The FReeper Foxhole Remembers J Robinson, W Pitsenbarger Operation Abilene(APR-1966)-Sep. 24th, 2003

Home of Heroes ^

[Johnny Gage]

Air Power
Grumman A-6 "Intruder"

The Grumman (now Northrop Grumman) A-6 Intruder was an all-weather, two seat, subsonic, carrier-based attack aircraft. The subsonic A-6 has no spectacular performance or design features but is superbly suited to the particular attack role for which it so carefully tailored. Designed in the late 1950’s, the A-6 prototype made its first test flight in April 1960. The first of six TA2F-1 prototypes flew for the first time on 19 April 1960. These were followed by 482 production A-6As delivered to the US Navy from early 1963. From night flights over the jungles of Vietnam to Desert Storm missions above heavily-fortified targets in Iraq, the Grumman A-6 Intruder developed a work-horse reputation and was the subject of many tales of daring aviation during its 34-year career. The strengths of the Intruder included its capability to fly in all weather and its heavy weapons payload -- two traits illuminated on the big screen in the popular action film "Flight of the Intruder."

The A-6 Intruder served as the Navy’s medium-attack mainstay during three decades of conflict, crisis and cold war. The Intruder made its first flight in April 1960. The aircraft’s ruggedness and all-weather mission capability made it an awesome asset to Navy and Marine Corps air wings throughout its lifespan. Built by the legendary Grumman "Ironworks," 687 production attack Intruders were accepted by the Navy. A testament to the aircraft’s versatility and longevity was the myriad upgrades and technological enhancements that kept it the world’s premier long-range, all-weather attack aircraft for over 30 years. Carrying an impressive payload of ordnance, only land-based heavy bombers such as the B-1 and B-52 could carry more. A little-known fact is that the Intruder delivered more ordnance during the Vietnam War than the B-52.

A tough and versatile aircraft, the A-6 was called upon to fly the most difficult missions. Its forte was to fly low and alone—in any weather. The all-weather attack jet has seen action in every conflict the US has been involved in since Vietnam. With the ability to carry more ordnance, launch a wider variety of space-age smart weapons, conduct day or night strikes over greater distances on internal fuel than any carrier borne aircraft before or since, and provide mid-air refueling support to other carrier jets, the Intruder represents the most versatile military aircraft in modern times.

The A-6E proved that it was the best all-weather precision bomber in the world in the joint strike on Libyan terrorist-related targets in 1986. With Air Force FB-111s, A-6E Intruders penetrated the sophisticated Libyan air defense systems, which had been alerted by the high level of diplomatic tension and by rumors of impending attacks. Evading over 100 guided missiles, the strike force flew at low levels in complete darkness, and accurately delivered laser-guided and other ordnance on target.

No guns of any kind are carried aboard the A-6, and the aircraft has no internal bomb bay. A wide variety of stores, however, can be mounted externally; these include both conventional and nuclear bombs, fuel tanks, and an assortment of rockets and missiles. As with all versatile attack aircraft, many combinations of payload and mission radius are available to the A-6E. For example, a weapons load of 2080 Pounds consisting of a Mark 43 nuclear bomb can be delivered at a mission radius of' 890 miles. For that mission, four 300-gallon external tanks are carried. Alternatively, 10 296 pounds can be delivered at a mission radius of 450 miles with two 300-gallon external tanks. Unrefueled ferry range is 3300 miles. Normal gross weight aircraft is 54 393 pounds, nearly three times that of the A-4E.

Configuration of the midwing subsonic aircraft features a 5.31-aspect ratio wing of moderate sweepback (25°) and one turbojet engine nestled on either side of the fuselage in the intersection of the lower wing surface and the fuselage side. Exhaust nozzles are located just behind the wing trailing edge, side-mounted inlets are low and far forward on the fuselage. A side-by-side seating arrangement accommodates the crew in the A-6. The refueling probe is located on top of the fuselage just ahead of the cockpit canopy. To provide the lift augmentation necessary for carrier operations, nearly full-span leading-edge and trailing-edge high-lift devices are installed. The trailing edge of each wingtip outboard of the fold line splits to form speed brakes that deflect above and below the wing when deployed. The outer portion of the wing folds upward to facilitate carrier storage. Two short flow-control fences are located on each wing. Spoilers are used for lateral control, and the longitudinal control surface is an all-moving horizontal tail.

The A-6E is capable of a maximum speed of 653 miles per hour (Mach 0.86) at sea level and a cruising speed of 390 miles per hour. Although the wing loading of the A-6E is over 40 percent higher than that of the A-4E, the stalling speeds of the two aircraft are nearly the same, which attests to the effectiveness of the highlift devices on the A-6. The zero-lift drag coefficient of the A-6E is about 20 percent higher than that of the B-57B; however, the maximum lift-drag ratios of the two aircraft are about the same. The higher-aspect-ratio wing of the A-6E compensates for its higher zero-lift drag coefficient in determining the maximum lift-drag ratio.

Specifications:
Primary Function: All-weather medium attack aircraft
Contractor: Grumman
Crew: Two
Unit Cost: $22 million
Powerplant: Two Pratt & Whitney J52-P8B engines (9,300 pounds thrust each)

Dimensions:
Length: 54 feet 7 inches (16.1 meters)
Wingspan: 53 feet (16.1 meters)
Height: 15 feet 7 inches (4.74 meters)
Weight: Empty: 25,630 pounds (11,636 kg) - Maximum Takeoff: 60,626 pounds (27,524 kg)

Performance:
Speed: 563 knots (648 mph / 1036 km/h)
Ceiling: 40,600 feet
Range: 1,077 miles (1,733 km) -- full combat load

Armaments:

20 Mk-117 (750 lbs) 28 CBU-78 GBU-10E Laser Guided Bomb GBU-12D Laser Guided Bomb GBU-16B Laser Guided Bomb AGM-123A Skipper II AGM-45 Shrike AGM-62 Walleyes AIM-9 Sidewinders

10 2.75" Rocket Pod 10 5" Zuni Rocket Pod 28 Mk-20 Rockeye Mk-77 Napalm 28 Mk-81 (250 lbs) 28 Mk-82 Snakeye 13 Mk-83 (1,000 lbs) 5 Mk-84 (2,000 lbs)

System Weapon Improvement Program, SWIP
AGM-88 HARMs / AGM-84E SLAMs
AGM-65 Maverick Anti-Ship Missile / AIM-120A AMRAAM

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All photos Copyright of Global Security.Org

[Valin]

So far it is. But I remain vigilant..you never know when THEY will strike.

[Valin]

"Flight of the Intruder."


When you're alone
And life is making
You can always go
DOWNTOWN!

[Samwise]

If that isn't Hell on Earth, I don't know what is.

[Prof Engineer]

like your tagline.

[w_over_w]

Morning Glory Snip & Sam~

. . .

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning E.G.C. Another beautiful morning here. Supposed to get into the 80's today but it's a nice low 60's right now.

[SAMWolf]

Hi Mayor. Trying a cup of Darksheare's again today.

[SAMWolf]

You're welcome Snippy.

[SAMWolf]

HI Manna

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning bedolido. We have a WWII thread coming up tomorrow.

[bedolido]

thanks. I will be there.

[SAMWolf]

1862 President Abraham Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus against anyone suspected of being a Southern sympathizer

When one considers all that occurred during the very turbulent period of the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln is usually considered to be a hero. During his presidency, he managed to keep the United States of America together and gave a people held in bondage, American slaves, the freedom they so desperately deserved. Like almost every president who preceded him, Lincoln's actions at the time were somewhat controversial. Some of his most controversial decisions might actually be considered now to be abuses of the Presidential power. During his terms as president, he suspended the Writ of Habeas Corpus, and upheld the Declaration of Independence above the Constitution.

The writ of Habeas Corpus protects Americans from being unjustly imprisoned. Without it, law is a sham. The writ creates the gap between freedom and despotism. Its origin dates back to the formation of our country, and the tenet that all men have equality under the law. The writ ensures that no on can be unjustly imprisoned. Any prisoner feeling this right is being abused has the ability to petition to be seen before a judge, who can declare his arrest unlawful and have him released. Yet, during the initial year of the American Civil War, Lincoln used his power and removed that right, first in Baltimore, New York, and eventually the entire union. He authorized military officers to suspend the writ before he made an official proclamation. Joshua Kleinfeld, an author who has researched this issue, wrote that "when Lincoln suspended the Writ of Habeas Corpus, he clothed himself with more power then any individual had possessed in America before, or since.

Lincoln contended that he removed the Writ in order to ensure victory and preserve the union. In fact he preserved more power for himself and removed a great deal from the United States legislative and judicial branches. The first proclamation to remove the Writ of Habeas Corpus was made in September of 1862. Not only did this proclamation, which had no scheduled end, remove the writ, it also established Marshall law. It gave full power to close down "hostile, anti war newspapers," and to arrest individuals for protesting the war.

Lincoln removed a great deal of power from the legislative branch with this proclamation. He was not empowered under the Constitution to make such a declaration. In fact, that right belonged to Congress alone. Roger Taney, Supreme Court Chief Justice, contended that Article I of the Constitution declares: "a state of rebellion is the only time when Congress could declare the writ removed." He also believed: "This article is devoted to the legislative department of the United States, and has not the slightest reference to the executive branch.."

The Supreme Court went on to order Lincoln to bring prisoners who had been arrested without reason before the court. He refused on the notion that the writ's suspension gave him that right to do so. Lincoln contended that, "It was not believed that any law was violated". The fact that he got away with suspending the Writ of Habeas Corpus gave more power to the presidency during a time of war than ever before. Nearly 100 years later, Franklin D. Roosevelt, would once again abolish the writ in order to imprison Japanese Americans during the Second World War. Lincoln set a precedent which F.D.R later used to justify his own wartime actions.

Brian Pulito

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Johnny.

A tough and versatile aircraft, the A-6 was called upon to fly the most difficult missions

Some planes are just born to be classics.

<

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Samwise.

And today we get daily reports of disaster from Iraq with casualties no where near the counts of WWII, Korea and Vietnam.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Prof Engineer. I love you tagline, brought a big smile.

[SAMWolf]

Hi w_ove_w.

[bedolido]

has the Intruder been retired? "Flight of the Intruder"

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning Darksheare.

[snippy_about_it]

Morning w/w.

...See you later.