Lockheed P-2 Neptune

The Lockheed P-2 Neptune was a twin-engine maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft built by Lockheed Corporation for the United States Navy after World War II. First flown in 1945 and entering service in 1947, the Neptune replaced the aging PBY Catalina and quickly became the Navy’s primary long-range patrol platform throughout the Cold War. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engines, the aircraft featured a high-wing design, a spacious fuselage with a fully pressurised cabin, and a range of up to 4,800 nautical miles, allowing it to patrol vast ocean areas without refuelling. Its sophisticated sensor suite included radar, magnetic anomaly detectors, sonobuoys and the ability to carry depth charges, torpedoes, and later, nuclear weapons. Variants such as the P-2H and P-2V added larger fuel tanks, enhanced navigation equipment, and jet‑assisted take‑off capability. The Neptune’s reliability, long endurance and versatile payload made it a cornerstone of anti-submarine warfare, contributing to the detection of Soviet submarines and the protection of carrier battle groups. Retired in the 1970s, the P-2 left a legacy that influenced the design of subsequent patrol aircraft such as the P‑3 Orion.

Lockheed Corporation

Lockheed P-2 Neptune

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