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S-2 Tracker
An S-2E ready for launching from the USS Bennington (CVS-20)
Role ASW aircraft
Manufacturer Grumman
First flight 1952-12-04
Introduced February, 1954
Retired 1976, USN
Status active with Argentine Navy
Primary users US Navy
Canadian Navy
Australian Navy
Argentine Navy
Number built 1,284
Variants C-1 Trader
E-1 Tracer
Canadian Forces CP-121 Tracker from VU-33 folds its wings while taxiing at CFB Moose Jaw in 1982
Argentine S-2T Turbo Tracker
CDF S-2F3AT Turbine Tracker landing at Fox Field, Lancaster, California, while fighting the North Fire.
CDF S-2T on the Sawtooth Complex fire, 2006

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.

Contents

Design and development

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.".1

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.

Operational history

The Tracker was eventually superseded for U.S. military use by the S-3 Viking — the last USN Tracker squadron (VS-37 with S-2G models) was disestablished in 1976, but a number live on as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 in 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 used the improved S-2E from the aircraft carrier ARA 25 de Mayo. In the 1990s, they were upgraded with local software and by Israel with turboprop engines nicknamed S-2T Turbo Trackers. With the retirement of its unique aircraft carrier, the Argentines currently use them from the NAe São Paulo of the Brazilian Navy.

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.

Variants

XS2F-1
Two prototype anti-submarine warfare aircraft powered by 1,450-hp R-1820-76WA engines.
YS2F-1
Designation of the first 15 production aircraft used for development, redesignated YS-2A in 1962.
S2F-1
Initial production variant with two 1,525-hp R-1820-82WA engines, re-designated S-2A in 1962, 740 built.
S2F-1T
Trainer conversion of S2F-1, redesignated TS-2A in 1962.
S2F-1U
Utility conversion of S2F-1, redesignated US-2A in 1962.
S2F-1S
S2F-1 conversion with Julie/Jezebel detection equipment, redesignated S-2B in 1962. Survivors converted to US-2B after removal of ASW gear.
S2F-1S1
S2F-1S fitted with updated Julie/Jezebel equipment, redesignated S-2F in 1962.
S2F-2
As S2F-1 with asymmetrical (port-side) extension of bomb bay, slightly enlarged tail surfaces, 77 built, most redesignated S-2C in 1962.
S2F-2P
Photo reconnaissance conversion of S2F-2, redesignated RS-2C in 1962.
S2F-2U
Utility conversion of S2F-2/S-2C, redesignated US-2C in 1962. Some were used as target tugs.
S2F-3
Enlarged forward fuselage, enlarged tail surfaces, additional fuel capacity, and enlarged engine nacelles bays for 32 sonobouoys, redesignated S-2D in 1962, 100 built.
S2F-3S
As S2F-3 but with Julie/Jezebel equipment, redesignated S-2E in 1962, 252 built.
YS-2A
YS2F-1 redesignated in 1962.
S-2A
S2F-1 redesignated in 1962.
TS-2A
S2F-1T training version redesignated in 1962 and 207 conversion from S-2A.
US-2A
S-2A converted as light transports/target tugs, 51 conversions.
S-2B
S2F-1S redesignated in 1962.
US-2B
Utility and target tug conversions of S-2A and S-2B, Most S-2Bs were converted and 66 S-2As.
S-2C
S2F-2 redesignated in 1962.
RS-2C
S2F-2P photo-reconnaissance version redesignated in 1962.
US-2C
S2F-2U utility version redesignated in 1962.
S-2D
S2F-3 redesignated in 1962.
YAS-2D/AS-2D
Proposed self-contained night attack aircraft to be developed under Operation Shed Light; none produced.
ES-2D
Electronic trainer conversion of the S-2D.
US-2S
Utility conversion of the S-2D.
S-2E
S2F-3S redesignated in 1962.
S-2F
S2F-1S1 redesignated in 1962.
US-2F
Transport conversion of S-2F.
S-2G
S-2E conversions with updated electronics.
CS2F-1
Initial production run of anti-submarine warfare aircraft for Canada based on S2F-1. 42 built by De Havilland Canada.2
CS2F-2
Improved version of CS2F-1 with Litton Industries tactical navigation equipment. 57 built by De Havilland Canada.2
CS2F-3
New designation given to 43 CS2F-2 aircraft upgraded with additional electronics.
CP-121
New designation given to all CS2F-1, -2, and -3 aircraft following unification of Canadian military in 1968.
S-2T Turbo Tracker
Civil conversion
S-2AT
Civil firefighter conversion.
S-2ET
Civil conversion.
Marsh S-2F3AT Turbo Tracker
Turboprop conversion, powered by two Garrett TPE331 engines;3 22 operated by the CDF
Conair Firecat or Turbo Firecat
Civil conversion as a single-seat firefighting aircraft.
  • For the crew trainer/transport version based on the Tracker refer to C-1 Trader
  • For the Airborne Early Warning version based on the Trader refer to E-1 Tracer

Operators

Military Operators

Argentine Tracker operating from NAe São Paulo
View from an Australian Tracker on final approach to Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne
Canadian-made CS2F-2 Tracker
Dutch Grumman S-2 Tracker
Peruvian Navy S-2E Trackers
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force S2F-1 at Kanoya Air Base.
US Navy S-2 Tracker on the port catapult of USS Lexington awaiting of take-off, 22 January 1963
Australian Tracker 845 "in the chocks" prepares to launch from HMAS Melbourne, 1979
Tracker 848 about to take the wire aboard HMAS Melbourne, 1980
 Argentina
 Australia
During about twenty years of operation of the Tracker, the RAN lost only one S-2 during aircraft operations due to an accident at sea. However, in the mid 1970s a deliberately lit fire in a hangar at Nowra destroyed or badly damaged a large proportion of the RAN's complement of Trackers. These were subsequently replaced with ex-USN aircraft. The replacement aircraft were all S-2Gs, including the original aircraft modified by the USN to that status. This saw the introduction of AQA-7 acoustic gear into RAN service and all RAN operational Trackers were subsequently modified to this standard. The AQA-7 significantly enhanced the RAN's ASW capability.
 Brazil
 Canada
  • 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.5 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.26
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.
 Italy
 Japan
 South Korea
 Netherlands
 Peru
  • Peruvian Navy operated with S-2E and S-2G from 1975 until 1989, they were assigned to Naval Aviation Squadron N°12 (Escuadron Aeronaval N°12). A total of 12 S-2E were bought from the US Navy in 1975 and 4 S-2G in 1983.
 Republic of China (Taiwan)
  • Republic of China Navy currently operate 2 S-2T (upgrade from S-2E and S-2G, 22 S-2T have been retired with the remaining to be replaced by 12 P-3C Orions).
 Thailand
 Turkey
 United States
 Uruguay
 Venezuela

Civil Operators

French Sécurité Civile S-2FT Tracker used for fire-fighting duties

Many retired Trackers were sold to private owners for fire-fighting duties. Some were rebuilt and re-engined with turboprop engines.

 Canada
 France
 Netherlands
  • KLM - Royal Dutch Airlines operated S-2 Tracker (G-89/G-121/S2F) - ex-Dutch Navy Tracker was used by KLM to train their mechanics.
 United States

Specifications (S-2F)

Data from Canada Aviation Museum6

General characteristics

  • Crew: four (two pilots, two detection systems operators)
  • Length: 43 ft 6 in (13.26 m)
  • Wingspan: 72 ft 7 in (22.12 m)
  • Height: 17 ft 6 in (5.33 m)
  • Wing area: 485 ft² (45.06 m²)
  • Empty weight: 18,315 lb (8,310 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 23,435 lb (10,630 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 26,147 lb (11,860 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2× Wright R-1820-82WA radial engines, 1,525 hp (kW) each

Performance

Armament

  • 2× homing torpedoes (Mk. 41, Mk. 43, or Mk. 34), depth charges (Mk. 54), or mines in the bomb bay
  • 6× underwing hardpoints for torpedoes, depth charges, or rockets

See also

Related development

Comparable aircraft

References

Notes

  1. ^ O'Rourke, G.G., CAPT USN. "Of Hosenoses, Stoofs, and Lefthanded Spads". United States Naval Institute Proceedings, July 1968.
  2. ^ a b c Shearwater Aviation Museum (undated). "Grumman Tracker". Retrieved on 2008-03-27.
  3. ^ FAA registry entry showing manufacturer, model and engine type
  4. ^ Pictorial and historical data (Spanish)
  5. ^ McQuarrie, John, Canadian Wings, page 121. McGraw Hill Ryerson, 1990. ISBN 0-07-551010-3
  6. ^ a b Tate, Colonel D.H. (undated). "Grumman CS2F / CP-121 Tracker" (PDF). Canada Aviation Museum Aircraft. Retrieved on 2008-03-28.
  7. ^ P2VNeptune.org

Bibliography

  • Hotson, Fred W. The de Havilland Canada Story. Toronto: CANAV Books, 1983. ISBN 0-07-549483-3.
  • Winchester, Jim (ed.). "Grumman S-2E/F/G/UP Tracker." Modern Military Aircraft (Aviation Factfile). Rochester, Kent, UK: Grange Books plc, 2004. ISBN 1-84013-640-5.

External links

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