While looking around for the previous post-look what I stumbled onto on the US Navy’s web site. What’s wrong with this picture?
The Carrier Air Wing
The typical air wing aboard a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier usually contains four FA-18 squadrons, one S-3 squadron, one EA-6B squadron, one E-2C squadron, and one helicopter squadron. You can find detailed information on each of these aircraft by clicking on the silhouette. That will take you to the Navy Fact File for that particular aircraft.
 FA-18 E/F Hornet |
 FA-18 C/D Hornet |
 E-2C Hawkeye |
 S-3B Viking |
 SH-60 Seahawk |
 |
Surprised they don’t also have F-14’s listed.
OK, I get that the S-3 is done. But also, a rhino isn’t THAT much bigger than a regular hornet, is it?
It is bigger but not that much bigger…..
a) The (unlabled) Prowler is really an EA-6A
b) We don’t fly S-3s any more
c) The illustrator only upsized the legacy Hornet – that isn’t an F/A-18E (look at the tail among other things)
d) No F/A-18F
e) USN doesn’t fly F/A-18Ds as part of the CVW.
w/r, SJS
Are we seeing the “twilight” of the aircraft carrier, like the battleships of WW2????
It appears that China has or is developing a “carrier” killer missile….
Richard give this a read, http://www.neptunuslex.com/2011/05/16/not-the-solution/ and then come back to think about your comment with regards to the DF-21. The reality of the situtation is that the DF-21 although a threat there are still other capabilities to make it a viable threat. All of which to date the PLAN, PLA and PLAAF have yet to prove with any sort of good at the location and localization portion of the targeting/tracking/engagement of weapons employment. They are probably working in that, yet unlike the Soviets were in the mid-70’s (where we heard the same thing when talked about with the AS-4/TU-22M/TU-95 combo). The reality is probably much different then what the pundits are talking about.
Oh and is it me or does the little diagram on the page in question, http://www.navy.mil/navydata/ships/carriers/powerhouse/airwing.asp, for the Prowler look like an EA-6A Intruder? If we are going to nitpick, might as well be total cocks of our walk and nitpick with gusto.
@SAP, you're spot on. It's a -6A v. -6B…good catch.