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The Perpetual Prowler Tribute
- Thread starter HeyJoe
- Start date
The only thing I could find in the General NATOPS was this:
OPNAVINST 3710.7U Page C-2 said:
Not sure when or why the HSL east squadrons did it different, but they just did.
-48, BTW, used 500-517. Why not 480-497? Best explanation I ever heard was because transponders don't have an 8 or a 9 (shrug).
And back in the late 80's through mid 90's with the Super Airwing Prowlers were 620-624.
CVW-8 at the time was 2x16 plane A-6E squadrons with all bombers, 2x F/18A-C, 2x Tomcat, 5 E-2's, 5 Prowlers and 10 S-3's. We could move some ordnance.
If the Tomcats had been bomb carriers would have been something to see. Alas, they tried that at Fallon and it was deemed a bad idea after hwy 50 was bracketed with a pair of inert mk-82's . Um, let's see what happens after they update the software guys.
MasterBates
Well-Known Member
Sadly, now in terms of raw tonnage, it would take all 4 bug squadrons to drop what one of the A-6 squadrons could have.
Also, any whining the handler has now about Hummers.. Is invalid.
Had a handler crawl up my ass one day about how much deck space we needed for the hummer hi power turn. I was the CAG-7 SOOD. (Safety Officer Of the Day). Normally a hinge job, and I was wearing my flight deck gear and not flight gear, so he probably didn't know I was a LT.
I asked him what he would have done on the JFK in the 2004 cruise when we had Tomcats and S-3s. On a smaller deck.
Handler couldn't be silent, because I heard his blood pressure rising.
Also, any whining the handler has now about Hummers.. Is invalid.
Had a handler crawl up my ass one day about how much deck space we needed for the hummer hi power turn. I was the CAG-7 SOOD. (Safety Officer Of the Day). Normally a hinge job, and I was wearing my flight deck gear and not flight gear, so he probably didn't know I was a LT.
I asked him what he would have done on the JFK in the 2004 cruise when we had Tomcats and S-3s. On a smaller deck.
Handler couldn't be silent, because I heard his blood pressure rising.
Harrier Dude
Living the dream
That math doesn't sound right. Besides, it's not about raw tonnage anymore and hasn't been since Desert Storm.
You should see the clowns on the short busses. CV handlers and yellow shirts should get duty on a LHD as some kind of bonus/skate duty. They wouldn't know what to do with all their spare time/energy.
CVW-8 at the time was 2x16 plane A-6E squadrons with all bombers,
I'll correct myself here. VA-36 and 65 were 10 plane squadrons with all bombers vice 16.
MasterBates
Well-Known Member
Yeah.. I know it's not about tonnage.. But I was also looking at the 'Realistic' loads I've seen the various -18s operate with.
Some day, we may just need lots of bombs and not a handful of smart ones. Can you imagine how effective an A-6G would be with modern weapons systems and it's load capacity?
Some day, we may just need lots of bombs and not a handful of smart ones. Can you imagine how effective an A-6G would be with modern weapons systems and it's load capacity?
Harrier Dude
Living the dream
Digital ITERs and two drops.....
I think we'll see more of the same for quite awhile unless we end up invading Iran, NK, or China, which is (thankfully) very unlikely.
Time on station is more important than tonnage of bombs in practical terms.
A-6F was the answer.
With the A-6E we could carry 22 MK-82's and a 400 gal centerline for 18.7 gas. Average fuel flow of 1.8k per a side. Figure I fly with 12 JDAM due to bring back, etc. Still go with the single centerline due to drag. Easy 3.0 hop and still come back to the boat with 6.0 for recovery.
With an Intruder, you get time on station and tonnage.
Harrier Dude
Living the dream
Very true, and an awesome weapon system. My point was that you'd be better off in today's mission set with two additional drop tanks (maybe four? Not sure of plumbing/hard points) and even fewer JDAM. The odds of anybody dropping more than two JDAM on an average flight these days is extremely remote. It would be cool, though.
Down side for the A-6 is no gun for strafing. That probably comes in handier lately than extra bombs.
Well, we could always carry the MK4 20mm pod if we had too. Probably no worse than the F-35C pod. LOL.
Pic on one on a Phantom.
Harrier Dude
Living the dream
Well, we could always carry the MK4 20mm pod if we had too. Probably no worse than the F-35C pod. LOL.
Pic on one on a Phantom.
Has that actually been done?
Yep- was done a lot by both USN/USAF when the Phantom had no internal gun. No idea of good it was.