In the three decades following Vietnam, the veteran A-6 Intruder remained the most powerful strike aircraft available to the US Navy and Marine Corps. Engaged in operations over Cambodia, Lebanon and Libya during the 1970s and 80s, the A-6 maintained its reputation as the 'Main Battery' of carrier aviation, remaining in service through the First Gulf War up until 1996 when its duties were taken over by the F-14 Tomcat. Following on from his study of the A-6 Intruder's exploits during the Vietnam War, Rick Morgan details the technological developments that were introduced to the airframe after that conflict and how it shaped the operational employment of the aircraft. Filled with first-hand accounts from pilots and navigators, as well as profile artwork and photographs, this is the complete story of the US Navy's main medium attack aircraft in the latter part of the Cold War.

Author Biography

Rick Morgan is the author of five previous books on Naval Aviation history (including COM 93-A-6 Intruder Units of the Vietnam War and COM 108-A-3 Skywarrior Units) and more than 30 historical articles on the subject of Naval Aviation. Twice named 'Contributor of the Year' by the editorial staff of The Hook - The Journal of Carrier Aviation, Rick is a retired US Navy lieutenant commander with more than 2300 hours of flight time to his name, principally in EA-6B, A-4 and A-3 type aircraft. He also has more than 450 carrier-arrested landings to his name, and flew 41 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. He currently works in the aviation industry. Jim Laurier is a native of New England, growing up in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He has been drawing since he could hold a pencil, and throughout his life he has worked in many mediums, creating artwork on a variety of subjects. He has worked on the Osprey Aviation list since 2000, and in that time he has produced some of the finest artwork seen in these volumes. He has specialised in aircraft of the Vietnam War period.