Lockheed P-2 Neptune – Foto e Video

Il Lockheed P-2 Neptune (designato P2V dalla Marina degli Stati Uniti prima del settembre 1962) era un aereo da pattugliamento marittimo e guerra antisommergibile (ASW). Fu sviluppato per la Marina degli Stati Uniti dalla Lockheed per sostituire il Lockheed PV-1 Ventura e il PV-2 Harpoon, e fu sostituito a sua volta dal Lockheed P-3 Orion. Progettato come un aereo terrestre, il Nettuno non fece mai atterrare una portaerei, anche se un piccolo numero di aerei furono convertiti e dispiegati come bombardieri nucleari a sfioro lanciati da portaerei che avrebbero dovuto abbandonare o riprendersi alle basi terrestri. Il tipo ebbe successo nell'esportazione e vide il servizio con diverse forze armate.

fonte: Lockheed P-2 Nettuno su Wikipedia

The Lockheed P-2 Neptune was a versatile and long-lived aircraft that served in various roles and countries for over four decades. It was designed by Lockheed as a land-based maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft for the US Navy, replacing the older PV-1 Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon models. The P-2 Neptune first flew in 1945 and entered service in 1947, with a total of 1,177 units built until 1956. The P-2 Neptune had a distinctive feature of having both piston and jet engines, which gave it extra power and speed when needed.
The P-2 Neptune was used in several conflicts, such as the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Beagle conflict and the Falklands War, performing reconnaissance, surveillance, bombing, gunship and electronic warfare missions. The P-2 Neptune was also exported to several allies of the US, such as Japan, Australia, Canada, France, Netherlands and Argentina. The P-2 Neptune was eventually replaced by the more advanced Lockheed P-3 Orion in the 1960s and 1970s, but some of them remained in service until the 1980s or even later as firebombers or research aircraft.