Douglas A/B-26 Invader
S2
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Douglas A/B-26 Invader S2 |
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S-2 Tracker ASW aircraft Grumman 4 December 1952 February 1954 1976, USN active with Argentine Navy US Navy 1,284 C-1 Trader The Grumman S-2 Tracker (previously S2F) was the
first purpose-built, single airframe anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft to enter service with the US Navy. Its predecessor, the AF-2 Guardian was the first purpose-built
aircraft system for ASW, using two airframes, one with the detection gear, and the other with the weapons. Grumman's design (model G-89) was for a large high-wing
monoplane with twin Wright Cyclone radial engines. Both the two prototypes XS2F-1 and 15 production aircraft, S2F-1
were ordered at the same time, on 30 June 1950. First flight was 4 December 1952, and production aircraft entered service,
with VS-26, in February 1954. Follow-on versions included the WF Tracer and TF Trader,
which became the E-1 Tracer and C-1 Trader in the tri-service designation standardization of 1962. The S-2 carried the nickname
"Stoof" (S-two-F) throughout its military career; and the E-1 Tracer variant with the large overhead radome was called the
"stoof with a roof.". Grumman produced 1,185 Trackers. Another 99 aircraft carrying
the CS2F designation were manufactured in Canada under license by de Havilland Canada. U.S.-built versions of the Tracker
were sold to various nations, including Australia, Japan and Taiwan. The Tracker was eventually superseded for U.S. military use by
the S-3 Viking — the last USN Tracker squadron (VS-37 with S-2G models) was disestablished in 1976, but a number
live on as firefighting aircraft. Trackers continued to provide excellent service with the naval forces of other countries
for years after the U.S. discontinued them. For example, the Royal Australian Navy continued to use Trackers as front line
ASW assets until the mid 1980s. The Argentine Navy received its first S-2A models on the 1960s
and later the improved S-2E. They were embarked on the ARA 25 de Mayo aircraft carrier and used in the COD, Maritime Patrol and ASW roles. In the 1990s, six remaining airframes where
refurbished by Israel Aerospace Industries with turboprop engines as S-2T Turbo Trackers. With the retirement of Argentina's
only aircraft carrier, the Trackers are annually deployed on board Brazilian Navy NAe São Paulo during joint exercises ARAEX
and TEMPEREX. The Royal Australian Navy operated two Squadrons of S-2E and
S-2G variants from 1967 until 1984. VS-816 front line squadron, although based at Nowra, frequently embarked the Majestic
class aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, as part of the 21st Carrier Air Group whenever that ship was deployed. VC-851 training
squadron was based at NAS Nowra, HMAS Albatross. In 1954, de Havilland Canada entered into a contract to build
Trackers under license to replace the outmoded TBM-3E Avengers being used by the Royal Canadian Navy. A total of 99 Canadian-built
Trackers would enter service starting in 1956. From 1957 onwards, these aircraft operated from the newly-deployed aircraft
carrier HMCS Bonaventure and various shore bases. In order to fit aboard Bonaventure, the Canadian Trackers had their length
reduced from the standard S2F length of 43 ft, 6 in (13.26 m) to an even 42 feet (12.80 m), and due to the reduced yaw moment
of the shorter fuselage, an additional hydraulic booster was added in the tail assembly to reduce rudder effort in the case
of an engine-out situation. In 1960, 17 active-duty CS2F-1 aircraft were transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy. In 1964,
a pair of CS2F-1 aircraft were stripped of armament and ASW electronics, converted to transports, and subsequently used for
carrier onboard delivery. The CS2F-1, -2, and -3 were redesignated as the CP-121 Mk.1, Mk. 2, and Mk. 3 respectively following
the unification of Canadian forces in 1968. After Bonaventure was decommissioned in 1970, all remaining Canadian
Trackers were transferred to shore bases. This limited their usefulness for ASW patrols, and between 1974 and 1981, all but
20 were gradually placed in storage and the remainder were stripped of their ASW gear. The remaining active-duty Trackers
served until 1990 doing fisheries protection and maritime patrol duties. A handful of Trackers were kept in flying condition
until the late 1990s but were no longer used for active service. A single Grumman-built S2F-1, serial number X-500, was sold to
the RCN before Canadian production commenced. It was initially used for quality control purposes during Canadian production,
and was later given a new RCN serial number, upgraded to CS2F-1 standards, and used to train RCN ground and maintenance personnel.
This aircraft was placed in storage in 1972 and was undergoing restoration in March 2008. In the late 1980s and early 90s Conair Aviation of Abbotsford,
British Columbia, Canada took possession of retired U.S. and Canadian Trackers and converted them into Firecats, with
a retardant tank replacing the torpedo bay. The Firecats were made in two variants, a piston engine Firecat and a turboprop-powered
Turbo Firecat. Many retired Trackers were sold to private owners for fire-fighting
duties. Some were rebuilt and re-engined with turboprop engines. General characteristics Performance Armament
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