Grumman S-2 Tracker (S2F) Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft (1954)
The Grumman S-2 Tracker was specifically designed and produced for the US Navy to help combat enemy submarines.
While carrier fighter and strike aircraft certainly allowed the required offensive reach, ever-growing storage space on newer carriers allowed other specialized platforms to emerge. In late 1945, Grumman flew its first AF Guardian, the USN's first "purpose-built" Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) aircraft. This proved a rather gangly-looking attempt, crewed by three or four personnel and powered by a single Pratt & Whitney radial piston engine (essentially looking the part of a heavily-modified torpedo bomber). The Guardian was actually devised a two-aircraft "system" consisting of a submarine detection platform and a reactionary attack-minded platform - utilizing a "hunter-killer" approach. Some 389 Guardian aircraft were ultimately produced and these served into August of 1955.
Grumman began work on a successor to the Guardian line though this time with the intent of producing a single-airframe solution for the USN. The concern developed the "Model G-89" prototype, a rather conventional straight-winged airframe utilizing a crew of four with a twin-engine layout and the requisite carrier-friendly installments (reinforced undercarriage, high-mounted monoplane wings, arrestor hook, folding wings etc...). Prototypes of the USN were granted the designation of "XS2F-1" and two were completed for testing. The initial XS2F-1 prototype first took to the air on December 4th, 1952 and proved the design sound. Fifteen evaluation-quality aircraft (YS2F-1) were on order and the first of these was delivered to squadron VS-26 in February of 1954.
Outwardly, the S-2F Tracker utilized a centralized fuselage with the cockpit held well-forward in the design, just aft of a short nose cone assembly. Vision was through two forward panes and side ports as well as overhead windows. The fuselage was slab-sided and mounted short wingroots with streamlined engine nacelles underslung. Each wing offered three hardpoints outboard of the engine. The aircraft made use of a powered tricycle undercarriage consisting of two main legs and a double-wheeled nose leg (when at rest, this arrangement gave the S-2 a pronounced "nose-up" appearance). The empennage was traditional in that it exhibited a single vertical tail fin and a pair of applicable horizontal tailplanes. The aircraft was crewed by four personnel which was made up of two pilots and two systems officers.
Power for the type (S-2F) was supplied through 2 x Wright R-1820-82WA air-cooled radial piston engines, each delivering up to 1,525 horsepower and powering three-bladed propeller assemblies. This provided the airframe with a top speed of 280 miles per hour and a cruise speed of 150 miles per hour. Range was out to 1,350 miles with a service ceiling maxing at 22,000 feet. All told, the S-2 could operate for some nine hours, providing consistent hunting prowess against enemy submarines. During the Cold War, this would principally be those of the Soviet Navy.
As the S-2 was designed from the outset to be a complete anti-submarine solution, the USN and Grumman engineers ensured that the airframe would carry its own munitions load. The aircraft was designed for up to 4,800lbs of internal and external ordnance which included a single large internal bomb bay along the underside of the fuselage as well as six underwing hardpoints. The S-2 was, therefore, cleared to carry two internal torpedoes or, in their place, naval mines or depth charges. Rockets could be outfitted under each wing as required, this serving to engage service vessels at range.
Initial production models were recognized as the "S2F-1" Tracker of which 740 examples were ultimately produced. This then spawned the S2F-1T trainer variant as well as the S2F-1 utility platform. Specialized equipment (JULIE/JEZEBEL detection systems) greeted the S2F-1S and S2F-1S1 conversion models. The S2F-1 was then followed into service through the the "S2F-2" which added an elongated port-side bomb bay section and revised tail surfaces. Some 77 of this type were produced. As in the S2F-1, the S2F-2 airframe begat other operational models in the S2F-2P photo-reconnaissance platform and the S2F-2U utility airframe. With a revised forward fuselage, larger tail surfaces and increased internal volume for additional fuel stores, the series was reborn in the "S2F-3" of which 100 were produced. Specialized equipment produced the S2F-3S and these saw 252 examples completed.
In 1962, the United States military underwent a restructuring which completely rewrote the designation process of all of its aircraft (through the "1962 United States Tri-Service Aircraft Designation System") in an attempt to unify the designation system across all three major branches. This led to the S2F series being redesignated under the "S-2F" marker and all previous variants were updated as such. The S2F-1 became the S-2A while the S2F-1T became the TS-2A and so on. The S2F-1S was the S-2B and the S2F-2 was the S-2C. Reconnaissance models were noted for their use of "R" (RS-2C) and utility versions were given "U" (US-2C). The S2F-3 became the S-2D, the S2F-3S was now the S-2E and the S2F-1S1 was the S-2F. Canadian production models (by de Havilland Canada) were designated with a "C" before each model in the usual way. The "Turbo Tracker" line was developed in later years and these introduced turboprop engines to the family. Some of this type continue to see modern usage.
The S-2 went on to become a commercial success for Grumman for it saw use in many of the World's navies of the era. This included Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Peru, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay and Venezuela. Many went on to see a second life of sorts in their post-military careers as fire-fighting platforms as was the case in Canada, France and the United States. To date, S-2 operator numbers continue to dwindle - the Taiwanese Navy maintains as many as 26 in inventory (2012) though these are slated to be formally replaced by the modern P-3C Orion platform. Argentina and Brazil are two other current S-2 operators.
In total, 1,284 S-2 Trackers were produced for all listed navies. The United States Navy operated the type until 1976. The Grumman C-1 Trader and E-1 Tracer were offshoot developments of the S-2 airframe for the USN, the former once in use as a Carrier On-board Delivery (COD) transport aircraft and the latter seeing service as the USN's first, purpose-built Airborne Early Warning (AEW) platform - both have since been retired. The S-2 Tracker series was, itself, replaced in USN service by the all-modern, twin-engine, jet-powered Lockheed S-2 "Viking" in 1974. However, even these have now seen cessation of carrier operations thanks to broadening capabilities of aircraft such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet and P-3C Orion as well as the Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk naval helicopter. Only 188 Vikings were produced. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
Grumman S-2 Tracker (S2F)
Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Grumman - USA
Initial Year of Service: 1954
Production: 1,284
Focus Model: Grumman S-2F Tracker (S2F-1S1)
Crew: 4
Length: 43.50ft (13.26m)
Width: 72.57ft (22.12m)
Height: 17.49ft (5.33m)
Weight (Empty): 18,320lbs (8,310kg)
Weight (MTOW): 26,147lbs (11,860kg)
Powerplant: 2 x Wright R-1820-82WA radial piston engines developing 1,525 horsepower each.
Maximum Speed: 280mph (450kmh; 243kts)
Maximum Range: 1,348miles (2,170km)
Service Ceiling: 21,982ft (6,700m; 4.2miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 0 feet per minute (0m/min)
Hardpoints: 6
Armament Suite:
Variable, up to 4,800lbs of internal and external stores including 2 x torpedoes (internally), depth charges and naval mines. up to 6 x rockets on outboard underwing hardpoints.
Variants:
XS2F-1 - Prototype Models; two examples produced; fitted with 2 x Wright R-1820-76WA radial piston engines.
YS2F-1 - Evaluation Models; fifteen examples produced.
S2F-1 - Initial production model designation; fitted with 2 x Wright R-1820-82WA radial piston engines; 740 examples produced.
S2F-1T - Trainer Variant of S2F-1
S2F-1U - Utility Variant of S2F-1
S2F-1S - JULIE/JEZEBEL equipment
S2F-1S1 - S2F-1S production models with updated detection equipment.
S2F-2 - Extended port-side bomb bay section; revised tail surfaces; 77 produced.
S2F-2P - Photoreconnaissance platform version of the S2F-2.
S2F-2U - Utility variant of the S2F-2
S2F-3 - Revised tail surfaces and forward fuselage; increased fuel volume for extended range; 100 examples produced.
S2F-3S - JULIE-JEZEBEL detection equipment; 252 examples completed.
YS-2A - 1962 redesignation of YS2F-1
S-2A - 1962 redesignation of S2F-1
TS-2A - 1962 redesignation of S2F-1T trainers
US-2A - S-2A conversion models to target tugs and utility aircraft; 51 examples converted as such.
S-2B - 1962 redesignation of S2F-1S.
US-2B - S-2A and S-2B conversions to target tugs and utility aircraft.
S-2C - 1962 redesignation of S2F-2
RS-2C - 1962 redesignation of S2F-2P photoreconnaissance models.
US-2C - 1962 redesignation of S2F-2U utility platforms.
S-2D - 1962 redesignation of S2F-3
YAS-2D/AS-2D - Proposed night-attack aircraft
ES-2D - S-2D trainer conversion model
US-2S - S-2D utility conversion model
S-2E - 1962 redesignation of S2F-3S
S-2F - 1962 redesignation of S2F-1S1
US-2F - S-2F transport conversion model
S-2G - S-2E updated with AN/AQA-7 DIFAR (processor) and AN/ARR-75 (receiver) equipment.
CS2F-1 - Canadian ASW platform; 42 examples completed; production by de Havilland Canada.
CS2F-2 - Canadian ASW platform (improved); 57 examples completed; production by de Havilland Canada.
CS2F-3 - Canadian ASW platform (modernized); 43 examples upgraded.
CP-121 - Revised 1968 Canadian designation of CS2F-1, CS2F-2 and CS2F-3 airframes.
S-2T "Turbo Tracker" - Turboprop-powered variant
S-2AT "Turbo Tracker" - Turboprop-powered variant for firefighting use.
S-2ET "Turbo Tracker" - Turbo-powered variant for civilian use.
Marsh S-2F3AT "Turbo Tracker" - Turbo-powered variant fitting 2 x Garrett TPE331 series engines.
Conair Firecat / Turbo Firecat - Civilian single-seat firefighting platform.
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