Aircraft

All Hands, Jan, 2003

E-2C Hawkeye

The E-2C is the Navy's all-weather, carrier-based tactical warning and control system aircraft. It provides airborne early warning and command and control functions for the battle group. Additional missions include: surface surveillance coordination, strike and interceptor control, search and rescue guidance, and communications relay.

Wingspan: 80 ft., 7 in.

Length: 57 ft., 8.75 in.

Height: 18 ft., 3.75 in.

Weight: 53,288 lbs. maximum takeoff

Speed: 389 mph

Ceiling: 37,000 ft.

Range: 1,541 nm (ferry range)

Crew: five (two pilots, three mission systems operators)

SQUADRONS

VAW-77 (USNR) Night Wolves

VAW-78 (USNR) Fighting Escargots

VAW-112 Golden Hawks

VAW-113 Black Eagles

VAW-115 Liberty Bells

VAW-116 Sun Kings

VAW-117 Wallbangers

VAW-120 Greyhawks

VAW-121 Bluetails

VAW-123 Screwtops

VAW-124 Bear Aces

VAW-125 Tigertails

VAW-126 Seahawks

C-2A Greyhound

The C-2A is the principle aircraft used to provide Carrier Battle Group (CVBG) Fleet operational readiness support with rapid response Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) of high priority logistics, personnel and equipment. It can deliver a payload of up to 10,000 lbs. Other missions include essential humanitarian assistance and MEDEVAC operations.

Wingspan: 80 ft 7 in.

Length: 56 ft., 10 in.

Height: 15 ft., 10.5 in.

Weight: 57,500 lbs. maximum takeoff

Speed: 310 mph

Ceiling: 33,500 ft.

Range: more than 1,040 nm (with freight)

Crew: four (one pilot, one co-pilot, one crew chief, and one crew man)

SQUADRONS

VRC-30 Providers

VRC-40 Rawhides

VAW-120 Greyhawks (FRS)

SHORE-BASED

E-6A/B Mercury

The E-6A provides secure, survivable, jam-resistant strategic communications while performing the Navy's TACAMO mission. The E-6B program has been established to upgrade TACAMO operational capabilities and will perform both the TACAMO and airborne command post mission with installed equipment. The E-6B is equipped with a battle-staff compartment and an airborne launch-control system (ALCS) capable of ground alert/force generation, force management, and airborne launch of Peacekeeper and Minuteman Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs).

Wingspan: 14.3 ft.

Length: 152.3 ft.

Height: 42 ft., 5 in.

Weight: 341,000 lbs. gross takeoff

Speed: Mach .88

Ceiling: 42,000 ft.

Range: more than 6,400 nm (E-6A); 5,500 nm (E-6B)

Crew: three pilots, two navigators, two flight engineers, seven to 15 mission crew

SQUADRONS

VQ-3 Ironmen

VQ-4 Shadows

VQ-7 Roughnecks

P-3C Orion/EP-3E Orion (Aries II)

The P-3, a land-based, long-range patrol aircraft, has been in the Navy since the 1960s. The Orion and Aries II provide multi-mission intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and anti surface/anti-submarine warfare combat capability to theater commanders worldwide

Wingspan: 99 ft., 8 in.

Length: 116 ft., 10 in.

Height: 33 ft., 8.5 in.

Weight: 146,000 lbs. maximum permissible

Speed: 473 mph

Ceiling: 28,300 ft.

Range: 1,346 nm with three hours on station

Armament: 20,000 pounds of ordnance, including Harpoon, Maverick, SLAM, SLAM-ER; torpedoes; mines

Crew: 10 (three pilots, three flight officers/engineers, three sensor operators, one in-flight technician)