Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon

The Lockheed PV‑2 Harpoon was a twin‑engine, medium‑range patrol bomber developed by Lockheed Corporation in the early 1940s as an evolution of the earlier Ventura. First flown in 1943, the aircraft entered service with the United States Navy in 1944, where it performed anti‑submarine warfare, maritime patrol, and convoy‑escort duties throughout the final year of World War II and into the early Cold War period. The PV‑2 featured a reinforced wing structure and increased fuel capacity, giving it a greater range—up to 2,600 miles—than its predecessor. It carried an armament of up to eight .50‑caliber machine guns, a forward‑firing bomb rack for up to 2,000 pounds of bombs or depth charges, and could be equipped with radar and magnetic anomaly detection gear for submarine hunting. The aircraft’s all‑metal construction, twin Pratt & Whitney R‑2800 engines, and robust landing gear made it reliable on carrier decks and remote airfields. Though produced in relatively modest numbers—about 1,600 units—the PV‑2 demonstrated the versatility of a land‑based bomber adapted for maritime roles and contributed to the transition from piston‑powered patrol aircraft to post‑war jet‑age designs. Its service highlighted Lockheed’s ability to rapidly modify existing platforms to meet evolving military needs.

Lockheed Corporation

Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification