View source for VA-176 (U.S. Navy)

{{nofootnotes|date=January 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Attack Squadron 176
|image= File:Attack Squadron 176 (US Navy) insignia c1983.png
|caption= VA-176 Insignia
|dates= 1 June 1955 – 30 October 1992
|country= [[United States]]
|allegiance=
|branch= [[United States Navy]]
|type= Attack
|role= [[Close air support]]<br/>[[Air interdiction]]<br/>[[Aerial reconnaissance]]
|size=
|command_structure= Inactive
|current_commander= 
|garrison= [[Naval Air Station Oceana]]
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname= "Thunderbolts"
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles= [[Vietnam War]]<br/>[[Operation Urgent Fury]]<br/>[[Multinational Force in Lebanon]]<br/>[[Operation Provide Comfort]]
|anniversaries=
}}

'''Attack Squadron 176 (VA-176)''', known as the "Thunderbolts", was a [[United States Navy]] carrier-based medium attack squadron that saw combat service in the [[Vietnam War]] and later in 1983 in both [[Operation Urgent Fury|Grenada]] and [[Lebanon]].

==History==
VA-176 was established on 4 June 1955 and equipped with the [[A-1 Skyraider|Douglas AD-6 ''Skyraider'']] and assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. A year later the first deployment followed on board the aircraft carrier {{USS|Randolph|CVA-15}} to the Mediterranean Sea as part of Air Task Group 2 (ATG-2). In 1958, the squadron was assigned to Carrier Air Group 17 (CVG-17), but was not deployed as CVG-17 was disbanded. The next cruise in 1959/60 was aboard the {{USS|Essex|CVA-9|6}} as part of [[Carrier Air Wing Ten|CVG-10]]. In November and December 1960 VA-176 was assigned to Carrier Anti-submarine Air Group 52 (CVSG-52) aboard the {{USS|Wasp|CVS-18|6}}. After this short deployment VA-176 returned to CVW-10 and made three deployments to the Mediterranean Sea with the {{USS|Shangri-La|CVA-38|6}} between 1961 and 1965.
[[File:Lieutenant Junior Grade William T. Patton (USN) of VA-176 with a Douglas A-1H Skyraider, in 1966.jpg|thumb|left|VA-176 A-1H in 1966 with "MiG-Killer" LTJG W. T. Patton]]
CVW-10 was shifted in 1966 to the {{USS|Intrepid|CVS-11|6}}, which was used as an attack carrier for three deployments to Vietnam. During the 1966 deployment two members of the squadron became known by successfully engaging a [[Vietnam People's Air Force]] [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17|MiG-17]], an unusual instance of propeller-driven aircraft defeating a jet-powered adversary. 

[[File:VA-176 KA-6D Intruder tanker.jpg|thumb|right|VA-176 KA-6D ''Intruder'' tanker aircraft]]
In 1967 VA-176 was back in the Mediterranean Sea aboard the {{USS|Saratoga|CVA-60|6}} as part of [[Carrier Air Wing Three|CVW-3]].

This was the last cruise with the Douglas A-1H ''Skyraider'', as the squadron converted to the [[A-6 Intruder|Grumman A-6A ''Intruder'']] all-weather attack plane. From its first deployment with the ''Intruder'' in 1970 to the last in 1991, VA-176 was assigned to [[Carrier Air Wing Six|CVW-6]]. From 1970 to 1975, CVW-6 was assigned to the {{USS|Franklin D. Roosevelt|CVA-42|6}}. The next three years were spent aboard the {{USS|America|CV-66|6}}. In 1979 the wing moved to the {{USS|Independence|CV-62|6}}, followed by the {{USS|Forrestal|CV-59|6}} from 1986 to 1991. Flying the ''Intruder'', VA-176 made eighteen deployments to the Mediterranean Sea, three of which also led to the Indian Ocean. The squadron earned three consecutive Battle "E" awards, for the years 1988-1991.  The squadron was decommissioned from active service on 30 October 1992.

==Aircraft==
* [[Douglas A-1 Skyraider|Douglas AD-6 Skyraider]] (after 1962 A-1H) &mdash; 1955–1967
* [[Douglas A-4 Skyhawk]]
* [[Grumman A-6 Intruder|Grumman A-6A Intruder]] &mdash;  1969–1975
* Grumman KA-6D Intruder &mdash; 1972–1992
* Grumman A-6C Intruder &mdash; 1973–1975
* Grumman A-6E Intruder &mdash; 1975–1992

==See also==
*[[History of the United States Navy]]
*[[List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons]]
*[[List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons]]

==External links==
{{Commons category|Attack Squadron 176 (United States Navy)}}
* [http://www.va176thunderbolts.org/ VA-176's Official Website]

[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1955]]
[[Category:Attack squadrons of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:1955 establishments in the United States]]