America (CV 66) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 14 text:

AMERICA’S Airwing Carrier Air wing One The F-I4A Tomcat is a two-seat, twin-engine all-weather aircraft capable of flying twice the speed of sound. Its mission is to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft in order to establish and maintain local air superiority. The Tomcat can carry long-range Phoenix missiles in addition to Sparrow and Sidewinder missiles. and can engage multiple targets simultaneously. Fighter squadrons VF-33 and VF-102, based at NAS Oceana. Virginia, fly the F-14 from AMERICA. F-14A Tomcat Length - 62' Height-16' Span -64.1' Speed - Mach 2+

Page 13 text:

AMERICA’s Mission The traditional mission of the United States Nav is to control the seas. Without this control. American forces abroad could suffer from lack of support, and industry at home could decline or halt for lack of the raw materials that must be delivered via the sea routes of the world. The coining of the nuclear age has not changed this basic concept. In fact, it has broadened it to include control of the air over the seas. Only the aircraft carrier can provide the mobility and versatility needed to ensure that this control is maintained. AMERICA is a completely equipped naval air station. But instead of being a fixed point on the map that can be targeted by ballistic missiles, AMERICA can range the oceans of the world, changing her position by hundreds of miles in a single day. AMERICA and her sister carriers of the fleet allow the United States to quickly assemble great concentrations of firepower wherever it may be needed to ensure global stability. This was accomplished very effectively during Operation Desert Storm. And unlike bases overseas, carriers are not dependent on the political temperament of foreign governments for their existence. Versatile and mobile, AMERICA can be used alternately or simultaneously against submarines, surface ships, aircraft or shore facilities. She can also support amphibious land and air operations. In “brush fire conflicts, AMERICA can move quickly to apply the required amount of offensive firepower to stabilize the situation. In the event of total war, she represents a hard-to-find base from which retaliatory strikes can be launched against enemy targets. Finally, the recognized offensive and defensive capabilities of AMERICA provide a powerful deterrent to conflict and a force for peace around the world. ▲

Page 15 text:

EA-6B Prowler S-3B Viking The S-3B Viking is the first completely computerized, carrier-based, anti-submarine jet aircraft. It has the all-weather capability to search for, localize and destroy enemy submarines. It is designed to carry an array of ordnance, including homing torpedoes, mines, depth charges, rockets and missiles. Equipped with the latest ASW sensors, it is capable of searching large areas of ocean and detecting modern nuclear submarines. The Viking is flown from AMERICA by Air Anti-Submarine Warfare Squadron VS-32, based at NAS Cecil Field, Florida. The EA-6B Prowler is a four-seat, all-weather aircraft with the primary mission of providing electronic warfare support to the fleet by detecting and jamming enemy radar signals. Modern anti-air defense systems, whether they use missiles, gunfire or fighter interceptors, rely heavily on radar for tracking and guidance. By denying the enemy the use of his radars, the Prowler can effectively screen friendly strike aircraft and neutralize enemy weapon systems. Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron VAQ-137, based at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, flies the EA-6B from AMERICA. Length - 59' Height -16.2' Span - 53' Speed -516 Kts Length - 49.5' Height -15.6' Span - 69' Speed - 400 Kts