Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 16 text:

EMBARKED AIRCRAFT The aircraft of the CARL VINSON provide the primary offensive and defensive capabilities of the task force. This carrier airwing team provides the most effective and longest ranged power projection and sea control capability at sea to- day. The mix of highly sophisticated aircraft aboard the CARL VINSON provides more striking power than that possessed by all but the largest of the world ' s air forces. Carrier Air Wing 15 is made up of ten squadrons representing eight different types of aircraft. During all overseas deployments and many training cruises in waters near the U.S., the airwing operates from the deck of the CARL VINSON. Whenever the ship is in homeport the squadrons disperse to their respective home air stations throughout the United States. saai; The F-14 TOMCAT is the Navy ' s newest and best fighter inti ceptor. The TOMCAT is a two-seat, twin engine all-weather a craft capable of flying twice the speed of sound. One of the uniq features of the F-14A is its variable-geometry wing which is sw« forward to provide extra lift for takeoff, landing and low spe manuvering, and sweeps aft for less drag during high spe flight. The TOMCATalso features the world ' s longest range figl er-borne radar, capable of tracking and shooting multiple targi simultaneously. To maintain air superiority whenever and whi ever needed, the aircraft utilizes long-range Phoenix, mediu range Sparrow, and short-range Sidewinder missiles as well as t M-61 20mm cannon. An additional capability essential to t airwing is the TARPS photo-reconaissance pod which can be c ried by the F-14A to evaluate targets before and after a stril CVW-15 has two squadrons of F-14As flown by the Screami Eagles of VF-51 and the Sundowners of VF-111, both based Naval Air Station, Miramar, San Diego, California. F-14 A TOMCAT The A-7E CONSAIR II is a single engine jet light attack strike bomber and close support aircraft. The A-7E is flown by one pilot and is capable of carrying Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, M-61 20mm cannon, and mines as well as a wide range of smart and iron bombs. The aircraft utilizes a sophisticated digital computer for both weapons delivery and navigation. Additionally the A-7E can carry a FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared-Red) pod offering improved night- capability. CVVV-l 5 has two A-7E squadrons, the Raging Bulls of VA-37 and the Gunslinger of VA-105, both based at Naval Air Station, Cecil Field, Florida. 12 A-7E CORSAIR II

Page 15 text:

-- v . , 1 Following the ORE, CARL VINSON crossed the Atlan- tic for a month of operations in the Mediterranean and a port call in the beautiful principality of Monaco. Then it was back through the Strait of Gibraltar for the transit around Africa to the Indian Ocean. The transit gave the CARL VINSON an opportunity to call upon a couple of ports rarely visited by U.S. warships, Casablanca, Moroc- co and Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The next nineteen weeks were spent in the Indian Ocean with a port visit to P erth, Australia to break it into two manageable parts. The ship and airwings were intimately involved in two major exercises, BEACON FLASH with the government of Oman; VECTOR SOUTH with the government of Soma- lia. Finally proceeding east through the Strait of Malacca, the Vinson made port calls in Subic Bay, Philippines; Hong Kong; Pusan, Korea; Sasebo, Japan; and Honolulu, Hawaii. Tiger cruise participants joined the ship in Honolulu and enjoyed an exciting week aboard the star- ship enroute to our new homeport, NAS Alameda. It was eight months of learning and growing aboard the CARL VINSON on her 1983 Around the World maiden cruise, with memories none of us will ever forget. 11

Page 17 text:

The A-6E INTRUDER is a two-seat twin engine, deep-strike interdiction bomber specifically designed to deliver a devastating bomb load with great accuracy in any weather, day or night. The A-6E is equipped with a sophisticated weapons system which can deliver a wide variety of weapons including the Harpoon air-to- surface cruise missile, laser and TV guided munitions, and mines. Additionally the INTRUDER can carry Sidewinder air-to-air mis- siles for defense against airborne threats. CVW-15 has one squad- ron of A-6Es flown by the Knight Riders of VA-52, based at Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, Washington. The squadron also flies the KA-6D model of the INTRUDER, which is a tanker version and can carry up to 26,000 pounds of fuel for inflight refueling of other aircraft in the airwing. A-6E INTRUDER The EA-6B PROWLER is a four seat, twin engine, all weather jet aircraft designed exclusively for tactical electronic warfare. The Prowler employs sensitive onboard sensors and powerful jammer pods to locate and jam enemy radars, thus denying him effective use of his weapons systems. This versatile, highly complex aircraft may be used in a variety of roles, such as passive surveillance, battle group defense, and strike group escort, providing radar masking and missile system degradation to protect attack aircraft. The EA-6B Prowler is a vital asset in today ' s sophisticated electronic environment. The Prowlers of Carrier Air Wing FIFTEEN are flown by the GARUDAS of Tactical Electronic Warfare squadron ONE THIRTY FOUR, based at Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, Washington. EA-6B PROWLER The S-3 A VIKING is a twin engine jet with a crew of four which provides the primary medium to long range anti-submarine de- fense for the carrier battle group. The VIKING carries a wide range of surface and subsurface search equipment including son- obuoys, high-resolution radar, magnetic anomaly detection boom, a turret mounted forward looking infrared (FLIR) scanner, and passive electronic counter measures equipment. The heart of the ASW data processing is the Univac 1832A digital computer which receives inputs from all sensors, stores information for instant recall, and carries out weapon-trajectory calculations based on these sensor inputs. The aircraft also utilizes an inertial naviga- tion system to accurately deliver a variety of weapons including torpedoes, bombs, depth-chargers, mines or rocket pods. The VI- KING ' s outstanding range and loiter capability make it an excel- lent surface surveillance platform. The S-3As in CVW-15 are flown by the Dragonfires of VS-29, based at Naval Air Station, North Island, San Diego, California. S-3A VIKING