Unbuilt single-seat A-6 based design proposal for the VA(L) competition for A-4 Skyhawk replacement based on existing design. Contract ultimately awarded to the LTV A-7 Corsair II.[41]
Operators
- United States Navy (1963–1997)
- United States Marine Corps (1963–1993)
Aircraft on display
- YA-6A
- 147865 – Cherry Point Historical Aircraft Park, Havelock, North Carolina;[42] displayed as an EA-6A.
- 147867 – Alleghany Arms & Armory Museum, Smethport, Pennsylvania[43]
- A-6A
- 151826 – Battleship Memorial Park, Mobile, Alabama;[44] displayed as a KA-6D.
- KA-6D
- 149482 – NAS Whidbey, Oak Harbor, Washington;[45] displayed as an A-6E.
- 152910 – Oakland Aviation Museum, Oakland, California[46]
- A-6E
- 151782 – San Diego, California[47]
- 152599 – Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina[48]
- 152603 – Richmond Municipal Airport, Richmond, Indiana[49]
- 152907 – NAS Whidbey, Oak Harbor, Washington[50]
- 152923 – NAS Norfolk), Norfolk, Virginia[51]
- 152935 – Empire State Aerosciences Museum, Glenville, New York[52]
- 152936 – United States Naval Museum of Armament and Technology, NCC China Lake (North), Ridgecrest, California[53]
- 154131 – Walker Field Colorado Park, Grand Junction, Colorado[54]
- 154162 – Palm Springs Air Museum, Palm Springs, California[55]
- 154167 – Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, NASM, Washington, D.C.[56]
- 154170 – MCAS Miramar, San Diego, California[57]
- 154171 – Estrella Warbird Museum, Paso Robles, California[58]
- 155595 – Pacific Coast Air Museum, Santa Rosa, California[59]
- 155610 – NAS Pensacola, Pensacola, Florida[60]
- 155627 – NAS Fallon, Fallon, Nevada[61]
- 155629 – Hickory Aviation Museum, Hickory NC[62]
- 155644 – Yanks Air Museum, Chino, California[63]
- 155648 – Atlanta, Georgia[64]
- 155661 – Camp Blanding, Florida[65]
- 155713 – Davis-Monthan AFB), Tucson, Arizona[66]
- 156997 – NAS Patuxent River, Lexington Park, Maryland[67]
- 157001 – Naval Inventory Control Point, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania[68]
- 157024 – Defense General Supply Center, Richmond, Virginia[69]
- 158532 – USS Lexington Museum, Corpus Christi, Texas[70]
- 158794 – Seattle, Washington[71]
- 159567 – Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Virginia[72]
- 159568 – Patuxent River NAS, Lexington Park, Maryland[73]
- 159579 – Castle Air Museum, Atwater, California[74][failed verification]
- 159901 – NAF El Centro, El Centro, California[75]
- 160995 – Yanks Air Museum, Chino, California[76]
- 161676 – Lycoming County Veterans Memorial Park, Williamsport, Pennsylvania[77]
- 162182 – Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum, Space Coast Regional Airport, Titusville, Florida[78]
- 162195 – San Diego Aerospace Museum, San Diego, California[79]
- 162206 – Oregon Air and Space Museum, Eugene, Oregon[80]
- 164378 – Eastern Carolina Aviation Exhibit, Havelock, North Carolina[81]
- 164384 – Grumman Memorial Park, Long Island, New York[82]
- A-6F
- 162184 – Cradle of Aviation Museum, Garden City, New York[83]
- 162185 – Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, New York City, New York[84]
Specifications (A-6E)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83[85] Jet Bombers: From the Messerschmitt Me 262 to the Stealth B-2[86]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 (pilot, bombardier/navigator)
- Length: 54 ft 9 in (16.69 m)
- Wingspan: 53 ft 0 in (16.15 m)
- Width: 25 ft 2 in (7.67 m) wing folded
- Height: 16 ft 2 in (4.93 m)
- Wing area: 528.9 sq ft (49.14 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 5.31:1[87]
- Empty weight: 26,660 lb (12,093 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 60,400 lb (27,397 kg) (shore-based operations)
- Fuel capacity: 2,385 US gal (1,986 imp gal; 9,030 L) (internal fuel)
- Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0144[87]
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney J52-P8B turbojets, 9,300 lbf (41 kN) thrust each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 560 kn (640 mph, 1,040 km/h) at sea level
- Cruise speed: 412 kn (474 mph, 763 km/h)
- Stall speed: 98 kn (113 mph, 181 km/h) (flaps down)
- Never exceed speed: 700 kn (810 mph, 1,300 km/h)
- Combat range: 878 nmi (1,010 mi, 1,626 km) (with max payload)
- Ferry range: 2,818 nmi (3,243 mi, 5,219 km)
- Service ceiling: 42,400 ft (12,900 m)
- g limits: -2.4 to 6.5
- Rate of climb: 7,620 ft/min (38.7 m/s)
- Lift-to-drag: 15.2[87]
- Take-off run to 50 ft (15 m): 4,530 ft (1,380 m)
- Landing run from 50 ft (15 m): 2,540 ft (770 m)
Armament
- Hardpoints: Five hardpoints with a capacity of 3,600 lb (1,600 kg) each (4 under wings, 1 under fuselage), 18,000 lb (8,200 kg) total, with provisions to carry combinations of:
- Rockets:
- Missiles:
- AGM-45 Shrike anti-radar missile[88] × 2
- anti-radar missile[89]× 2
- AGM-62 Walleye TV-guided glide bomb[90]
- air-to-ground missile[90]× 6
- AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile[90]/AGM-84E Standoff Land Attack Missile[91] × 4
- AGM-88 HARM anti-radar missile
- AGM-123 Skipperair-to-ground missile
- AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile[92]
- ADM-141 TALD decoy missiles[93]
- Bombs:
- Other:
- Mk 60 Captor Mine
- Up to 5× 300 US gal (250 imp gal; 1,100 L) drop tanks
- Various practice stores, chaff launchers, baggage pods, flares[88]
- Rockets:
Notable appearances in media
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
- List of accidents and incidents involving the Grumman A-6 Intruder
- List of attack aircraft
- List of military aircraft of the United States
- List of United States military aerial refueling aircraft
References
Notes
- ^ Which technically capable of carrying 30 bombs, the rear inboard position of the Multiple Ejector Racks on hardpoints 2 and 4 (internal wing) had to be left clear to allow the landing gear to retract freely.
Citations
- ^ https://archive.org/details/202417484a6intruder/page/n5/mode/2up, p. 3
- ^ "A-6 Intruder". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ Jenkins 2002, pp. 5–6.
- ^ a b c d e f Gunston and Gilchrist 1993, p. 209.
- ^ Jenkins 2002, pp. 6–7.
- ^ Jenkins 2002, p. 7.
- ^ "Lawrence Mead Jr., Aerospace Engineer, Dies at 94." The New York Times, 30 August 2012.
- ^ Jenkins 2002, p. 11.
- ^ Dorr World Air Power Journal Spring 1993, p. 40.
- ^ a b Dorr World Air Power Journal Spring 1993, p. 41.
- ISBN 0 85177 835 6, p. 431
- ^ https://archive.org/details/202417484a6intruder/page/n5/mode/2up, p.5
- ISBN 0 7110 0523 0, p. 225.
- ^ a b Gunston and Gilchrist 1993, p.210.
- ^ a b c Andrews, Hal (September–October 1997). "Life of the Intruder". Naval Aviation News. Vol. 79, no. 6. pp. 8–16.
- ^ a b Gunston and Gilchrist 1993, pp. 210-211.
- ^ "Northrop Grumman". Flight International. 23 October 1996.
- ^ Gunston and Gilchrist 1993, p. 211.
- ^ a b Trimble, Stephen (4 April 2011). "US naval aviation back on the rise". Flight International.
- ^ Gunston and Gilchrist 1993, p. 211-212.
- ^ Gunston and Gilchrist 1993, p. 212.
- ^ Gunston and Spick 1983, [page needed]
- ^ Hobson 2001, pp. 269–270.
- ^ "4th December 1983". The Year 1983. Ejection History. 23 June 2011. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
A-6E TRAM BuNo 152915 coded AC, side number 556 VA-85 "Black Falcons" ... Near Kfar Salwan, 15 M E of Beirut, Lebanon, shot down by Syrian SAM-7 during bombing. Lt. Mark "Doppler" Lange ejected ... BN Robert O. "Bobby" Goodman ejected ...
- ^ "A-6E Intruder." Archived 22 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine National Museum of Naval Aviation. Retrieved: 16 December 2007.
- ^ Lee, Robin J. "Coalition Fixed-Wing Combat Aircraft Attrition in Desert Storm." rjlee.org. Retrieved: 8 July 2012.
- ^ Caldwell, Richard H. "US Military Aircraft Nicknames." Flightline. Retrieved: 11 April 2007.
- ^ "Homepage image caption for 10 April 2007." Archived 8 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine United States Marine Corps History Division home page. Retrieved: 11 April 2007.
- ^ "Japanese Ship Accidentally Downs U.S. Jet - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. 5 June 1996.
- ^ "The Last Time A Japanese Warship Shot Down A U.S. Navy Plane Was Actually Not So Long Ago". 4 June 2021.
- ^ "Boeing and General Dynamics to appeal against ruling in A-12 case". Flight International. 8 October 2007.
- ^ Trimble, Stephen (3 August 2007). "Northrop Grumman wins US Navy unmanned bomber contract". Flight International.
- ^ Hildebrandt, Erik. 1996–1997. "Burial at Sea: Navy's A-6 Intruder is Retiring, and What Could be a More Fitting End?" Air and Space Smithsonian. December 1996 – January 1997, Volume 11 (5). Pages 64–70. Also: "Burial at Sea."
- ^ "A-6 Displays." Archived 18 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine intruderassociation.org. Retrieved: 19 July 2010.
- ^ a b c Jenkins 2002, p. 100.
- ^ Jenkins 2002, pp. 33–41.
- ^ "AN/APQ – Airborne Multipurpose/Special Radars". designation-systems.net. 1 July 2007. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
- ^ "Pentagon Proposes Buying A-6 Intruders" (PDF), Grumman World, vol. 7, no. 9, p. 1, 13 May 1988, retrieved 6 October 2017
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Andrade 1979, pp. 37–38.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4728-1877-5.
- ^ Buttler 2010, pp. 147–148.
- ^ Hicks, Martin (21 July 2022). "Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point has ribbon cutting on new aircraft park". WCTI. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/147867." aerialvisuals.ca Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/151826" Retrieved: 9 December 2019.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/149482." Retrieved: 11 September 2019.
- ^ "Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Grumman KA-6D Intruder, s/n 152910 USN, c/n I-214". www.aerialvisuals.ca. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/151782." USS Midway Museum. Retrieved: 10 March 2013.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/152599." Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum. Retrieved: 10 March 2013.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/152603." aerialvisuals.ca Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/152907." aerialvisuals.ca Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/152923." aerialvisuals.ca Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/152935." Empire State Aerosciences Museum. Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/152936." aerialvisuals.ca Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/154131." aerialvisuals.ca Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/154162." Archived 17 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Palm Springs Air Museum. Retrieved: 10 March 2013.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/154167." NASM. Retrieved: 10 March 2013.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/154170." Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/154171." Estrella Warbird Museum. Retrieved: 10 March 2013.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/155595." Pacific Coast Air Museum. Retrieved: 10 March 2013.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/155610." National Naval Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/155627." aerialvisuals.ca Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ Flight Line. hickoryaviationmuseum.org.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/155644." Archived 6 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Yanks Air Museum. Retrieved: 10 March 2013.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/155648." aerialvisuals.ca Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/155661." aerialvisuals.ca Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/155713." Pima Air & Space Museum. Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/156997." aerialvisuals.ca Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/157001." aerialvisuals.ca Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/157024." aerialvisuals.ca Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/158532." USS Lexington Museum. Retrieved: 10 March 2013.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/158794." Museum of Flight. Retrieved: 10 March 2013.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/159567." aerialvisuals.ca Retrieved: 21 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/159568." aerialvisuals.ca Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "Our Collection". Castle Air Museum. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/159901." aerialvisuals.ca Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/160995." Archived 6 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine Yanks Air Museum. Retrieved: 10 March 2013.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/161676." aerialvisuals.ca Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/162182." Archived 29 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine Valiant Air Command Museum. Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/162195." aerialvisuals.ca Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/162206." Oregon Air and Space Museum. Retrieved: 10 March 2013.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/164378." aerialvisuals.ca Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder/164384." aerialvisuals.ca Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder II/162184." Archived 7 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine Cradle of Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ "A-6 Intruder II/162185." Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum. Retrieved: 23 July 2015.
- ^ Taylor 1982, pp. 377–378.
- ^ Gunston and Gilchrist 1993, p. 213.
- ^ a b c Loftin, LK, Jr. Quest for Performance: The Evolution of Modern Aircraft. NASA SP-468. nasa.gov. Retrieved: 22 April 2006.
- ^ a b c d e f g "NAVAIR 00-110AA6-5: Standard Aircraft Characteristics: A-6E (TRAM) Intruder" (PDF). US Navy. November 1979. Retrieved 12 January 2019 – via alternatewars.com.
- ^ Dorr World Air Power Journal Spring 1983, p. 44.
- ^ a b c Dorr World Air Power Journal Spring 1983, p. 56.
- ^ Dorr World Air Power Journal Spring 1983, p. 57.
- ^ Dorr Air International November 1986, p. 229.
- ^ Dorr World Air Power Journal Spring 1983, p. 60.
Bibliography
- Andrade, John. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Leicester, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979, ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
- Buttler, Tony (2010). American Secret Projects: Bombers, Attack and Anti-Submarine Aircraft 1945 to 1974. Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-331-0
- Donald, David and Jon Lake. Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing, Single Volume edition, 1996. ISBN 1-874023-95-6.
- Dorr, Robert F. Grumman A-6 Intruder. London: Osprey Publishing, 1987. ISBN 0-85045-816-1.
- Dorr, Robert F. "Grumman A-6 Intruder& EA-6 Prowler". World Air Power Journal, Spring 1983, Volume 12. pp. 34–95. ISSN 0959-7050.
- Dorr, Robert F. "Intruders and Prowlers". ISSN 0306-5634.
- Gunston, Bill and Mike Spick. Modern Air Combat. New York: Crescent Books, 1983. ISBN 0-517-41265-9.
- Gunston, Bill and Peter Gilchrist. Jet Bombers: From the Messerschmitt Me 262 to the Stealth B-2. Osprey, 1993. ISBN 1-85532-258-7.
- Hildebrandt, Erik. 1996–1997. "Burial at Sea: Navy's A-6 Intruder is Retiring, and What Could be a More Fitting End?" Air and Space Smithsonian. December 1996 – January 1997, Volume 11 (5). Pages 64–70. Also: "Burial at Sea."
- Hobson, Chris. Vietnam Air Losses, USAF/USN/USMC, Fixed-Wing Aircraft Losses in Southeast Asia, 1961–1973. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2001. ISBN 1-85780-115-6.
- Jenkins, Dennis R. Grumman A-6 Intruder. Warbird Tech. 33. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2002. ISBN 1-58007-050-7.
- Miska, Kurt H. "Grumman A-6A/E Intruder; EA-6A; EA-6B Prowler (Aircraft in Profile number 252)". Aircraft in Profile, Volume 14. Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1974, pp. 137–160. ISBN 0-85383-023-1.
- Morgan, Mark and Rick Morgan. Intruder: The Operational History of Grumman's A-6. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 2004. ISBN 0-7643-2100-5.
- Morgan, Rick. A-6 Intruder Units of the Vietnam War (Osprey Combat Aircraft #93). Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing Limited, 2012. ISBN 978-1-84908-755-1.
- Reardon, Carol. Launch the Intruders. University of Kansas Press, 2005. ISBN 978-0-7006-1677-0.
- Taylor, John W.R. "Grumman A-6 Intruder". Combat Aircraft of the World from 1909 to the Present. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1969. ISBN 0-425-03633-2.
- ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.
- Winchester, Jim, ed. "Grumman A-6 Intruder". Military Aircraft of the Cold War (The Aviation Factfile). London: Grange Books plc, 2006. ISBN 1-84013-929-3.
External links
- A-6E Intruder
- Intruder Association
- A-6 page on globalsecurity.org
- Joe Baugher's website on the Grumman A-6 Intruder