Grumman S-2 Tracker

The Grumman S-2 Tracker (previously S2F) was the first purpose-built anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft combining both detection and weaponry in a single airframe to enter service with the US Navy.

Its predecessor, the AF-2 Guardian, used two aircraft for ASW, one with the detection gear, and the other with the weapons. This was very inefficient, and the Navy wanted a design that carried both. The replacement aircraft was to carry radar, a magnetic anomaly detector (MAD), ECM, acoustic equipment, and a searchlight, and be able to be armed with bombs, mines, torpedoes, and rockets.

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 rationalization of 1962. The S-2 carried the nickname "Stoof" (S-two-F) throughout its military career.

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.

Service

Argentine S-2T Turbo Tracker

The Tracker was eventually superseded for U.S. military use by the S-3 Viking — the last USN Tracker squadron was disestablished in 1976, but a number live on as firefighting aircraft.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 Veinticinco 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 NAeL 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 1450 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 1525 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 US-2B in 1962.

S2F-1S1

S2F-1S fitted with updated Julie/Jezebel equipment, redesignated S-2F in 1962.

S2F-2

As S2F-1 with asymetrical (port-side) extension of bomb bay, slightly enlarged tail surfaces, 77 built.

S2F-2P

Photo reconnaissance conversion of S2F-2, redesignated RS-2C in 1962.

S2F-2U

Utility conversion of S2F-2, redesignated US-2C in 1962.

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.

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. 60 built by De Havilland Canada.

CS2F-2

Improved version of CS2F-1 with Litton Industries tactical navigation equipment. 40 built by De Havilland Canada.

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-2 Turbo Tracker

Civil conversion

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

Αρχείο:S2TrackerSaoPaulo.jpg

Argentine Tracker operating from NAeL Sao 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

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Peruvian Navy S-2E Trackers

US Navy S-2 Tracker on the port catapult of USS Lexington (CVS-16) awaiting of take-off, 22 January 1963

 Αργεντινή

Argentine Navy antisubmarine naval squadron (Spanish: Escuadrilla Aeronaval Antisubmarina) operated S-2A and S-2E since the 1960s. They were embarked on the ARA 25 de Mayo aircraft carrier and used in the COD, Maritime Patrol and ASW roles. On August 26 1985, former president Raul Alfonsin landed on the aircraft carrier in one of these planes. In the 1990s, six remaining airframes where refurbished by Israel Aerospace Industries as S-2T Turbo Trackers and since 2001 they are annually deployed onboard Brazilian Navy NAeL Sao Paulo during joint exercises ARAEX and TEMPEREX.

Αυστραλία

Royal Australian Navy operated 2 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, CVS-21, as part of the 21st Carrier Air Group whenever that ship was deployed. VC-851 training squadron was based at NAS Nowra, HMAS Albatross.

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.

 Βραζιλία

Brazilian Air Force used Trackers on behalf of the navy until their retirement. They operated from the aircraft carrier NAeL Minas Gerais.

 Καναδάς

Royal Canadian Navy

In the early 1950s, the Canadian military needed a new anti-submarine patrol aircraft to replace its outmoded TBM Avengers. In 1954, de Havilland Canada entered into a contract to build Trackers under license. A total of 99 aircraft would be produced for Royal Canadian Navy service.

The first de Havilland CS2F Trackers began service in 1956. From 1957 onwards, these aircraft operated from the newly-deployed aircraft carrier HMCS Bonaventure (CVL-22) and various shore bases. In 1964, a pair of CS2F-1 aircraft were stripped of armament and ASW electronics, converted to transports, and subsequently used to fly personnel to and from aircraft carriers at sea. 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 armed forces in 1968.

After the Bonaventure was decommissioned in 1970, all remaining Canadian Trackers were transferred to shore bases. This limited their usefulness for ASW patrols, and in 1974, all but 20 were placed in storage. The remaining active-duty Trackers were transferred to fisheries protection and maritime patrol duties, where they would serve until 1990. A handful of Trackers were kept in flying condition until the late 1990s but were no longer used for active service.

A single U.S.-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 April 2006.

 Ταϊβάν

Republic of China Navy

Ιταλία

Italian Air Force

 Ιαπωνία

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

 Νότια Κορέα

Republic of Korea Navy

Ολλανδία

Royal Netherlands Navy received in 1960 17 CS2F-1 aircraft formerly used by the Royal Canadian Navy.

 Περού

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.

 Ταϊλάνδη

Air Division of the Royal Thai Navy

 Τουρκία

Air Force of the Turkish Navy

 ΗΠΑ

United States Navy operated their Trackers between 1954 and 1976. United States Marine Corps operated some Trackers too.

 Ουρουγουάη

Uruguayan Navy received the first three S-2A Trackers on 10 April 1965 to the Capitan Curbelo Navy Base. On 15 September 1982 one S-2G arrived. On 2 February 1983 another two S-2G arrived. By September 2004 the remaining Uruguayan Trackers were not in flight condition.

 Βενεζουέλα

Venezuelan Navy

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.

 Καναδάς

• Conair Group Inc.: TS-2A/Conair Firecat (G-89)
• Saskatchewan Environment: TS-2A/Conair Firecat (G-89)

Γαλλία

• Sécurité Civile: US-2A/Conair Turbo Firecat (G-89)

Ολλανδία

• KLM - Royal Dutch Airlines: S-2 Tracker (G-89/G-121/S2F) - ex-Dutch Navy Tracker was used by KLM to train their mechanics.

 ΗΠΑ

• California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection: S-2F3AT Turbo Tracker (G-121)
• Hemet Valley Flying Service: TS-2A(FF) Tracker (G-89)
• Marsh Aviation: S-2A(FF) Tracker (G-89)
• Sis-Q Flying Service: TS-2A Tracker (G-89/S2F-1T)

External links

• The S-2 Tracker Museum
• Another site with good detail
• S-2 Tracker at Patuxent River Naval Air Museum
• Memorias del Tiempo de Vuelo
• The Grumman Tracker, Trader, & Tracer
• CS2F Trackers at Shearwater Aviation Museum