Length: 12"
Code: NC10193
The Lockheed P-2 Neptune (originally designated P2V until September 1962) was a Maritime patrol and ASW aircraft. It was developed for the United States Navy by Lockheed to replace the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon, and being replaced in turn with the Lockheed P-3 Orion. Designed as a land-based aircraft, the Neptune never made a carrier landing, although a small number of aircraft were converted for carrier use and successfully launched. The type was successful in export, seeing service with several armed forces.
Development began early in World War II, but in comparison to other aircraft in development at the time it was considered a low priority. So it was not until 1944 that the program went into full swing. A major factor in the design was ease of manufacture and maintenance, and this can be said to have been a major factor in the type's long life and worldwide success. The first aircraft flew in 1945. Production began in 1946, and the aircraft was accepted into service in 1947.
It was one of the first aircraft to be fitted in operational service with both piston and jet engines. The Convair B-36, several Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter, Fairchild C-123 Provider, and Avro Shackleton aircraft were also fitted with both.
Early Cold War
Prior to the introduction of the P-3 Orion in the mid 1960's the Neptune was the primary U. S. land-based anti-submarine patrol craft, intended to be operated as a the hunter of a '"Hunter-Killer" group, with Destroyers employed as killers. Several features aided this task:
* Various sonobouys could be launched from a fuselage station in the after portion of the fuselage and monitored by radio
* While some models were equipped with twin .50 caliber machine guns in the nose, most had with a forward observation bubble with an observer seat, and this feature may be seen in several of the images.
* A Magnetic Anomaly Detector was fitted in an extended tail, producing a paper chart. While unmarked charts were not classified, any with annotations were considered secret materials.
* A belly mounted surface search radar enabled detection of surfaced and snorkeling submarines at considerable distances.