Grizzly works for me

We don't really do names that well, do we.

We all know the ship side of the house has sold its virtue and confused the rest ... and since the Tomcat, I don't think we have done well at all.

It can make for good blogg'n though; remember the poor EA-18G "Growler vs. Shocker" issue? Well, as expected, from the operational attitude that gave the A-10 "Warthog" - I think the pointy end has fixed the problem.

The Navy’s EA-18G Growler has a new name — at least on the radio.

The new electronic attack aircraft that joined the fleet last year will be known as a “Grizzly” on carrier decks worldwide.

The nickname “Growler” sounds too much like the EA-6B “Prowler,” its electronic attack predecessor, and the Navy wanted to avoid any confusion on flight decks.

“The names ‘Growler’ and ‘Prowler’ were too close to be safe,” said Kim Martin, a Navy spokeswoman at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.

“ ‘Grizzly’ is a name that doesn’t sound like any other name,” she said.

The Boeing-made aircraft will continue on with Growler as its primary nickname. It will be known as a Grizzly only in operational situations.

The usage will be similar to the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets’ operational moniker, the “Rhino.”

... and the Phibian nodd'd his head at peace.