One comment to add to my previous statements on attitudes and "pressing attacks more closely".
The A-6E Intruder (all-weather heavy attack jet, for those not familiar with US equipment) has something I have not seen on any other aircraft: externally mounted "bolt-on" armor plates for the engines... which are issued to each squadron, and with which they periodically fly in order to get used to how they affect performance.
At least... each USMC squadron has them... I saw them in VMA(AW)-242's hangar, have helped load & unload VMA(AW)-121's armor during our 1985-1987 deployments (to Korea & the Arabian Gulf) aboard CV-61 Ranger, and have seen both squadron's aircraft flying with them.
I never saw any armor at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington (the USN's West coast A-6E/EA-6B base), nor did the USN A-6E squadron on Ranger (VA(AW)-145) bring any with them!
Just some food for thought...