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| Electronic Attack Squadron 136 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 6 April 1973 - Present (51 years, 11 months) |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Type | Electronic Attack |
| Role | Electronic Warfare |
| Part of |  Carrier Air Wing Two |
| Garrison/HQ |  NAS Whidbey Island |
| Nickname(s) | Gauntlets |
| Motto(s) | "Lac Pecuniam" |
| Colors | #192e54 #e1c437 #461b12 |
| Engagements | Operation Desert Shield Operation Desert Storm Operation Provide Promise Operation Southern Watch Operation Deny Flight Operation Deliberate Force Operation Deliberate Guard Operation Desert Fox Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Majestic Eagle Operation Enduring Freedom Operation New Dawn Operation Inherent Resolve [1] |
| Decorations | Safety "S" (3) Battle "E" (5) Admiral Arthur W. Radford Award (2) Prowler Squadron of the Year Award (3) Association of Old Crows- Outstanding Unit Award [1] |
| Website | https://www.airpac.navy.mil/Organization/Electronic-Attack-Squadron-VAQ-136/ |
| Commanders | |
| Commanding Officer | CDR. Paul C. Ritter |
| Executive Officer | CDR. William Bogdanowicz |
| Command Master Chief | CMDCM. Jason P. Degraaf |
| Insignia | |
| Callsign | IRONCLAW[2] |
| Modex | 5XX[3] |
| Tail Code | NE |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Electronic warfare | EA-6B Prowler(1973-2013) EA-18G Growler(2013-Present) [4] |
Electronic Attack Squadron 136 (VAQ-136) "Gauntlets" is aUnited States NavyElectronic attack squadron flying theEA-18G Growler and is currently attached toCarrier Air Wing Two, deploy aboard the aircraft carrierUSS Carl Vinson a composite unit made up of a wide array of aircraft performing a variety of combat and support missions includingF2T2EA. The squadron is currently stationed atNaval Air Station Whidbey Island.
Since establishment in 1969, VAQ-136 has been associated with several Carrier Air Wings. The squadron's first two deployments were withCVW-11 aboardUSS Kitty Hawk. In 1977 the squadron joinedCVW-7 aboardUSS Independence for a cruise to theMediterranean, after which the squadron changed to the Improved Capability (ICAP) version of the EA-6B. After the transition to their new aircraft, the squadron deployed to the Mediterranean again, this time withCVW-5 onUSS Saratoga.
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In 1980 the squadron flew across thePacific Ocean to their new home inNAF Atsugi,Japan withCarrier Air Wing Five andUSS Midway, based atYokosuka. The squadron conducted an 8300 mile cross-deck deployment toUSS America in support ofIndian Ocean operations in 1983, and a record-setting 111 day Indian Ocean at sea period (101 days out of sight of land) in 1984. In 1987 the Commanding Officer of 136 and his three junior officers Lt John Carter (pilot), LT Doug Hora and LT Dave Gibson went missing during a routine night EMCON flight in the Indian Ocean. Commander Justin Greene was on the verge of completing his 1,000th carrier arrestment, his celebration cake was given a respectful deposit at sea uneaten. The plane and officers have never been found. The eulogy during USSMidway's memorial service was delivered by Navy Lieutenant Daniel Shanower who later died (Captain US Navy) on 11 September 2001 at the Pentagon.[5] In 1986, the squadron transitioned to ICAP II aircraft and deployed to support the1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea. The squadron was awarded the COMNAVAIRPACBattle Efficiency "E", and the Safety "S" in 1989.
On 16 April 1990, as part of theCope Thunder exercise, the squadron successfully fired a liveAGM-88 HARM missile at aU.S. Air Force target radar off the coast of the Philippines. It was the first AGM-88 fired in WESTPAC and the missile completely destroyed its target.
On 17 January 1991 the squadron flew strikes againstIraq in support ofOperation Desert Storm. During the 43-day war, the squadron fired 28 AGM-88s against Iraqi air defenses, ensuring thatCVW-5 did not lose any aircraft to enemy fire.
On 22 August 1991, the squadroncross-decked from USSMidway withCVW-5 to USSIndependence atNaval Base Pearl Harbor,Hawaii. During this transfer it received several new EA-6Bs, including BuNo 163045 which would be later on be involved in acable car accident in 1998.[6] In early 1992, the squadron deployed with USSIndependence in support ofOperation Southern Watch. The squadron received the Pacific FleetBattle Efficiency "E" award for 1992, theRadford Award for being the best EA-6B squadron in the Navy, the Association of Old Crows Outstanding Unit Award, and aMeritorious Unit Commendation.
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In 1993 the squadron sailed to thePersian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. That summer saw the squadron supporting U.S. policy during intense North Korean Contingency Operations. VAQ-136 was named the "Prowler Squadron of the Year for Tactical Excellence" for 1994.
The squadron began 1995 with operations in theYellow Sea before proceeding south to participate in Exercise Cobra Gold off the coast ofThailand. They then moved to the Middle East yet again participating in Operation Southern Watch. The squadron were awarded the COMNAVAIRPACBattle Efficiency "E", and Safety "S" for 1995.
In 1996 VAQ-136 operated in the Yellow Sea, near the Philippines, and aroundTaiwan todeter Chinese aggression. Early in 1997 USSIndependence commenced a four month cruise, transiting toGuam,Australia,Malaysia,Singapore,Thailand, and thenHong Kong, the last U.S. carrier to port there before itsreversion to Chinese control.
In January 1998 the squadron made an emergency, no-notice deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. The squadron returned home for a brief respite before getting underway again in July, this time to Hawaii to cross-deck onto their new home,USS Kitty Hawk. The squadron received the Safety "S" for the first half of 1998.
In January 1999, VAQ-136 was awarded the 1998 COMNAVAIRPAC Battle Efficiency "E". On 2 March 1999, VAQ-136 and theKitty Hawk Battle group departed Yokosuka, Japan for three months of routine operations and exercises in the Western Pacific. The squadron participated in the multi-national and multi-service exercise Tandem Thrust off Guam before USSKitty Hawk was ordered to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. Over the following eleven weeks, the squadron flew 115 combat sorties over the skies of Iraq. WhenKitty Hawk pulled intoDubai, UAE, for several days of liberty, the squadron was tasked to provide uninterrupted Electronic Warfare support for coalition aircraft flying fromPrince Sultan Air Base (PSAB),Saudi Arabia.
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In 2010, VAQ-136 was awarded the "Battle E" for combat efficiency and the "Golden Wrench" Award for maintenance excellence by Commander, Naval Air Forces.
In February 2012, the Navy announced that the squadron would transfer toNaval Air Station Whidbey Island in early 2012 to prepare for reequipping with the EA-18G Growler.
As of February 2013 they began flying the EA-18G Growler at NAS Whidbey Island with a tail code of "NG". In 2016 they were reassigned toCarrier Air Wing Two and changed to a tail code of "NE".
2020s
_136%2c_launches_from_the_flight_deck_of_aircraft_carrier_USS_Carl_Vinson_(CVN_70)%2c_February_8%2c_2022.jpg)
Following a successful underway period in support of Westpac and RIMPAC in late 2017, the Gauntlets entered a prolonged maintenance phase. Of note, they were the first Growler squadron to increase aircraft allotment from five to seven. The "plus up" came with an accompanying increase in personnel, almost doubling the size of the ready room and substantially adding to maintenance manning. The squadron began their workup cycle in summer of 2020 in anticipation of upcoming deployments with Carrier Air Wing Two, fondly dubbed "Air Wing of the Future" in reference to its complement of F-35C Lightning, high lot F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, MVB-22 Osprey and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.
"Global Security.org: Electronic Attack Squadron 136". Retrieved31 October 2006.
"Official Website: Electronic Attack Squadron 136". Retrieved31 October 2006.
"Commander Naval Forces Japan Press Release R-12-12".
| Electronic Attack (VAQ) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier Airborne Early Warning (VAW) | |||||
| Strike Fighter (VFA) | |||||
| Fleet Air Reconnaissance (VQ) | |||||
| Fleet Fighter Composite (VFC) | |||||
| Fleet Logistics Support (VR) | |||||
| Carrier Fleet Logistics Support (VRC) | |||||
| Carrier Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission (VRM) | |||||
| Patrol |
| ||||
| Unmanned (VUP) | |||||
| Training (VT) | |||||
| Helicopter Mine Countermeasures (HM) | |||||
| Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) | |||||
| Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) | |||||
| Helicopter Training (HT) | |||||
