)
The last Tracker was retired on March 10th, 1979, but a small number of these
aircrafts was stil used for transport and COD services. They were replaced
by the Grumman C-2A Greyhound.
The prototype of the Tracker flew for the first time on July 3rd, 1963. It was
the first aircraft designed specifcally for the anti som warfare, and the first
to combine search and hunter/killer capabilities;1186 of these aircrafts have
been produced since them entered service with the US Navy, in 4 variants, plus
87 C-1 Trader transport, 88 E-1 Tracer for AEW purposes and 100 CS2-F built
in Canada.
Many Trackers have been exported and used by many nations, for maritime
patrol purposes, generally from land-based airports. Some 140 of these aircrafts
are still on duty, with air forces or navies of Argentina, Brasil, South Korea,
Peru, Taiwan, Thailandia, Turkey and Uruguay. To keep the operative effectiveness,
some nations are carrying on update programs of engines and avionics: Argentina
has received in 1993 the first of 6 E-2E updated from Israelian IAI with Garrett
TPE331-15AW turboprops, new propellers and avionics.
The Brasilian Air Force, that designed these aircrafts P-16E, provides the installation
on 12 S-2E with kits from the Canadian IMP, comprising Pratt & Whitney Canada
PT6A-67CF turboprops with a power of 1239 kW (1683 CV) on axis, Hartzell propellers and modifications
to fuel, hydraulic and pneumatic circuits. Also Taiwan has planned to buy in
Canada or in the USA update kits for its Trackers.
)
Born as antisom embarked aircraft, the Grumman S-2 tracker had large use also form land bases, operating from variouns nations worldwide. Also Japan has been a user of the Trackers.
Specifications
Type: Twin engine antisom and patrol aircraft
Arms:Inner bays for torpedoes, depth bombs, or similar loads, six sub wing attacks for torpedoes (transport only),
bombs or missiles, max load 1800 kgs.
Engines: 2 9-cylinders Wright R-1820-82WA - power: 1175 kW (1596 CV)
Performances: max speed 426 kms/hr - cruise speed 241 kms/hr - ceiling 6400m
Range: 2095Kms
Weights: empty 8505 kg; max at take-off 13220 kg
Dimensions: wing span 22.13 m; total length 13.26 m; wing surface 46.08 mq
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