Grumman S-2 Tracker

The Grumman S-2 Tracker was a carrier-based, anti-submarine warfare aircraft used by the US Navy during the Cold War. The original designation was S2F. It performed its maiden flight as the XS2F-1 on December 4, 1952. This first prototype was powered by two Wright R-1820 engines, each delivering 1,500 horsepower. In all, 1,269 Trackers were produced, including 100 under license by de Havilland of Canada. The S-2E was the most numerous version, while the S-2T had turboprop engines and was a conversion for civil aviation.

After fourteen months of trials, this naval aircraft entered service on February 25, 1954, as the S2F-1, which was nicknamed 'the Stoof' by the American pilots. In 1962, the US Navy changed its designation and called it the 'S-2 Tracker', which was the first anti-submarine warfare aircraft specially designed for such role. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, it flew sorties over the Caribbean Sea in search of Soviet submarines. Despite its satisfactory service, it would be replaced by the Lockheed S-3 Viking aircraft in 1974.

Below, a photo of the XS2F-1 prototype in flight.

Technical Description

The Grumman S-2 Tracker was a four-seat, twin-engine aircraft, which was fitted with straight shoulder wing. It had an all-metal fuselage, which was made of aluminum alloy. For hunting submarines, this naval aircraft featured a belly-mounted radome containing an AN/APS-38 search radar and a retractable magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) boom, which protruded backwards from the tail.

The Tracker's wings had a special folding system, which was different from other carrier-borne aircraft's. The hinge line was angled, allowing the starboard wing to be folded forward in front of the port wing. This arrangement gave the aircraft the lowest possible profile for storage aboard carriers. To improve its lift efficiency, the aircraft employed a fixed wing slot on the undersurface of the outer wing panels to the rear of the wing leading edge.

Specifications (S-2E)

Type: anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

Length: 13.26 m (43 ft, 6 in)

Wing Span: 22.12 m (72 ft, 6 in)

Wing Area: 46.08 m2 (496 sq. ft)

Height: 5.07 m (16 ft, 8 in)

Power Plant: two Wright R-1820-82WA piston engines, each producing 1,525 HP.

Maximum Speed: 404 km/h (250 mph)

Range: 1,480 km (920 miles)

Service Ceiling: 6,125 m (20,000 ft)

Armament: two torpedoes; depth charges; rockets.

Crew: 4

Below, the Tracker parked on a naval base, with folded wings.

The S-2E version in flight, with the MAD tail boom fully extended.

Below, the aircraft in flight around 1973.