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120-430: The U.S. Navy does not say aircraft squadrons are "commissioned" or "decommissioned". Until 1998, squadrons were "established", "disestablished", and sometimes "re-designated"; since 1998, squadrons are "established", "deactivated", and sometimes "reactivated". Under the system that pertained until 1998, squadron designations were often reused. A squadron's history and lineage began when it was established and ended when it

240-499: A MiG-21 during Operation Linebacker II . Nine more RA-5Cs were lost in operational accidents while serving with Task Force 77 . Due, in part, to these combat losses, 36 additional RA-5C aircraft were built from 1968 to 1970 as attrition replacements. In 1968, Congress closed the aircraft's original operating base of Naval Air Station Sanford, Florida and transferred the parent wing, Reconnaissance Attack Wing One, all subordinate squadrons and all aircraft and personnel to Turner AFB ,

360-557: A Strategic Air Command (SAC) Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and Boeing KC-135 base in Albany, Georgia. The tenant SAC bomb wing was then inactivated and control of Turner AFB was transferred from the Air Force to the Navy with the installation renamed Naval Air Station Albany. In 1974, after barely six years of service as a naval air station , Congress opted to close Naval Air Station Albany as part of

480-417: A head-up display ("Pilot's Projected Display Indicator" (PPDI), one of the first), multi-mode radar , radar-equipped inertial navigation system (REINS, based on technologies developed for North American's Navaho missile ), closed-circuit television camera under the nose, and an early digital computer known as " Versatile Digital Analyzer " (VERDAN) to operate it all. According to Gunston and Gilchrist,

600-478: A hydraulically -driven emergency supply generated by a ram air turbine was also installed. The electronics of the Vigilante were relatively advanced and complex at the time of its entry to service. It incorporated one of the first " fly-by-wire " systems on an operational aircraft, along with mechanical/hydraulic backup. Other elements of its avionics include a computerized AN/ASB-12 nav/attack system incorporating

720-408: A commercial ship hull, so they were cheaper and could be built quickly. This was their principal advantage as they could be completed in greater numbers as a stop-gap when fleet carriers were scarce. However, the lack of protection made escort carriers particularly vulnerable, and several were sunk with great loss of life. The light carrier (U.S. hull classification symbol CVL) was a similar concept to

840-649: A completely enclosed hangar when operating in the North Atlantic and in support of the Arctic convoys . Of the U.S.-built escort carriers, Nabob and Puncher sailed on launch from Tacoma to the port of Vancouver , where they were lightly refitted to Royal Navy standard and then crewed by Royal Canadian Navy personnel. Both ships served in the North Atlantic while nominally under the British fleet and carrying aircraft of

960-426: A full-size fleet carrier. The aircraft hangar typically ran only 1 ⁄ 3 of the way under the flight deck and housed a combination of 24–30 fighters and bombers organized into one single "composite squadron". By comparison, a late Essex -class fleet carrier of the period could carry 103 aircraft organized into separate fighter, bomber and torpedo-bomber squadrons. The island (superstructure) on these ships

1080-402: A given designation was assigned to several distinct squadrons. Most of the squadron designations in the list belonged to squadrons which have been disestablished, but also included are former designations of some VFA squadrons which are still active. In 1979, two Naval Reserve VAQ squadrons that performed tanking as their primary mission received the new VAK designation, which was phased out when

1200-593: A high workload during carrier landings. Designated A3J-1 , the Vigilante first entered service with Heavy Attack Squadron Three (VAH-3) in June 1961 at Naval Air Station Sanford , Florida, replacing the Douglas A-3 Skywarrior in the heavy attack, e.g., "strategic nuclear strike" role. All variants of the Vigilante were built at North American Aviation's facility at Port Columbus Airport in Columbus, Ohio, alongside

1320-488: A limited period. Once all major aircraft were equipped with refueling probes, it became much easier to fly the aircraft directly to its base instead of shipping it. The last chapter in the history of escort carriers consisted of two conversions: as an experiment, USS  Thetis Bay was converted from an aircraft carrier into a pure helicopter carrier (CVHA-1) and used by the Marine Corps to carry assault helicopters for

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1440-401: A need for carriers to defend its trade routes in the 1930s. While designs had been prepared for "trade protection carriers" and five suitable liners identified for conversion, nothing further was done – mostly because there were insufficient aircraft for even the fleet carriers under construction at the time. However, by 1940 the need had become urgent and HMS  Audacity was converted from

1560-422: A new squadron. A re-activated squadron would trace its lineage back to the squadron's original establishment date, including its inactive period. The current update of OPNAVINST 3050.4 contains a list of all currently active and deactivated U.S. Navy aircraft squadrons. This section contains squadrons whose designations were discontinued by 1947. Most of the squadrons listed in this section were disestablished by

1680-803: A night fighter squadron, became a jet transition unit and then was redesignated VF(AW)-3. In 1958, that squadron was disestablished and the VF(AW)-3 designator was given to a different unit: a continental defense interceptor squadron. VF(AW)-4 provided night fighter detachments to Carrier Air Groups. From 1952 to 1956, VJ designated Photographic Squadrons; from 1952 to 1953, it also designated Weather or Weather Reconnaissance Squadrons. In 1952, two new squadrons were designated Photographic Squadrons VJ-61 and VJ-62; four years later, they were redesignated Heavy Photographic Reconnaissance Squadrons (VAP) 61 and 62. This last use of VO designated observation squadrons from 1967 to 1968 and has not been used since. The VU designation

1800-400: A post-Vietnam force reduction, transferring all RA-5C units and personnel to Naval Air Station Key West , Florida. Despite the Vigilante's useful service, it was expensive and complex to operate and occupied significant amounts of precious flight deck and hangar deck space aboard both conventional and nuclear-powered aircraft carriers at a time when carrier air wings, with the introduction of

1920-478: A primary mission while retaining airborne early warning as a secondary role. In 1955 and 1956 six new VW squadrons were established to operate as early warning squadrons in the Atlantic and Pacific Barriers which were seaward extensions of the nation's Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line . These "barrier" VW squadrons did not operate as weather reconnaissance squadrons and they were all disestablished by 1965. In 1967 one of

2040-615: A pronounced dorsal "hump"). In practice, these hardpoints were rarely used. Other improvements to the type included blown flaps on the leading edge of the wing and stronger landing gear . While designated by the US Navy as a "heavy" aircraft, the A-5 was surprisingly agile; without the drag of bombs or missiles, even escorting fighters found that the clean airframe and powerful engines made the Vigilante very fast at high and low altitudes. However, its high approach speed and high angle of attack contributed to

2160-546: A relatively large all-moving single vertical stabilizer. The use of aluminum-lithium alloy for wing skins and titanium for critical structures was also unusual for the era; other exotic materials included the use of a gold coating to reflect heat in key areas such as the bomb bay. The wings, vertical stabilizer and the nose radome all folded to enable easier stowage onboard aircraft carriers. Two widely spaced General Electric J79 turbojet engines were supplied with air through inlets with variable intake ramps . While

2280-604: A result, construction between the World Wars had been insufficient to meet operational needs for aircraft carriers as World War II expanded from Europe. Too few fleet carriers were available to simultaneously transport aircraft to distant bases, support amphibious invasions, offer carrier landing training for replacement pilots, conduct anti-submarine patrols, and provide defensive air cover for deployed battleships and cruisers. The foregoing mission requirements limited use of fleet carriers' unique offensive strike capability demonstrated at

2400-554: A shift in the US Navy's strategic focus that placed less value on manned bombers. The majority of Vigilantes were of a reconnaissance configuration, designated RA-5C . It had a slightly greater wing area and added a long canoe-shaped fairing under the fuselage for a multi-sensor reconnaissance pack, which housed an APD-7 side-looking airborne radar (SLAR), AAS-21 infrared line scanner , and camera packs, as well as improved electronic countermeasures. An AN/ALQ-61 electronic intelligence system could also be carried. The RA-5C retained

2520-448: A single 5-inch (127 mm) dual-purpose gun mounted on the stern, but the pursuing Japanese cruisers closed to within range of these guns. One of the guns damaged the burning Japanese heavy cruiser Chōkai , and a subsequent bomb dropped by an aircraft hit the cruiser's forward machinery room, leaving her dead in the water. A kamikaze attack sank USS  St Lo ; kamikaze aircraft attacking other ships were shot down. Ultimately

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2640-454: A sizable payload. This aircraft was envisioned as a successor to the abortive North American XA2J Super Savage . Much of this early work was undertaken by NAA's recently acquired Columbus division, overseen by chief of preliminary design Frank G Compton. During the mid-1950s, the notion of a nuclear-armed aircraft capable of speeds of up to Mach 2 was considered to be quite ambitious, and only more so for that same aircraft to be operable under

2760-416: A successor to the Douglas A-3 Skywarrior in the strategic nuclear attack role instead. Thus, the design team implemented a somewhat unorthodox bomb bay as to accommodate the stowage of a nuclear weapon , which was also designed to accommodate both fuel tanks and reconnaissance payloads. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, NAA worked on an improved bomber model, designated A-5B . This took advantage of

2880-494: Is an American carrier-based supersonic bomber designed and built by North American Aviation (NAA) for the United States Navy . Before the 1962 unification of Navy and Air Force designations , it was designated A3J . Development of the A-5 had started in 1954 as a private venture by NAA, who sought to produce a capable supersonic long-distance bomber as a successor to the abortive North American XA2J Super Savage . It

3000-441: Is one of the earliest used by the U.S. Navy. A "Torpedo Plane Squadron" existed as early as 1920 but the use of abbreviated squadron designations (such as "VT") did not come into accepted use until 1922. From 1922 to 1930 it designated "Torpedo & Bombing Plane Squadrons" or "Torpedo and Bombing Squadrons". In 1930 it designated "Torpedo Squadrons" until 1946 when all remaining VT squadrons were redesignated Attack (VA) squadrons and

3120-594: The Blue Ridge class . Unlike almost all other major classes of ships and patrol boats from World War II, most of which can be found in a museum or port, no escort carrier or American light carrier has survived; all were destroyed during the war or broken up in the following decades. The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships records that the last former escort carrier remaining in naval service—USS Annapolis —was sold for scrapping 19 December 1979. The last American light carrier (the escort carrier's faster sister type)

3240-562: The Nimitz -class aircraft carriers to the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Western Pacific. Eight of ten squadrons of RA-5C Vigilantes also saw extensive service in the Vietnam War starting in August 1964, carrying out hazardous medium-level post-strike reconnaissance missions. Although it proved fast and agile, 18 RA-5Cs were lost in combat: 14 to anti-aircraft fire, 3 to surface-to-air missiles, and 1 to

3360-492: The Battle of Leyte Gulf . They lacked the speed and weapons to counter enemy fleets, relying on the protection of a Fast Carrier Task Force . However, at the Battle off Samar , one U.S. task force of escort carriers and destroyers managed to successfully defend itself against a much larger Japanese force of battleships and cruisers. The Japanese met a furious defense of carrier aircraft, screening destroyers, and destroyer escorts. Of

3480-679: The Battle of Taranto and the Attack on Pearl Harbor . Conversion of existing ships (and hulls under construction for other purposes) provided additional aircraft carriers until new construction became available. Conversions of cruisers and passenger liners with speed similar to fleet carriers were identified by the U.S. as " light aircraft carriers " ( hull classification symbol CVL) able to operate at battle fleet speeds. Slower conversions were classified as "escort carriers" and were considered naval auxiliaries suitable for pilot training and transport of aircraft to distant bases. The Royal Navy had recognized

3600-508: The Battle of the Atlantic , escort carriers were used to protect convoys against U-boats . Initially escort carriers accompanied the merchant ships and helped to fend off attacks from aircraft and submarines. As numbers increased later in the war, escort carriers also formed part of hunter-killer groups that sought out submarines instead of being attached to a particular convoy. In the Pacific theater, CVEs provided air support of ground troops in

3720-650: The F-14 Tomcat and S-3 Viking , were averaging 90 aircraft, many of which were larger than their predecessors. With the end of the Vietnam War, disestablishment of RVAH squadrons began in 1974, with the last Vigilante squadron, RVAH-7, completing its final deployment to the Western Pacific aboard USS Ranger in late 1979. The final flight by an RA-5C took place on 20 November 1979 when a Vigilante departed Naval Air Station Key West , Florida. Reconnaissance Attack Wing One

List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons - Misplaced Pages Continue

3840-586: The Fleet Air Arm . The attack on Pearl Harbor brought up an urgent need for aircraft carriers , so some T3 tankers were converted to escort carriers; USS  Suwannee is an example of how a T3 tanker hull , AO-33, was rebuilt to be an escort carrier. The T3 tanker size and speed made the T3 a useful escort carrier. There were two classes of T3 hull carriers: Sangamon class and Commencement Bay class. The U.S. discovered their own uses for escort carriers. In

3960-558: The North American General Purpose Attack Weapon (NAGPAW) concept, was promptly evaluated by the United States Navy . The service produced numerous challenging demands, including the somewhat contradictory necessity of both a high speed of Mach 2 and the ability to take off from an aircraft carrier at maximum weight with no head-wind, also known as wind-over-the-deck, to assist the take-off. Compton's team were able to reconcile these performance requirements into

4080-756: The North American T-2 Buckeye , T-39 Sabreliner and OV-10 Bronco . Under the Tri-Services Designation plan implemented under Robert McNamara in September 1962, the Vigilante was redesignated A-5 , with the initial A3J-1 becoming A-5A and the updated A3J-2 becoming A-5B . The subsequent reconnaissance version, originally A3J-3P , became the RA-5C . The Vigilante's early service proved troublesome, with many teething problems for its advanced systems. Although these systems were highly sophisticated,

4200-771: The Royal Navy , was a small and slower type of aircraft carrier used by the Royal Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy , the United States Navy, the Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II . They were typically half the length and a third the displacement of larger fleet carriers , more-lightly armed and armored, and carried fewer planes. Escort carriers were most often built upon

4320-424: The Vietnam War . It also established several world records in both long-distance speed and altitude categories. During the mid-1970s, the withdrawal of the type commenced after a relatively short service life, largely due to the aircraft being expensive and complex to operate, as well being a victim of post-Vietnam military cutbacks. The late 1940s and early 1950s were marked by a series of fast-paced advancements in

4440-506: The helicopter and the jet fighter , and with this a complete rethinking of its strategies and ships' tasks. Although several of the latest Commencement Bay -class CVE were deployed as floating airfields during the Korean War , the main reasons for the development of the escort carrier had disappeared or could be dealt with better by newer weapons. The emergence of the helicopter meant that helicopter-deck equipped frigates could now take over

4560-429: The island-hopping campaign. In this role they provided air cover for the troopships and flew the first wave of attacks on beach fortifications in amphibious landing operations. On occasion, they even escorted the large carriers, serving as emergency airstrips and providing fighter cover for their larger sisters while these were busy readying or refueling their own planes. They also transported aircraft and spare parts from

4680-578: The 151 aircraft carriers built in the U.S. during World War II, 122 were escort carriers, though no examples survive. The Casablanca class was the most numerous class of aircraft carrier, with 50 launched. Second was the Bogue class , with 45 launched. In the early 1920s, the Washington Naval Treaty imposed limits on the maximum size and total tonnage of aircraft carriers for the five main naval powers. Later treaties largely kept these provisions. As

4800-818: The 17 still existing VT and 14 still existing Bombing (VB) squadrons were redesignated Attack (VA) squadrons and the VT and VB designations were eliminated. The VTN designation was used from 1944 to 1946 to designate "Night Torpedo Squadrons" On 1 May 1960 the VT designation was resurrected as the designation for training squadrons Approximately 90 to 100 squadrons carried the VT designation between 1921 and 1946. VT-2(2nd): 1 Jul 1937 After World War II, naval aviation saw great reductions in numbers, while new technologies fostered new types of aircraft squadrons leading to new designations for roles such as nuclear attack, airborne early warning, and "all-weather" (radar-equipped) squadrons. Others were developed specifically for roles necessitated by

4920-503: The A-5A Vigilante nuclear bombers were converted to Reconnaissance squadrons and their A-5A nuclear bombers were converted to RA-5C reconnaissance aircraft. Those VAH squadrons which were then still equipped with the A-3B remained designated Heavy Attack (VAH) squadrons. The designation was retired in 1979 with the disestablishment of the last RA-5C squadron. The Light Attack (VAL) designation

List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons - Misplaced Pages Continue

5040-565: The AN/ASB-12 bombing system, and could, in theory, carry weapons, although it never did in service. Later-build RA-5Cs had more powerful J79-10 engines with afterburning thrust of 17,900 lbf (80 kN). The reconnaissance Vigilante weighed almost five tons more than the strike version with almost the same thrust and an only modestly enlarged wing, resulting in reduced acceleration and climb rate , though it remained fast in level flight. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) considered acquiring

5160-628: The British asked the U.S. to build on their behalf six carriers of an improved Audacity design, but the U.S. had already begun their own escort carrier. On 1 February 1941, the United States Chief of Naval Operations gave priority to construction of naval auxiliaries for aircraft transport. U.S. ships built to meet these needs were initially referred to as auxiliary aircraft escort vessels ( AVG ) in February 1942 and then auxiliary aircraft carrier ( ACV ) on 5 August 1942. The first U.S. example of

5280-578: The British, the first U.S. escort carriers were converted merchant vessels (or in the Sangamon class , converted military oilers). The Bogue -class carriers were based on the hull of the Type C3 cargo ship . The last 69 escort carriers of the Casablanca and Commencement Bay classes were purpose-designed and purpose-built carriers drawing on the experience gained with the previous classes. Originally developed at

5400-505: The CVE's role in a convoy while also performing their usual role as submarine hunters. Ship-mounted guided missile launchers took over much of the aircraft protection role, and in-flight refueling eliminated the need for floating stopover points for transport or patrol aircraft. Consequently, after the Commencement Bay class, no new escort carriers were designed, and with every downsizing of

5520-487: The CVEs were called "Kaiser coffins" in honor of Casablanca-class manufacturer Henry J. Kaiser . Magazine protection was minimal in comparison to fleet aircraft carriers. HMS  Avenger was sunk within minutes by a single torpedo, and HMS  Dasher exploded from undetermined causes with very heavy loss of life. Three escort carriers— USS  St. Lo , Ommaney Bay and Bismarck Sea —were destroyed by kamikazes ,

5640-724: The Carrier Air Group designation (CVG) was modified to identify the type of aircraft carrier to which the group was assigned. Henceforth, CVAGs were assigned to Essex -class carriers (sometimes called "Attack" carriers) and CVBGs were assigned to the large Midway -class carriers (sometimes called "Battle" carriers). Two designations from World War II survived: CVLGs (light carrier air group) were assigned to "light" Independence - or Saipan -class carriers, and CVEGs (escort carrier air group) to remaining small WWII escort carriers . Third, and similarly, aircraft squadron designations were appended with an "A", "B", "L", or "E" to denote

5760-527: The Composite All Weather Fighter and the Heavy Attack squadrons, teens designated Composite Airborne Early Warning Squadrons, numbers in the 20s and 30s designated Composite Anti-Submarine Squadrons, and the numbers in the 60s designated Composite Photographic Squadrons. By 1956 these squadrons had all been redesignated as VF(AW), VAH, VAW, VS, VA(AW) or VFP depending on the specific mission, and

5880-518: The F-111C's protracted development, a team of RAAF officers advocated for an interim fleet of 36 Vigilantes to be acquired by the RAAF, having determined that the aircraft satisfied the service's requirements and could be delivered within a shorter time frame. The Australian Government rejected this advice and no such procurement occurred. The North American A-5 Vigilante was a supersonic carrier-based bomber. At

6000-470: The North Atlantic, they supplemented the escorting destroyers by providing air support for anti-submarine warfare. One of these escort carriers, USS  Guadalcanal , was instrumental in the capture of U-505 off North Africa in 1944. In the Pacific theater , escort carriers lacked the speed to sail with fast carrier attack groups, so were often tasked to escort the landing ships and troop carriers during

6120-674: The RA-5C as its principal bomber to succeed its fleet of English Electric Canberras . Various other aircraft, such as the McDonnell F-4C/RF-4C, Dassault Mirage IV A, and the BAC TSR-2 were also considered for the role. However, the General Dynamics F-111C , a variant of the TFX (F-111) tailored to fulfil the requirements of the RAAF, was procured to meet the service's needs instead. Due to

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6240-449: The Royal Navy to provide air scouting, to ward off enemy long-range scouting aircraft and, increasingly, to spot and hunt submarines. Often additional escort carriers joined convoys, not as fighting ships but as transporters, ferrying aircraft from the U.S. to Britain; twice as many aircraft could be carried by storing aircraft on the flight deck as well as in the hangar. The ships sent to the Royal Navy were slightly modified, partly to suit

6360-450: The U.S. Navy's earliest, first appeared in 1922 to designate "Spotting Squadrons" that spotted targets for naval gunfire from battleships and cruisers. In 1923, the designation was changed to "Observation Plane Squadron" or "Observation Squadron". The designation was discontinued in 1945, but resurrected from 1947 to 1949 and again during the Vietnam War from 1967 to 1968. Utility squadrons were designated VJ from 1925 to 1946, when

6480-711: The U.S. to remote island airstrips. A battle in which escort carriers played a major role was the Battle off Samar in the Philippines on 25 October 1944. The Japanese lured Admiral William Halsey, Jr. into chasing a decoy fleet with his powerful 3rd Fleet . This left about 450 aircraft from 16 small and slow escort carriers in three task units ("Taffies"), armed primarily to bomb ground forces, and their protective screen of destroyers and slower destroyer escorts to protect undefended troop and supply ships in Leyte Gulf. No Japanese threat

6600-608: The US Navy had a requirement for a long range reconnaissance aircraft, which could be met by the now-surplus Vigilante. As a result, in 1963, procurement of the A-5 was ended and the type was converted to the fast reconnaissance role. The first RA-5Cs were delivered to VAH-3, the A-5A and A-5B Replacement Air Group (RAG)/Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), subsequently redesignated as Reconnaissance Attack Squadron Three (RVAH-3), at Naval Air Station Sanford , Florida in July 1963. As they transitioned from

6720-462: The VC designation began in 1948 to designate squadrons which were composed of detachments of aircraft that deployed aboard aircraft carriers with the carrier air group (later carrier air wing) conducting specialized missions. Missions included: All-Weather/Night Fighter; Heavy Attack (Nuclear Bombers); Airborne Early Warning; Anti-Submarine Warfare; and Photographic Reconnaissance. Single digit numbers designated

6840-490: The VC designation once again ceased to exist. There have been multiple unrelated squadrons using the same VC designations through the years. For example, the last two VC squadrons were VC-6 and VC-8 which were deactivated in 2008 and 2003 respectively. Both of those squadrons were the third squadron to use each of those designations, and neither squadron had any relation to earlier squadrons designated VC-6 or VC-8. The first VC-6 and VC-8 were WWII Escort Carrier composite squadrons,

6960-406: The VT designation disappeared. Between 1927 and 1937 a suffix letter was added after the designation number to identify to which fleet or Naval District the squadron belonged: B for Battle Fleet, S for Scouting Fleet, A for Asiatic Fleet or D followed by a Naval District number for those squadrons assigned to Naval Districts. On 15 November 1946 the squadron designation system underwent a major change;

7080-730: The VW designation cease being used. Between 1980 and 2010, the rise of the multi-mission fighter-attack aircraft ended the VF and VA designations. As well, the end of the Cold War eliminated the need for squadron types, such as VS, geared solely to countering the Soviet Union . Several changes to designations were made on 15 November 1946. First, the Bombing (VB) and Torpedo (VT) designations were retired; all such squadrons were redesignated Attack squadrons (VA). Second,

7200-560: The Vietnam War. Designations that are still in use today are not included in this section. The VA(AW) designation was created in 1956 when VC squadrons were re-designated using role descriptive designators. VC-33 and VC-35 had by then become attack squadrons with radar and electronic countermeasures equipped aircraft. All weather attack squadrons provided detachments of radar and electronic countermeasure equipped attack aircraft to Carrier Air Groups for night and all weather operations. Redesignation VA-122 on 29 Jun 1959 The VAH designation

7320-440: The Vigilante was the first bomber to feature a digital computer. It was operated by a crew of two, a pilot and a bombardier-navigator (BN), that were seated in tandem ; both were provided with North American HS-1A ejection seats . On the reconnaissance variant, the bombardier-navigator was replaced by a reconnaissance/attack navigator (RAN). Given its original design as a carrier-based, supersonic, nuclear heavy attack aircraft,

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7440-511: The Vigilante's main armament was carried in an unusual "linear bomb bay" between the engines in the rear fuselage, which allowed the bomb to be dropped at supersonic speeds. The single nuclear weapon , commonly the Mk 28 bomb , was attached to two disposable fuel tanks in the cylindrical bay in an assembly known as the "stores train". A set of extendable fins was attached to the aft end of the most rearward fuel tank. These fuel tanks were to be emptied during

7560-596: The Vigilante's role by providing detachments from the primary squadron to carrier air wings throughout the late 1970s and early-to-mid-1980s, until the transfer of the recon mission to the Navy's fighter squadron (VF) community operating the F-14 Tomcat. Select models of the F-14 Tomcat would eventually carry the multi-sensor Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) and the Digital Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod (D-TARPS). Up to present day,

7680-675: The attack version to the reconnaissance version, all Vigilante squadrons were subsequently redesignated from VAH to RVAH. Under Commander, Reconnaissance Attack Wing One (COMRECONATKWING ONE), a total of 10 RA-5C squadrons were ultimately established. RVAH-3 continued to be responsible for the stateside-based RA-5C training mission of flight crews, maintenance and support personnel, while RVAH-1 , RVAH-5 , RVAH-6 , RVAH-7 , RVAH-9 , RVAH-11 , RVAH-12 , RVAH-13 and RVAH-14 routinely deployed aboard Forrestal , Saratoga , Ranger , Independence , Kitty Hawk , Constellation , Enterprise , America , John F. Kennedy and eventually

7800-610: The behest of the United Kingdom to operate as part of a North Atlantic convoy escort, rather than as part of a naval strike force, many of the escort carriers produced were assigned to the Royal Navy for the duration of the war under the Lend-Lease act. They supplemented and then replaced the converted merchant aircraft carriers that were put into service by the British and Dutch as an emergency measure until dedicated escort carriers became available. As convoy escorts, they were used by

7920-407: The big carriers, and procedures for launch and recovery were the same as well. The crew size was less than 1 ⁄ 3 of that of a large carrier, but this was still a bigger complement than most naval vessels. U.S. escort carriers were large enough to have facilities such as a permanent canteen or snack bar, called a gedunk bar , in addition to the mess. The bar was open for longer hours than

8040-493: The brunt of the fight. The Taffy ships took dozens of hits, mostly from armor-piercing rounds that passed right through their thin, unarmored hulls without exploding. USS  Gambier Bay , sunk in this action, was the only U.S. carrier lost to enemy surface gunfire in the war; the Japanese concentration of fire on this one carrier assisted the escape of the others. The carriers' only substantial armament—aside from their aircraft—was

8160-499: The captured German merchant ship MV Hannover and commissioned in July 1941. For defense from German aircraft, convoys were supplied first with fighter catapult ships and CAM ships that could carry a single (disposable) fighter. In the interim, before escort carriers could be supplied, they also brought in merchant aircraft carriers that could operate four aircraft. In 1940, U.S. Admiral William Halsey recommended construction of naval auxiliaries for pilot training. In early 1941

8280-536: The carrier-based reconnaissance role. The RF-8G version of the Vought F-8 Crusader , modified with internal cameras, had already been serving in two light photographic squadrons ( VFP-62 and VFP-63 ) since the early 1960s, operating from older aircraft carriers unable to support the Vigilante. The Marine Corps' sole photographic squadron ( VMFP-3 ) would also deploy aboard aircraft carriers during this period with RF-4B Phantom II aircraft. These squadrons superseded

8400-418: The design. Following these changes, US Navy officials voiced their approval of the design and advocated for its procurement. During July 1955, an initial design contract, which included the production of a mockup, was issued to NAA. During September 1956, a follow-on contract for the production of a pair of flight-worthy prototypes, was awarded to the firm. On 31 August 1958, one of these prototypes performed

8520-430: The designation changed to VU. (The VJ designation was later used from 1952 to 1956 to designate weather squadrons and photographic squadrons.) VS was used to designate scouting squadrons from 1922 to 1946, although all 26 or so VS squadrons had by the end of 1943 been given other designations (VF, VT, VC or VCS cruiser scouting squadron). All except VS-41/VFA-14 were disestablished by the end of 1949. (From 1950 to 2009, VS

8640-620: The end of World War II. Others remained active under different designations for decades. A few still exist today. A total of about 90 Composite Squadron (VC) squadrons existed between 1 March 1943, when Escort Scouting Squadrons (VGS) based aboard escort carriers (CVE) were redesignated as VC units, and the end of 1945, when they had all been disestablished. VC squadrons flew combinations of fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo bombers. redesignation Grumman TBM Avenger July 1945 - November 1945 USS Makin Island (CVE-93) The VO designation, one of

8760-635: The escort carrier in most respects, but was fast enough to operate alongside fleet carriers. Escort carriers were too slow to keep up with the main forces consisting of fleet carriers, battleships, and cruisers. Instead, they were used to escort merchant ship convoys , defending them from enemy threats such as submarines and planes. In the invasions of mainland Europe and Pacific islands, escort carriers provided air support to ground forces during amphibious operations . Escort carriers also served as backup aircraft transports for fleet carriers, and ferried aircraft of all military services to points of delivery. In

8880-403: The field of aviation. The aircraft manufacturer North American Aviation (NAA) was one of a large number of companies that sought to harness these recent innovations in developing a new generation of aircraft. During early 1954, the company embarked on a private study into a conceptual carrier-based , long-range, all-weather strike bomber, that would be capable of supersonic speeds while carrying

9000-406: The first supersonic bomber to be designed with a slim forward fuselage, as well as being the first with fully-variable wedge-type side air intakes. The company's preliminary design studies had been typically centered around a twin vertical fin/rudder arrangement, but this was substituted for a single large all-moving vertical fin as design definition proceeded. This proposal, which was referred to

9120-505: The first wave of amphibious warfare operations. Later, Thetis Bay became a full amphibious assault ship (LHP-6). Although in service only from 1955 (the year of her conversion) to 1964, the experience gained in her training exercises greatly influenced the design of today's amphibious assault ships . In the second conversion, in 1961, USS  Gilbert Islands had all her aircraft handling equipment removed and four tall radio antennas installed on her long, flat deck. In lieu of aircraft,

9240-435: The flight to the target and then jettisoned with the bomb by an explosive drogue gun. The stores train was propelled rearward at about 50 feet (15 m) per second (30 knots) relative to the aircraft. It then followed a ballistic path. In practice, the system was not reliable and no live weapons were ever carried in the linear bomb bay. In the RA-5C configuration, the bay was used solely to accommodate fuel. On three occasions,

9360-479: The hangar deck now had 24 military radio transmitter trucks bolted to its floor. Rechristened USS  Annapolis , the ship was used as a communication relay ship and served dutifully through the Vietnam War as a floating radio station, relaying transmissions between the forces on the ground and the command centers back home. Like Thetis Bay , the experience gained before Annapolis was stricken in 1976 helped develop today's purpose-built amphibious command ships of

9480-714: The history or lineage of that previous squadron. Re-designation might assign a squadron a new number under the same basic designation (e.g., VF-151 to VF-192), or change the entire designation (e.g., HS-3 to HSC-9). A squadron could be re-designated several times, retaining its lineage throughout. This system changed in March 1998 with Chief of Naval Operations Instruction (OPNAVINST) 5030.4E. U.S. Navy aircraft squadrons are no longer disestablished but "deactivated." A deactivated squadron remains in existence, though only "on paper", awaiting possible future "re-activation". Neither its designation nor any previous designations are available for use by

9600-408: The largest ships to meet such a fate. Allied escort carriers were typically around 500 ft (150 m) long, not much more than half the length of the almost 900 ft (270 m) fleet carriers of the same era, but were less than 1 ⁄ 3 of the weight. A typical escort carrier displaced about 8,000 long tons (8,100  t ), as compared to almost 30,000 long tons (30,000 t) for

9720-464: The last Attack squadron switched to the F/A-18 Hornet and was redesignated a Strike Fighter (VFA) squadron. The list below is not a list of disestablished squadrons; it is a list of squadron designations that are no longer in use. Many squadrons carried multiple designations over the years; some were both VA and VF at various times. Sometimes a single squadron was redesignated several times; sometimes

9840-447: The mess and sold several flavors of ice cream , along with cigarettes and other consumables. There were also several vending machines available on board. In all, 130 Allied escort carriers were launched or converted during the war. Of these, six were British conversions of merchant ships: HMS  Audacity , Nairana , Campania , Activity , Pretoria Castle and Vindex . The remaining escort carriers were U.S.-built. Like

9960-515: The navy, the CVEs were the first to be mothballed. Several escort carriers were pressed back into service during the first years of the Vietnam War because of their ability to carry large numbers of aircraft. Redesignated AKV (air transport auxiliary), they were manned by a civilian crew and used to ferry whole aircraft and spare parts from the U.S. to Army, Air Force and Marine bases in South Vietnam . However, CVEs were useful in this role only for

10080-750: The other battles). Many escort carriers were Lend-Leased to the United Kingdom, this list specifies the breakdown in service to each navy. In addition, six escort carriers were converted from other types by the British during the war. The table below lists escort carriers and similar ships performing the same missions. The first four were built as early fleet aircraft carriers. Merchant aircraft carriers (MAC) carried trade cargo in addition to operating aircraft. Aircraft transports carried larger numbers of planes by eliminating accommodation for operating personnel and storage of fuel and ammunition. tons (standard) The years following World War II brought many revolutionary new technologies to naval aviation, most notably

10200-425: The pilot simply released the controls and the aircraft regained control naturally as it descended back into the thicker air of the lower atmosphere. An additional example of an A-5A destined for restoration as a museum aircraft, BuNo 146698, was destroyed when it was being relocated by Army helicopter from Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst , New Jersey to a new location. When the A-5A became unstable in flight,

10320-422: The previous record by over 4 miles (6.4 km). This new record held for more than 13 years. The attempt was accomplished by reaching a speed of Mach 2.1, then pulling up to create a ballistic trajectory beyond the altitude at which its wings could continue to function. The engines flamed out in the thin atmosphere, and the aircraft rolled onto its back. This had already been experienced in previous flights, and so

10440-562: The same engine was used by several other US military aircraft, such as the Convair B-58 Hustler and the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II , the powerplants used on the A-5 differed in some ways, such as the use of a somewhat uncommon air-impingement starter along with a single igniter. Both engines were equipped with constant-speed drives for alternators to generate a steady 30kVA for the onboard electrical systems,

10560-577: The second VC-6 was a heavy attack squadron which was redesignated VAH-6 then RVAH-6 and the second VC-8 was also a heavy attack squadron which was redesignated VAH-11 then RVAH-11. The table below does not list disestablished squadrons; it lists squadron designations which are no longer in use. Some of the squadron designations in the table belonged to squadrons which have been disestablished but some belonged to squadrons which have been deactivated and still exist in an inactive status. Note: The parenthetical (1st), (2nd), (3rd) etc... appended to designations in

10680-505: The shock of the catapult launch caused the fuel cans to eject onto the deck; this phenomenon reportedly resulted in one aircraft loss. Early production Vigilante were outfitted with a pair of wing pylons, which were intended primarily for drop tanks . The second Vigilante variant, the A3J-2 ( A-5B ), featured two additional wing hardpoints, for a total of four, and also incorporated internal tanks for an additional 460 gallons of fuel (which added

10800-420: The squadrons were disestablished in 1989. This third and last use of the VC designation was instituted in 1965 as a new designator for VU squadrons: utility units that usually operated more than one type of aircraft for a variety of missions such as aerial target support, missile range support, and fighter training as adversary aircraft. Some VC designations have been used by multiple unrelated squadrons through

10920-407: The squadrons' S-3B Vikings' ability to fight surface ships as well as submarines. The designation is no longer in active use but is still attached to 11 deactivated VS squadrons. Escort carrier The escort carrier or escort aircraft carrier (U.S. hull classification symbol CVE), also called a "jeep carrier" or "baby flattop" in the United States Navy (USN) or "Woolworth Carrier" by

11040-458: The superior Japanese surface force withdrew, believing they were confronted by a stronger force than was the case. Most of the damage to the Japanese fleet was inflicted by torpedoes fired by destroyers, and bombs from the carriers' aircraft. The U.S. Navy lost a similar number of ships and more men than in the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway combined (though major fleet carriers were lost in

11160-411: The tables below are not a part of the squadron designation system. They are added to indicate that the designation was used more than once during the history of U.S. Naval Aviation and which use of the designation is indicated. Absence indicates that the designation was used only once. In 1952, two reconnaissance squadrons were established and designated Photographic Squadrons (VJ), a designator shared at

11280-493: The technology was in its infancy and its reliability was poor. Although most of these reliability issues were eventually worked out as maintenance personnel gained greater experience with supporting these systems, the aircraft tended to remain a maintenance-intensive platform throughout its career. The A-5's service coincided with a major policy shift in the US Navy's strategic role, which switched to emphasize submarine-launched ballistic missiles rather than manned bombers, while

11400-763: The time by Weather Squadrons and Weather Reconnaissance Squadrons. In 1956, the Photographic Squadrons were redesignated Heavy Photographic Reconnaissance Squadrons (VAP). In 1959, one VAP squadron was redesignated a Photographic Composite Squadron (VCP), but reverted in 1961 to the VAP designation. 1956-1959 In 1959, one VAP and one VFP squadron were redesignated Photographic Composite Squadrons (VCP), but reverted in 1961 to their previous designations. In 1956, VC squadrons were redesignated VF squadrons of various types, including AF(AW) for All Weather Fighter squadrons whose fighters had radar for night and all-weather use. VC-3,

11520-440: The time of its introduction, the Vigilante was one of the largest and by far the most complex aircraft to operate from an aircraft carrier. It was furnished with a high-mounted swept wing with a boundary-layer control system (blown flaps) to improve low-speed lift. It lacked ailerons; instead, roll control was provided by spoilers in conjunction with differential deflection of the all-moving tail surfaces, which were paired with

11640-401: The traditions of that service. Among other things the ice-cream making machines were removed, since they were considered unnecessary luxuries on ships which provided a grog ration. The heavy duty washing machines of the laundry room were removed, since "all a British sailor needs to keep clean is a bucket and a bar of soap" (quoted from Warrilow). Other modifications were due to the need for

11760-438: The two remaining VW squadrons was renamed a "Weather Reconnaissance Squadron" (while retaining the VW designation) while the other retained the "Airborne Early Warning" name even though its primary role was also weather reconnaissance. In 1971 that squadron was disestablished and thereafter until the single remaining VW squadron was disestablished in 1975 the VW designation designated solely "Weather Reconnaissance Squadron". In 1975

11880-473: The type of Carrier Air Group the squadron was assigned. CVAGs and CVBGs were designated with odd numbers; each was assigned two VA squadrons; the first carried the Air Group's number; the second, the Air Group number plus one (CVAG-1: VA-1A, VA-2A; CVBG-1: VA-1B, VA-2B; CVAG-7: VA-7A, VA-8A; CVAG-11; VA-11A, VA-12A etc...) The rules governing the squadron designation system changed twice between 1946 and 1996, when

12000-431: The type was USS  Long Island . Operation Torch and North Atlantic anti-submarine warfare proved these ships capable aircraft carriers for ship formations moving at the speed of trade or amphibious invasion convoys. U.S. classification revision to escort aircraft carrier ( CVE ) on 15 July 1943 reflected upgraded status from auxiliary to combatant. They were informally known as "Jeep carriers" or "baby flattops". It

12120-410: The type's maiden flight from Columbus, Ohio . By this point, the role envisioned for the aircraft within the US Navy had shifted somewhat. According to Gunston and Gilchrist, officials had viewed the aircraft through the lens of the Korean War and placed a high value on performing low-level conventionally-armed attack missions, but had subsequently shifted towards viewing the in-development bomber as

12240-466: The unavoidable constraints imposed by aircraft carrier operations. In terms of its basic configuration, the conceptual aircraft featured twin-engines and high-mounted wing, as did the XA2J, but differed substantially by being highly swept and adopting jet propulsion . According to aviation authors Bill Gunston and Peter Gilchrist, NAA's design incorporated numerous advanced technology features, such as being

12360-426: The weight of carrier-based fighters such as the F-14 Tomcat and Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet have evolved into the same 62,950 lb (28,550 kg) class as the Vigilante. On 13 December 1960, Navy Commander Leroy A. Heath (pilot) and Lieutenant Larry Monroe (bombardier/navigator) established a world altitude record of 91,450.8 feet (27,874.2 m) in an A3J Vigilante carrying a 1,000-kilogram payload, beating

12480-463: The west coast retained the VAH designation but their A-3B Skywarriors were converted to KA-3B aerial tankers. By the late 1960s, electronic jamming equipment had been added to some KA-3B tankers and those "EKA-3B" aircraft led to the creation of VAQ squadrons. The RVAH designation was created in 1964 when the Navy's nuclear bomber role was ended and the Heavy Attack (VAH) squadrons which were then equipped with

12600-586: The years. The table below lists squadron designations that are no longer in use. Some belonged to disestablished squadrons, while others have been deactivated but still exist in an inactive status. In 1949, two new Photographic Reconnaissance squadrons were established as Composite Squadrons VC-61 and VC-62 (see the Disestablished and Deactivated Composite (VC) (second use of the designation) section). In 1956, VC-61 and VC-62 were redesignated Light Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (VFP). In 1959, one VFP squadron

12720-426: The zero-wind requirement's elimination to considerably increase the aircraft's maximum weight, the fuselage being redesigned with a hump back to accommodate additional fuel. The wings were also redesigned with enlarged trailing-edge flaps and fully-blown flaps; these changes, when carrying four external drop tanks , roughly doubled the bomber's range. Development was halted after only six A-5Bs had been completed due to

12840-696: Was USS  Cabot , which was broken up in 2002 after a decade-long attempt to preserve the vessel. Later in the Cold War the U.S.-designed Sea Control Ship was intended to serve a similar role; while none were actually built, the Spanish aircraft carrier  Principe de Asturias and the Thai HTMS ; Chakri Naruebet are based on the concept. For complete lists see: [REDACTED] Media related to Escort carriers at Wikimedia Commons North American A-5 Vigilante The North American A-5 Vigilante

12960-524: Was a large and complex aircraft that incorporated several innovative features, such as being the first bomber to feature a digital computer, while its ability to attain speeds of up to Mach 2 while carrying a nuclear strike payload was also relatively ambitious for the era. The US Navy saw the value of such a bomber, leading to a contract for its full development and production being issued to the firm on 29 August 1956. The type performed its first flight just over two years later, on 31 August 1958. The Vigilante

13080-491: Was believed to be in the area, but a force of four battleships , including the formidable Yamato , eight cruisers , and 11 destroyers, appeared, sailing towards Leyte Gulf. Only the Taffies were in the way of the Japanese attack. The slow carriers could not outrun 30-knot (35 mph; 56 km/h) cruisers. They launched their aircraft and maneuvered to avoid shellfire, helped by smoke screens, for over an hour. "Taffy 3" bore

13200-512: Was created in 1969 and designated only one squadron (VAL-4) which was established to support riverine and special operations during the Vietnam War. The designation was retired with the disestablishment of the squadron. A Helicopter Light Attack (HAL) designation had been created in 1967 to designate a single light attack helicopter squadron (HAL-3). HAL-3 and VAL-4 conducted operations in the Mekong Delta region of South Vietnam. This second use of

13320-405: Was disestablished. When a squadron was disestablished or re-designated, its former designation became available for reuse by a new or re-designating squadron, just as the name of a decommissioned ship (e.g., USS Enterprise ) might be given to a new vessel. The new or re-designated squadron could carry on the traditions, nickname, or the insignia of the previous squadron, but it could not lay claim to

13440-593: Was established in 1955 when the Composite (VC) squadrons flying "Heavy Attack" aircraft (nuclear bombers) were redesignated Heavy Attack (VAH) squadrons. The designation was retired in 1971 with the disestablishment of the last VAH squadron. With the end of the Navy's nuclear bomber role, VAH squadrons based on the east coast were redesignated RVAH squadrons and were equipped with the North American RA-5C Vigilante reconnaissance aircraft. VAH squadrons based on

13560-460: Was introduced by the US Navy during June 1961; it succeeded the Douglas A-3 Skywarrior as the Navy's primary nuclear strike aircraft, but its service in this capacity was relatively brief due to the deemphasising of manned bombers in American nuclear strategy. A far larger quantity of the RA-5C tactical strike reconnaissance variant were also procured by the service, which saw extensive service during

13680-406: Was quickly found that the escort carriers had better performance than light carriers, which tended to pitch badly in moderate to high seas. The Commencement Bay class was designed to incorporate the best features of American CVLs on a more stable hull with a less expensive propulsion system. Among their crews, CVE was sarcastically said to stand for "Combustible, Vulnerable, and Expendable", and

13800-505: Was redesignated Photographic Composite Squadron (VCP); it reverted in 1961 to its previous VFP designation. VS, which had been formally removed from the squadron designation system in 1946, was resurrected in 1950, when VC squadrons that operated Anti-Submarine Aircraft were redesignated Air Anti-Submarine Squadrons (VS). In September 1993, the name of the VS designation was changed from "Air Anti-Submarine Squadron" to "Sea Control Squadron" to reflect

13920-408: Was small and cramped, and located well forward of the funnels (unlike on a normal-sized carrier, where the funnels were integrated into the island). Although the first escort carriers had only one aircraft elevator, having two elevators (one fore and one aft), along with the single aircraft catapult, quickly became standard. The carriers employed the same system of arresting cables and tail hooks as on

14040-514: Was subsequently disestablished at Naval Air Station Key West in January 1980. The Vigilante did not end the career of the A-3 Skywarrior, which would carry on as photo reconnaissance aircraft, electronic warfare platforms, aerial refueling tankers, and executive transport aircraft designated as RA-3A/B, EA-3A/B, ERA-3B, EKA-3B, KA-3B, and VA-3B, into the early 1990s. Fighters replaced the RA-5C in

14160-451: Was undergoing repairs of major damage suffered in August 1942 and Saratoga Air Group and Ranger Air Group were redesignated CVG-3 and CVG-4 in August and September of 1943 respectively. Between 1 Mar 1943 to 15 Nov 1946 the squadron designation system was changed: numbering squadrons with the hull number of the ship to which it was assigned was stopped and newly established squadron were numbered serially within each class. The VT designation

14280-505: Was used for Antisubmarine or Sea Control squadrons.) The Lexington Air Group, Yorktown Air Group, Wasp Air Group and Hornet Air Group were disestablished in 1942 after the loss of USS Lexington ( Battle of the Coral Sea , May 1942) , USS Yorktown ( Battle of Midway , June 1942), USS Wasp and USS Hornet ( Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands , October 1942). Enterprise Air Group was disestablished in September 1942 while USS Enterprise

14400-571: Was used from 1946 to 1965. Before the creation of the VU designation, utility squadrons were designated VJ. In 1965, all VU squadrons were redesignated Fleet Composite (VC) squadrons (third use of the VC designation). From its creation in 1952 until 1971 the VW designation designated "Air Early Warning Squadron", "Airborne Early Warning Squadron", or "Fleet Early Warning Squadron". By 1961 the VW squadrons which were still in existence were transitioned to destructive weather early warning or weather reconnaissance as

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