https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_P-2_Neptune
The Lockheed P-2 Neptune (designated P2V by the United States Navy prior to
September 1962) was a Maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft.
It was developed for the US Navy by Lockheed to replace the Lockheed PV-1
Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon, and being replaced in turn with the Lockheed P-3
Orion. Designed as a land-based aircraft, the Neptune never made a carrier
landing, although a small number of aircraft were converted and deployed as
carrier launched stop-gap nuclear bombers which would have to ditch or recover
at land bases. The type was successful in export and saw service with several
armed forces.
Beginning with the P2V-5F model, the Neptune became one of the first aircraft in
operational service to be fitted with both piston and jet engines. The Convair
B-36, several Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter, Fairchild C-123 Provider, and Avro
Shackleton aircraft were also so equipped. To save the weight and complexity of
two separate fuel systems, the Westinghouse J34 jet engines on the P2Vs did not
The jet pods were fitted with intake doors that were kept closed when the J-34s
were not running to prevent them from windmilling, allowing for economical
piston-engine-only long-endurance search and patrol operations. In normal U.S.
Navy operations, the jet engines were run at full power (97%) to expedite and
assure all takeoffs, then shut down when the aircraft reached a safe altitude.
Also, the jets were started and kept running at flight idle during low-altitude
(500-foot (150 m) during the day and 1,000-foot (300 m) at night) anti-submarine
and/or anti-shipping operations at sea as a safety measure in case one of the
radials developed problems.
Normal crew access was via a ladder on the aft bulkhead of the nosewheel well to
a hatch on the left side of the wheel well, then forward to the observer nose or
up through another hatch to the main deck. There was also a hatch in the floor
of the aft fuselage, near the sonobuoy chutes.
Role
Maritime Patrol and Anti-Submarine Warfare
National origin
United States
Manufacturer
Lockheed
First flight
17 May 1945
Introduction
March 1947
Retired
1984 From military use
Primary users
United States Navy
Japan Maritime Self Defense Force
Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
Variants
Kawasaki P-2J
During the Vietnam War, the Neptune was used by the US Navy as a gunship, an
overland reconnaissance and sensor deployment aircraft, and in its traditional
role as a maritime patrol aircraft. The Neptune was also utilized by the US
Army's 1st Radio Research Company (Aviation), call sign "Crazy Cat", based at
Cam Ranh Air Base in South Vietnam, as an electronic "ferret" aircraft
intercepting low-powered tactical voice and morse code radio signals. The US
Army operated the P-2 from 1967until 1972, flying 42,500 hours with no
accidents. Observation Squadron 67 (VO-67), call sign "Lindy", was the only P-2
Neptune aircraft squadron to ever receive the Presidential Unit Citation, flying
Igloo White missions sowing seismic and acoustic sensors over the Ho Chi Minh
Trail. VO-67 lost three OP-2E aircraft and 20 aircrew to ground fire during its
Force (ROCAF) secret 34th Black Bat Squadron's RB-69A/P2V-7U ELINT/SIGINT
aircraft flew a low level electronic reconnaissance from Da Nang Air Base,
drop zone that turned out to be a set trap for a ROCAF C-123B airdrop mission 10
days earlier due to the air-inserted agents having been captured and turned.
Next year, an air defense radar mapping mission was also flown by 34th
Squadron's RB-69A/P2V-7U aircraft into North Vietnam and Laos on the night of 16
March 1964. The RB-69A took off from Da Nang, flew up the Gulf of Tonkin before
coasting in near Haiphong, then flew down North Vietnam and the Laos border. The
mission was requested by SOG for helping plan the insert or resupply of agents.
Seven AAA sites, 14 early warning radar sites and two GCI radar signals were
detected.
P-2/P2Vs have been employed in aerial firefighting roles by operators such as
Minden Air Corp and Neptune Aviation Services. The fire fighters can carry 2,080
gal (7,874 l) of retardant and have a service life of 15,000 hours. Neptune
proposes to replace them with British Aerospace 146 aircraft which are estimated
to have a service life of 80,000 hours and carry upwards of 3,000 gallons of
retardant.
Specifications
P2V-3
General characteristics
Crew: 9-11
Length: 77 ft 10 in (23.72 m)
Wingspan: 100 ft 0 in (30.48 m)
Height: 28 ft 4 in (8.56 m)
Empty weight: 34,875 lb (15,819 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 64,100 lb (29,076 kg)
wet each
Propellers: 3 bladed propeller, 1 per engine
Performance
Maximum speed: 278 kn (313 mph) (515 km/h)
Cruise speed: 155 kn (174 mph) (286 km/h) (max)
Range: 3,458 nmi (3,903 mi) (6,406 km)
Armament
Rockets: 2.75 in (70 mm) FFAR in removable wing-mounted pods
Bombs: 8,000 lb (3,629 kg) including free-fall bombs, depth charges, and
torpedoes
P-2H (P2V-7)
General characteristics
Length: 91 ft 8 in (27.94 m)
Wingspan: 103 ft 10 in (31.65 m)
Height: 29 ft 4 in (8.94 m)
Empty weight: 49,935 lb (22,650 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 79,895 lb (35,240 kg)
wet each Propellers: 4 bladed propeller, 1 per engine
Performance
Maximum speed: 316 kn (363 mp/h) (586 km/h) (all engines)
Cruise speed: 180 kn (207 mp/h) (333 km/h) (max)
Range: 1,912 nmi (2,157 mi) (3,540 km)
Service ceiling: 22,400 ft (6,827 m)
Armament
Rockets: 2.75 in (70 mm) FFAR in removable wing-mounted pods
Bombs: 8,000 lb (3,629 kg) including free-fall bombs, depth charges, and
torpedoes
*
|
|