US Navy retires Prowler electronic attack aircraft after close to 45 years' service, the end of an Era?

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 08:54:43 -0400

US Navy retires Prowler electronic attack aircraft after close to 45 years' service - IHS Jane's...

The US Navy (USN) retired from service the last of its Grumman EA-6B Prowler electronic attack (EA) aircraft during a three-day 'sundown' ceremony at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island in Washington state from 25 to 27 June. The four-seat Prowler, which was developed from the twin-seat A-6

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jul 6 at 2015 9:49 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 09:49:04 -0400

That Aircraft was a loud aircraft taking off from the deck. It would rattle your teeth it was so loud! Yes an end of an Era.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Jul 6 at 2015 9:56 AM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 09:56:57 -0400

Wow. So essentially the fleet has standardized it air wing to some variant of the F/A-18? That is too bad. I always kinda liked the S-3, and the E/A-6. Of course I was on a destroyer, and didn't have to listen to them taking off.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Jul 6 at 2015 9:59 AM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 09:59:45 -0400

When I was in an Information Warfare unit, I was the EW NCO coordinating EW/EA assets. The Prowler was an awesome piece of machinery for its time. A versatile platform that worked very well when employed correctly.

I know times change and technology moves on but I hate seeing those old birds retire. It's almost like losing a friend.

Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Jul 6 at 2015 11:10 AM

PO2 Steven Erickson — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 11:10:24 -0400

Just a thought, from a boy who grew up watching BUFF's flying over my head in North Dakota...

Clearly, we haven't found a 100% suitable replacement for the B-52's. Those old girls are still puttin' the hurt on bad guys, right?

Does this mean that the F/A-18 (in this case, the "Growler", right?) is a 100% suitable replacement for the A-5, A-6, E-6 and F-14? (Did I miss one?)

BTW, what are we using for a carrier-based fixed-wing ASW? Is there an F/A-18 version for THAT?

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Jul 6 at 2015 11:32 AM

Capt Mark Strobl — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 11:32:53 -0400

I'm sure a wing nut will correct me here. But, I have to think beyond the C-130, the A-6/EA-6 platform has to rank 2nd in service lifetime in the FMF and Navy's arsenal. Sad to see her go. But, looking forward to the Growler's overhead!

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jul 6 at 2015 11:42 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 11:42:02 -0400

There was churn associated with the retirement of the A-6 Attack. A friend of mine was a right seater bombardier. Like many others, his Navy career was short lived thereafter as they were discarded for "more qualified" skill sets. Its capabilities were never fully replaced by the newer stuff that couldn't go low and slow. However these days, low and slow, is a better target and it didn't take much to hole an A-6.

That said, how about a carrier launched version of the Warthog? Yeeesss!

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jul 6 at 2015 12:32 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 12:32:01 -0400

Indeed. The A6 airframe was an amazing beast of a warhorse. I don't know that the E18G Growler will do as well, even though it has more advanced electronics...

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 6 at 2015 3:36 PM

PO1 John Miller — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 15:36:00 -0400

She was a good bird, sad to see her go. Thanks for sharing LCDR Private RallyPoint Member!

Response by SSgt Donnavon Smith made Jul 6 at 2015 4:06 PM

SSgt Donnavon Smith — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 16:06:25 -0400

It was a great day. I grew up on Prowler Bases, My dad worked As and Bs

Response by CAPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2015 7:13 PM

CAPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 19:13:18 -0400

I loved that airframe! I have almost 3000 hours in it. She was a beast to land on the carrier, especially at night. But she never failed me over Iraq or Afghanistan, and she brought me and my crew back to the ship every time regardless of the weather.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Jul 6 at 2015 8:52 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 20:52:58 -0400

Eventually everything has to be replaced, you can only hope that the replacement will live up to and hopefully exceed the item it has replaced.

Response by PO3 Eric DeBruin made Jul 8 at 2015 11:07 AM

PO3 Eric DeBruin — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 11:07:24 -0400

I worked on these as an AT in AIMD at Whidbey Island from 2003 to 2006 (including a 2004 deployment as SEAOPDET with VAQ 140) As frustrating as they could be at times to maintain, they were great aircraft.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 12 at 2015 3:53 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 15:53:06 -0400

Always sad to see a Proud Old EW Bird go. Not surprised being that there is a F-18 EW Variant but the Prowler was a Cool Old Bird.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2015 2:10 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 14:10:37 -0400

As others have mentioned it is the end of an era. However I don't necessarily think it was retired for quite the same reasons as have been mentioned here and on other forums. My take is based on my experience. As MMCO of a Prowler Squadron I ran into some specific issues with supportability of an aircraft well beyond it's intended service life.

The cost to keep the airframe in the air has drastically increased, and aside from cost, some components could/can not even be acquired anymore. The Marine Corps has kept the Prowler around but only because they know they now have what used to be the Navy inventory to take parts from. Low reliability in this case can be mitigated through a high number of spares (note I mean part reliability not the aircraft itself).

The mission the Prowler performs is still great, but having commonality in parts with the rest of the -18 family will make the Growler a more supportable and maintainable platform.

The Prowler will always have a special place in my heart and is still potentially my favorite aircraft. I have a squadron belt buckle from VAQ-130 that I still prefer to anything else, and my experiences there have been the basis of a lot of educated decisions I have made over the years.

Maybe I'll have to find my way to Cherry Point so I can have a chance to see them again.