Goodbye to the Prowler

So after 45years of service the sunset has finally come down on the Prowler.

Linkage:

www.janes.com...

I'm sure that the crews will miss it, and at least it has a good replacement.

RAB

Not technically. The Navy has retired them, but the Marines plan on flying them a few more years. Current plans are that the last Prowler will leave the USMC in 2019.

a reply to: Zaphod58

OK that's cool just a very long sunset :-)

RAB

a reply to: RAB

Yeah, one of those that seems to go on forever.

Just gives us geeks more time to get that last picture that's going to be famous for being the last one.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
Not technically. The Navy has retired them, but the Marines plan on flying them a few more years. Current plans are that the last Growler will leave the USMC in 2019.

Aren't we talking about the Prowler and not the F-18 based Growler?

a reply to: BigDave-AR

Yes we are, thanks. Just woke up and haven't had enough caffeine yet. Thanks for pointing that out.

I'll always have fond memories of them buzzing me in the Cascade Mts. and on a house boat on the Columbia river.

a reply to: sammamishman

I hear ya--I'd be standing in the Sauk river, fishing in the July heat, and have them scream over me flying NOE. They always flew in pairs, skimming the valleys around me. A great bird.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Seems the Marines are always last to transition to new equipment, and it is often by choice.
I remember the National Guard getting M1 Abrams, while the Corps was holding endearingly to the old dinosaur M60A3's. As I recall they decided it was better suited for their role as an in place defense measure. They said stationary it was a more stable platform the M1. I've pulled the trigger in both and would agree, early on I missed the old dinosaur's imaging system too. On the move there is no comparison, just like the Prowler and Growler.

I have always loved the look of the Prowler, something about all of the glass, and the side by side helicopter froont crammed onto a plane. She will be missed.

originally posted by: wastedown
a reply to: Zaphod58

Seems the Marines are always last to transition to new equipment, and it is often by choice.
I remember the National Guard getting M1 Abrams, while the Corps was holding endearingly to the old dinosaur M60A3's. As I recall they decided it was better suited for their role as an in place defense measure. They said stationary it was a more stable platform the M1. I've pulled the trigger in both and would agree, early on I missed the old dinosaur's imaging system too. On the move there is no comparison, just like the Prowler and Growler.

I have always loved the look of the Prowler, something about all of the glass, and the side by side helicopter froont crammed onto a plane. She will be missed.

I always wondered why the Marines never took up the Apache?

Can the Prowler use the smaller carriers like the av8b use? Are they waiting for F35s?

a reply to: Forensick

Only STOVL/STOL platforms can use the smaller carriers. There's not enough room for anything that doesn't have those capabilities. You need a catapult to launch them. They have their own Growlers, and are getting more of them.

originally posted by: RAB
So after 45years of service the sunset has finally come down on the Prowler.

Linkage:

www.janes.com...

I'm sure that the crews will miss it, and at least it has a good replacement.

RAB

Never realised it was 4 seats, imagine a stealthy jet, Bwb with good loiter times, smallish but with 4 seats, pilot, left and right operators of state of the art optics and a radar/awacs airborne FAC loitering above a battle!

I know that's not the prowler but would be pretty cool battle management system, could have made Blackhawk Down very different especially if there were some UAVs loaded with SDBs awaiting targets!

Sorry it's my war pron

a reply to: Forensick

When the Prowler entered service, the computers of the time couldn't keep up with the jamming, so they had to have extra eyes to help with the workload. Lately they've frequently flown with 3 crew on board instead of four.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: Forensick

When the Prowler entered service, the computers of the time couldn't keep up with the jamming, so they had to have extra eyes to help with the workload. Lately they've frequently flown with 3 crew on board instead of four.

Ahh thanks, reminds me of the computer in the EFA DASS which recognises threats and acts accordingly without pilot input, I supposed in 1971 you would have needed 4 people too and two of them pretty fast with a pir of binoculars to fing the missile and throw out chaff or flares!

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: BigDave-AR

Yes we are, thanks. Just woke up and haven't had enough caffeine yet. Thanks for pointing that out.

No problem I knew whatcha meant just coveted the chance to correct the mighty zaph!