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The aircraft quickly proved invaluable in the [[Vietnam War|fighting in Southeast Asia]]. Its advanced electronics allowed it to fly in all weather, and it could carry a large bombload. When a pair of A-6 bombers with 17,000 pounds of bombs aboard demolished a power plant in [[Haiphong]], the [[North Vietnamese]] criticized the U.S. military for using [[B-52 Stratofortress]]es against the city! In spite of the aircraft's advanced weaponry, 84 were shot down over North Vietnam.

The aircraft quickly proved invaluable in the [[Vietnam War|fighting in Southeast Asia]]. Its advanced electronics allowed it to fly in all weather, and it could carry a large bombload. When a pair of A-6 bombers with 17,000 pounds of bombs aboard demolished a power plant in [[Haiphong]], the [[North Vietnamese]] criticized the U.S. military for using [[B-52 Stratofortress]]es against the city! In spite of the aircraft's advanced weaponry, 84 were shot down over North Vietnam.

In December 1984, Intruders and A-7 Corsairs struck [[Syria]]n positions in [[Lebanon]], after the Syrians had fired SAMs at Navy [[F-14 Tomcat|F-14s]] on reconnaissance.  The strike hit several artillery and radar sites, but one A-6 was lost to a SAM, the pilot being killed and the bombardier-navigator being captured.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_278.shtml Disaster in Lebanon]</ref>

In December 1983, Intruders and A-7 Corsairs struck [[Syria]]n positions in [[Lebanon]], after the Syrians had fired SAMs at Navy [[F-14 Tomcat|F-14s]] on reconnaissance.  The strike hit several artillery and radar sites, but one A-6 was lost to a SAM, the pilot being killed and the bombardier-navigator being captured.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_278.shtml Disaster in Lebanon]</ref>

The A-6 next saw action in the Gulf of Sidra, during tensions with [[Libya]].  In late March of 1986, during Operation Prairie Fire, Intruders sank the missile boat ''Waheed'' (the first combat victim of the Harpoon missile) and the corvette ''Ean Mara'', and damaged another corvette.  Three weeks later, A-6s from the USS ''Coral Sea'' and USS ''America'' struck at the military barracks in Benghazi and at nearby Benini airfield as part of Operation El Dorado Canyon.<ref>''El Dorado Canyon: Reagan’s Undeclared War with Qaddafi'', by Joseph T. Stanik, Naval Institute Press, 2003</ref>

The A-6 next saw action in the Gulf of Sidra, during tensions with [[Libya]].  In late March of 1986, during Operation Prairie Fire, Intruders sank the missile boat ''Waheed'' (the first combat victim of the Harpoon missile) and the corvette ''Ean Mara'', and damaged another corvette.  Three weeks later, A-6s from the USS ''Coral Sea'' and USS ''America'' struck at the military barracks in Benghazi and at nearby Benini airfield as part of Operation El Dorado Canyon.<ref>''El Dorado Canyon: Reagan’s Undeclared War with Qaddafi'', by Joseph T. Stanik, Naval Institute Press, 2003</ref>