P-2F Neptune

The Lockheed P‑2F Neptune was the maritime patrol and anti‑submarine variant of the P‑2 series, entering service with the United States Navy in the early 1950s. Developed from the World War II era Lockheed Ventura, the aircraft featured a longer wing, enlarged fuel tanks and a robust airframe designed for long‑range ocean patrols. Powered by two Wright R‑1820‑94 radial engines delivering 1,350 hp each, the P‑2F could cruise at 280 knots and stay aloft for more than 12 hours, giving it the endurance needed to patrol the vast Atlantic and Pacific theaters during the Cold War. Its sensor suite included the APS‑15 radar, magnetic anomaly detector, and sonobuoy dispensers, while its bomb bay accommodated depth charges, torpedoes and later nuclear depth bombs. The Navy procured 504 P‑2Fs, and the type also served with several allied air forces, notably Japan, South Korea and Australia. The Neptune set a benchmark for maritime patrol design, influencing later platforms such as the P‑3 Orion. Its combination of range, payload flexibility and reliable twin‑engine performance cemented its reputation as a workhorse of anti‑submarine warfare and contributed significantly to NATO’s under‑sea surveillance network.

Lockheed Corporation

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