History has dearly demonstrated the necessity for protecting U.S. sea lanes and coasts from the threat of enemy submarines. Today, as part of the over-all ASW forces, patrol aircraft of the Navy’s air arm not only maintain surveillance of surface and undersea activities off our coasts, but operate around the clock on day-by-day missions across the most distant reaches of the world’s oceans. The two major aircraft of the Navy’s land-based patrol squadrons are the venerable SP-2 Neptune, above, and its ultimate successor, the P-3A Orion, above right. Manned by about 55 officers and 270 enlisted men each, the SP-2 and P-3A squadrons are highly mobile and largely self-supporting, as is their quarry, the submarine.
The Lockheed-built SP-2 Neptune is currently the mainstay of land-based patrol forces, with H squadrons flying with the Fleet. The Neptune, which has had an honorable history of some 20 years, is powered by two reciprocating engines and two J-34 jet engines in wing pods. The jets are employed for take-offs and landings, for emergency operations, and to provide additional speed when required. The aircraft has a take-off weight of up to 80,000 pounds, and has a cruising speed of about 165 knots. Normal patrol missions are approximately ten hours in duration. The Neptune’s 8,000-pound-capacity bomb bay can accommodate antisubmarine homing torpedoes, mines, or depth charges.
An SP-2 crew is normally composed of an eleven-man team. Four members are officers, including the patrol plane commander, the co-pilot, the navigator, and the tactical co-ordinator, who supervises the sensor operators and keeps track of the over-all ASW problem. The seven remaining positions are filled by experienced enlisted men, and include the plane captain, the second mechanic, three sensor operators, the radio operator, and an ordnanceman. The sensor operators and ordnanceman usually also serve as lookouts.
Over its life span, seven major versions of the Neptune have been produced, in keeping pace with the continuing progress in ASW technology. As improved radar, magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) gear, and various sonic detection devices have been developed, they have been incorporated into the aircraft, as have developments to extend its endurance and carrying capacity, such as the addition of jet engines. The Neptune’s list of ASW stores has also grown in potency, and includes nuclear antisubmarine weapons. Although current electronic equipment requirements have finally outgrown the Neptune’s available space and load carrying capacity, the SP-2 remains an effective member of the Navy’s patrol aircraft team.
By 1958, a new aircraft was needed that could accommodate the electronic developments becoming available to the ASW forces; the answer was the P-3A Orion. This splendid aircraft, introduced into the Fleet in August 1962, is a strengthened and modified version of the commercial Lockheed Electra. Powered by four turboprop engines, the P-3A has a top speed of over 400 knots, but can “loiter” for long periods at speeds of under 200 knots, permitting high speed transit to submarine datum areas, with long on-station time. It has been designed for maximum crew comfort and endurance, to meet the demands of missions that may extend to 12 hours and more in duration. Each of the 12 P-3A squadrons now in the Fleet normally operates nine aircraft.
The Orion, pressurized and air conditioned, has over twice the interior space of the Neptune and contains reserve capacity for future ASW systems. An ample tactical deck, above, provides stations for the tactical co-ordinator, navigator, and sensor operators. Most electronic equipment is accessible for in-flight maintenance. The radio operator's station, at left, is one of four positions provided with hemispheric bubble windows for visual search purposes. Crew facilities (not found in the Neptune) include bunks, a head, and a well equipped galley with oven and refrigerator. Two engine operation, often employed to increase efficiency and extend mission endurance, still permits the aircraft to climb while carrying a combat load.
Submarine detection and tracking systems in the Orion include radar, electronic countermeasures (ECM) equipment, MAD gear and submarine trail detectors, and active and passive sonobuoy monitoring devices. Geographic reference is provided through TACAN, LORAN, doppler, and inertial navigation systems. The tactical co-ordinator’s station, seen at left during a practice attack on a friendly submarine, provides a comprehensive display of tactical data. The aircraft contains an unpressurized bomb bay with a 7,000-pound ASW stores capacity, and a sonobuoy launching station, above. A second generation Orion, known as the Deltic P-3, is now operational, and utilizes significantly improved detection and localization equipment. The third generation aircraft, already well along on the drawing boards, will integrate ASW information through use of an airborne computer system.
Despite the sophistication of present-day detection and tracking systems, the men that fly the aircraft and operate the systems are still the key to success in AWS operations. In addition to the necessary technological and flying skill, patience, endurance, and versatility are required on long duration, low altitude all weather patrol plane missions, and the successful tracking and destruction of an elusive quarry demands the highest quality of teamwork. Above, the USS Cobbler (SS-344) surfaces at the conclusion of an exercise, in acknowledgement of a “kill” by a salvo of P-3A practice depth charges.