Lockheed P-2 Neptune

Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Country	USA
Role	Maritime Patrol and Anti-Submarine Warfare
First flight	17 May 1945
Retired	1984 From military use

The Lockheed P-2 Neptune (designated P2V by the United States Navy prior to September 1962) was a Maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. It was developed for the US Navy by Lockheed to replace the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon, and was replaced in turn by 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 and deployed as carrier-launched, stop-gap nuclear bombers which would have to ditch or recover at land bases. The type was successful in export and saw service with several armed forces.

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Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune
Photographer	Vladimir Yakubov
Localisation	Quonset Air Museum
Photos	170

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Lockheed P2V-5F Neptune 9

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Lockheed Neptune Walk Around
Photographer	Unknow
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	68

General Characteristics and Role

The Lockheed P2V Neptune was a cornerstone of Cold War maritime security, serving as the primary land-based anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and maritime patrol aircraft for the U.S. Navy before the arrival of the P-3 Orion. The P2V-5F variant represents a critical evolutionary step in the series, featuring a mixed-powerplant configuration to handle the increasing weight of advanced electronics and weapon systems. Designed for grueling, long-endurance missions, the Neptune was often referred to as the hunter in hunter-killer naval groups. Its ability to loiter for hours over vast oceans while monitoring for submerged threats made it an indispensable tool for global maritime reconnaissance.

Property	Typical Value (P2V-5F Neptune)
Type	Maritime Patrol / Anti-Submarine Warfare
National Origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed Aircraft Corporation
Entered Service	1950 (P2V-5), 1953 (5F Modification)
Crew	7 to 9 (including pilots, navigators, and sensor operators)
Length	27.8 m (91 ft 2 in)
Wingspan	31.7 m (104 ft 0 in)
Max Takeoff Weight	Approx. 36,240 kg (79,895 lb)

Powerplant and Mixed-Propulsion Performance

Primary Engines: 2 x Wright R-3350-32W Duplex-Cyclone 18-cylinder radial piston engines, providing 3,250 hp to 3,700 hp each.
Auxiliary Engines: 2 x Westinghouse J34-WE-34 turbojet engines mounted in underwing pods, providing 3,250 lbf (14.5 kN) thrust each.
Fuel Synergy: To simplify logistics, the jet engines were modified to burn the same 115/145 Avgas as the piston engines, eliminating the need for a separate jet fuel system.
Maximum Speed: Approx. 584 km/h (363 mph) with jets engaged.
Search Endurance: Over 10 hours at economical cruise speeds using only the piston engines.
Sensor Suite: Equipped with the AN/APS-20 surface-search radar in a belly radome and an AN/ASQ-8 Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) in the distinctive stinger tail extension.
Armament: Internal bomb bay for up to 8,000 lb of torpedoes, depth charges, or mines, plus underwing racks for 5-inch HVAR rockets.

Service History and Legacy

Global Reach: Beyond the U.S. Navy, the P2V-5 was exported to numerous allies including Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Japan (where it was later license-built by Kawasaki).
The Truculent Turtle: Early in the Neptune’s life, a modified P2V-1 set a world record by flying non-stop from Australia to Ohio—a distance of 11,235 miles—without refueling.
Vietnam Combat: During the Vietnam War, Neptunes were utilized as gunships (AP-2E) and sensor-deployment platforms (OP-2E) for monitoring the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Cold War Sentinel: P2V crews were often the first to intercept and photograph Soviet warships and submarines during the height of the Cold War.
Civilian Firefighter: After retirement from military service, many Neptunes were converted into highly effective air tankers for aerial firefighting, serving for decades dropping fire retardant across North America.