[Profile] Aéronavale Intruders

[Cliffy B]

Thought it was about time to throw my proverbial hat into this one.  I always liked the design of Clemenceau and Foch and after researching them and the aircraft they carried I felt the need to beef up their air wings in my alt history.  They never really had a dedicated ECM aircraft and following Vietnam France decided to rectify the situation and bought several Grumman EA-6A "Electric Intruders" for evaluation.  Thoroughly impressed with the aircraft they ordered 3 Squadrons worth, taking delivery of the first batch in early 1977.  The Electric Intruder served admirably in front line service seeing action in South America with Allied forces off Argentina in 1981 and 1982.  Following the introduction of the new four-seat EA-6B Prowler in 1979, France chose to upgrade their Naval ECM fleet with the new jets and took delivery in early 1980.  The Electric Intruders weren't done though.  The surviving aircraft were transferred over to the l'Armée de l'Air where they continued to serve with distinction through the end of the 1990's finally being replaced with EA-6D Prowler IIs in 2002.

So I bring you the first installment, a Grumman EA-6B Prowler or Rôdeur in French.  (Any thoughts on what the French would call them?)

Grumman EA-6B Rôdeur: Flotille 16, FN Foch (R-99) Opération Daguet 1991 (Code name for the French force sent to Desert Shield/Storm)


Since its the squadron CO's aircraft I wanted to dress it up a little so I added the National Colors to the Rudder.  Subtle yet doesn't destroy the camo.  Being a sucker for disruptive/dazzle camo I used the colors of the Super-Es.

Don't worry, more Prowlers and Electric Intruders are coming!  I'm also working on a 1/144 Prowler.  Look for photos of it this weekend.

I apologize in advance if I butchered the French Language; I took Spanish  

Any thoughts, ideas, comments, etc... are appreciated as always.

Enjoy!

-Mike

[Thorvic]

Nice profile Mike, BTW look up PA-58 Verdun on the internet as it would would have been the Foch class's bigger brother and could have carried a bomber sqauadron in addition to fighter and strike aircraft. They were looking to develop a Naval Mirage IV to fly off them but you could have that being cancelled and replaced with new Intruders 

G

[ChernayaAkula]

Perfect!

[oliv30330]

Nice work for a particularly ugly aircraft

[oliv30330]

'' Rodeur" is a good name in french language
The French Navy put code "xFxx" on these aircraft, the "F" for fleet indicates a squadron, for example: 1F22, aircraft  n ° 22 for the 1F fleet

[Cliffy B]

Thanks gents!

Thorvic, neat idea!  Think I'll have to use that 

Don't know why everyone always disliked the Intruder/Prowler.  I always loved the way they look.  To each his own I guess.

Oliv, so would the correct code for the Prowler above be "16F01"; aircraft no. 1 16 Flotille?  Also, I noticed codes like that on their modern Rafales but not on any of the older Super Es or Crusaders.  I was looking at planes through the 1990s too.  When did they start using them?

[Cliffy B]

Evening all!  Here's a pair of EA-6A "Electric Intruders" as promised, enjoy!  (Anyone know what a good name for the "Electric Intruder" would be in French?)

Grumman EA-6A Electric Intruder: Flotille 17, FN Clemenceau (R-98) Falklands Invasion 1981


Grumman EA-6A Electric Intruder: EC 2/11 Opération Daguet 1991

Since the Air Force's camo resembles a lighter version of the Navy's I opted to go with the desert scheme worn by French Jaguars in the Gulf and assigned the Intruders to a Jaguar Squadron for now.  Can anyone tell me what the proper designation would be for "Electronic Countermeasures Squadron 1, French Air Force"?  I'm not familiar at all with their squadron designations.


I also fixed the Prowler drawing.  After looking over some more books I realized I goofed the drop tanks.  Problem solved!

Grumman EA-6B Rôdeur: Flotille 16, FN Foch (R-99) Opération Daguet 1991 (Code name for the French force sent to Desert Shield/Storm)


I'll work up a backstory later on.  Any other profiles you'd like to see?

Any thoughts, ideas, comments, etc... are appreciated as always.

Enjoy!

-Mike

[ChernayaAkula]

Love them all! 

To give them a bit more of a French flavour, how about an Aeronavale Intruder armed with Exocets? Or ARMATs for the Prowlers? ASMP for the nuclear strike role?

[Cliffy B]

Oh don't worry, I haven't even started the Strike Intruders yet 

[ysi_maniac]

Really beautiful

BTW: fin flash is wrong: red should be aft.

[Taiidantomcat]

I love the EA-6As... not very common at all 

[Cliffy B]

Fixed the fin flash finally!


Final profiles and the backstory are over in the "Finished" thread.  I wanted to draw up some ARMATs and do some Exocet armed striker Intruders but life decided to get in the way so AGM-78s and 88s will stay, for now anyway.

-Mike