The Navy's experience in the Korean War
showed the need for a new long-range strike aircraft with a high
subsonic performance at tree-top height to permit
under-the-radar penetration of enemy defenses and capable of
finding and hitting small targets in any weather. The result was
the Grumman A-6 "Intruder." Manned by a pilot and bombardier/navigator
seated side-by-side, the A-6 was designed to be powered by two
engines which gave the "Intruder" far better
reliability and performance than a single engine design and was
heartily endorsed by flight crews because of the added margin of
safety.
The first of the A-6 series (A-6A) were
delivered to the Navy in 1963 and to the Marines in 1964. The
first operational squadron to receive the A-6As was VA-75 that
began its support of US forces in Vietnam flying initially from
USS Independence. The Digital Integrated Attack and Navigation
Equipment (DIANE) and its subsystems incorporated into the
aircraft enabled the crew to attack preselected targets or
targets of opportunity at night or under adverse weather
conditions without the crew having to look out of the cockpit
from launch to recovery. Subsequent to Vietnam, equally effective
all-weather strikes were made by A-6s against targets in Libya
during the Gulf of Sidra crisis, Iranian gun boats in the
Persian Gulf, and Iraqi installations during Desert Storm
operations. The last of the A-6E "Intruders"
were retired in 1997 although the EA-6B "Prowler"
variants are still in service.
A-6E Intruder,
USN
Premier Series. 1/48th scale. Loaded with weapons.
13" wingspan x 13.5" long
No. AFN4D-AL. Only $194.95
A-6E
Intruder, USMC
Premier Series. 1/48th scale. Loaded.
13" wingspan x 13.5" long
No. AFN4D-BL. Only $194.95
A-6A
Intruder, USN
Standard Series. 1/48th scale.
13.25" wingspan x 13.5" long.
No. AFN4D-ST. Only $129.95
