A-6 Intruder

The A-6 Intruder was an all-weather attack bomber for the United States Navy. It was first delivered in 1963.

Design

In the 1960s, the Navy was looking for a replacement and complement for the A-4 Skyhawk and the A-7 Corsair II, neither of which was equipped with avionics to attack in all weather. A replacement aircraft was also needed for the WWII-vintage A-1 Skyraider.

Grumman received the contract for the two-seat attack aircraft in 1959, constructing the first prototypes that same year. The first A-6As were delivered to VA-42 of the Navy, and the Marine Corps also purchased some aircraft.

Service

The aircraft quickly proved invaluable in the 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 accused the U.S. military of using B-52 Stratofortresses against the city! In spite of the aircraft's advanced weaponry, 84 were shot down over North Vietnam.

A-6 aircraft were also useful in the bombing of Libya in 1986; they proved effective in the Gulf War in 1991.

Specifications

Type	Two-seat carrier-based attack aircraft
Contractor	Grumman
Power plant	Two Pratt & Whitney 9,300 pounds of thrust J52-P-8A turbofans
Length	54 feet, 9 inches
Height	16 feet, 2 inches
Speed	655 miles per hour
Wingspan	53 feet
Empty weight	25,684 pounds
Crew	Two
Unrefueled ange	2000 miles
Maximum Weight	58,400 pounds
Armament	Assorted guided and unguided bombs, Harpoon missiles, Standard ARMs, and cluster bombs up to 18,000 pounds