Grumman AF Guardian

Grumman AF Guardian
Paese	Usa
Ruolo	Aerei antisommergibile
Primo volo	19 dicembre 1945
Costruito	389

Le Grumman AF Guardiano è stato il primo aereo basato su portaerei anti-sottomarino (ASW) appositamente costruito ad entrare in servizio con la Marina degli Stati Uniti. Consisteva in due velivoli, uno per l'equipaggiamento di rilevamento, l'altro per le armi. Il Guardian rimase in servizio fino all'agosto 1955, quando fu sostituito dal bimotore Grumman S-2 Tracker. Il Guardian è stato il più grande aereo monomotore a pistoni mai visto il servizio.

fonte: Grumman AF Guardian su Wikipedia

AF Guardian Walk Around
Fotografo	Fotios Rouch
Localizzazione	Inconsapevole
Foto	35

AF Guardian 1

AF Guardian 3

AF Guardian 2

AF Guardian 5

AF Guardian 4

AF Guardian 6

AF Guardian 7

AF Guardian 8

AF Guardian 9

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General Characteristics and Role

The Grumman AF Guardian was the first purpose-built, carrier-based Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) system in the world. It was a large, single-engine aircraft that operated as a hunter-killer team consisting of two specialized variants flown in tandem: the AF-2W (Hunter), which carried the radar and detection gear to locate the submarine, and the AF-2S (Killer), which carried the ordnance to attack it. Developed for the US Navy in the late 1940s, it filled a critical gap in capability during the early Cold War era, where the threat of Soviet submarines was rapidly increasing. The Guardian was the last piston-engine aircraft designed for combat roles flown by the US Navy, preceding the shift to twin-engine jet and turboprop ASW aircraft.

Property	Typical Value (AF-2S / AF-2W)
Ruolo	Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Hunter-Killer
National Origin	Stati Uniti
Produttore	Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation
Service Entry	September 1950
Equipaggio	4 (AF-2S) / 3 (AF-2W)
Lunghezza	13.21 m (43 ft 4 in)
Apertura alare	18.49 m (60 ft 8 in)
Altezza	5.02 m (16 ft 5.5 in)
Empty Weight	6,776 kg (14,940 lb)
Max Takeoff Weight	10,433 kg (23,000 lb)

Powerplant and Performance

Engine: One Pratt & Whitney R-2800-48W Double Wasp 18-cylinder, air-cooled radial engine.
Power Output: 1,864 kW (2,500 hp).
Maximum Speed: 507 km/h (315 mph; 274 kn).
Cruise Speed: 238 km/h (148 mph; 129 kn).
Range: 2,415 km (1,500 mi; 1,300 nmi).
Endurance: Up to 5.5 hours, necessary for long anti-submarine patrols.

ASW Equipment and Variants

AF-2W (Hunter): Featured a large, distinctive radar dome (radome) under the fuselage containing the AN/APS-20 search radar, replacing the bomb bay. It lacked offensive armament.
AF-2S (Killer): Carried the ordnance. Its large bomb bay could accommodate:
- Torpedoes (e.g., Mk 13).
- Depth charges (conventional or nuclear).
- Rockets (underwing hardpoints).
It also utilized an AN/ASQ-1 magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) boom extending from the tail.
Operational Use: Guardians primarily flew from the smaller Escort Carriers (CVEs) or early versions of modern carriers and were gradually replaced by the twin-engine Grumman S-2 Tracker starting in the mid-1950s.