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| The Tracker is a twin 1,136.4kW Wright R-1820-82WA-powered carrier-based antisubmarine search and attack aircraft, produced originally for the US Navy but currently also in service with the air forces and navies of several countries.
The prototype flew for the first time on 4 December 1952 and more than 1,000 S-2s were delivered by Grumman. The initial production version was designated S-2A (CP-121, formerly CS2F-1 for the Canadian version). Next came the S-2B with new anti-submarine detection equipment; the TS-2B trainer; S-2G with enlarged bomb bays to house two homing torpedoes (most converted to US-2C or RS-2C); S-2D with improved anti-submarine equipment, wider cockpit and longer range; S-2E with improved anti-submarine equipment; S-2F with uprated submarine detection equipment; S-2G, early version uprated with a Martin Marietta kit; US-2A/C, S-2A/C converted for target towing; US-2B utility/transport conversion of the S-2B; RS-2C, S-2C converted for photo-reconnaissance/ survey work; AS-2D, S-2D modified for night attack; and E-1B Tracer, AEW version with a radome on its back.
| MODEL | S-2E |
| CREW | 4 |
| ENGINE | 2 x Wright R-1820-82WA Cyclone, 1137kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 13222 kg | 29150 lb |
| Empty weight | 8505 kg | 18750 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 22.12 m | 73 ft 7 in |
| Length | 13.26 m | 44 ft 6 in |
| Height | 5.05 m | 17 ft 7 in |
| Wing area | 46.08 m2 | 496.00 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 426 km/h | 265 mph |
| Cruise speed | 241 km/h | 150 mph |
| Range w/max.fuel | 2092 km | 1300 miles |
| ARMAMENT | one nuclear dive bomb, sonobouy launchers, bombs, missiles, torpedos |
| Doug Campbell, e-mail, 18.07.2014 20:02 I was air crew AX-2, #3&4 with VS-27. In service from 2 /63 to 2 /67. Many fond memories. It seems vs-27 is being lost in history! No mention of our two week 24 /7 engagement of multiple soviet submarines in the Med during a Med deployment. reply | | gary lee, e-mail, 22.06.2014 02:23 plane capt on s2 and s2e 63 to 65 reply | | Lawrence E. Budreau, e-mail, 14.06.2014 02:29 i worked on the s2f at boca chica from 62 to 65.if any body was there, let me know. reply | | Riley Beebe, e-mail, 04.06.2014 22:58 I was able to qualify as an S-2 radar operator in VS776 at NAS Los Alamedos (reserve squadron) in 1959. I believe that it was about that time that one of VS 776's Stoofs smacked into San Clemente Island. I went active duty did A school and was assigned to VS-21 which got split into VS-23 and VS-25. I was an AT3 and made aircrew in VS-25. My pilot was Lt-jg Huton, Copilot was Lt-jg J.J. Shultz and the Radar operator was TL Manning. Went to WESTPac in 61 /62 on the USS Yorktown (CVS-10). Launched and trapped in every conceivable kind of weather. I have a photo of the flight deck covered with snow. We launched with both pilots and me as the radar operator to look for a freighter up in the north pacific. Found him and flew back, trapped on deck with only the cables clear. My last deployment on the Yorktown was to go down to the Johnson Island to watch the Navy blow up some very big bombs. I qualified for my AC gold wings made E-5 before stopped counting launches at 100. reply | |
| | Terry Brown, e-mail, 24.03.2014 18:09 John, you and I were shipmates on the 67-68 WestPac cruise in VS-21. I was an ATN3(AC) and flew in the back of the S2. We flew surveillance flights along the North Vietnam coast. I took about 88 Cat shots and about the same number of arrested landings about the "Mighty Kay" USS Kearsarge CVS-33.
We lost my original co-pilot, Dan Sullivan, when an S2 he was test flying, after repair, went down in the mountains of the Philippines during that cruise. My pilot, John Ouderkirk, passed away in 2012, I'm told.
I'd give just about about anything for one more Cat Shot in an S2 off a carrier. WHAT A KICK!! And you guys thought there was nothing better than sex!!! ;-) Those were definitely the days. Love seeing the California CDF guys flying over in summer even if they put the wrong engines in their S2s. - Best to all reply |
| Mac, e-mail, 22.03.2014 09:40 I remember these heading out to sea in the late 1960's from NAS Lakehurst, NJ. Nothing like the sound of those big Wright Cyclone radials. reply | | John S. Shackelford, e-mail, 26.02.2014 20:28 Served VS-21 as an AZ3. Years of service 1967 t0 1970 at North Island Naval Air Station in Coronado CA. Two WESTPAC's. Took care of aircraft maintenance logbooks and coordinated the aircraft maintenance program. San Diego was nice....great weather. Hong Kong liberty. reply | | Wendell D Seal, e-mail, 17.01.2014 05:57 I was an AT and worked on and flew as an air crewman on the S2F1 /2 and S2F-3's. I was in VS-37 from mid 1959 until late 1961. We were land based at either Los Alimitos and NAS North Island, CA. We also went on a West Pac tour on the USS Hornet. reply | | Dean Marchione, e-mail, 22.12.2013 06:12 Did my training tour for a VS squadron in the RAG squadron VS-41 at NAS North Island, then reported to VS-38 as a engine mechanic on the S2F-E Tracker aircraft. Flew many missions as a third seat man flying from the decks of the U.S.S.BENNINGTON CVS-20. Made one WEST-PAC cruise aboard CVS20, then got orders to FLIGHT ENGINEER school and returned to the AEW community with AEWBARRO-PAC, then on to VW-1 TYPHOON TRACKERS on Guam. Was only in the VS community for two years, but loved the work and the flight time in a Grumman S2F. I was /am "CAR CRAZY" and love classics and cab over engine COE trucks. I always liked the looks of the fuselage on the S2F because I thought it looked like a 1940 FORD COE. reply | | Mike Dew, e-mail, 26.11.2013 17:42 Assigned to VS-37 from 1975 - 1978. Made one cruise with S2 before the transistion to S-3s. Worked I-Level on the USM-403 HATS System. reply | | Lee VB, e-mail, 21.11.2013 06:56 VS-24, 1974-76, last S-2G deployment on board Saratoga. Started in Line Shack and ended up flight crew. Good times. reply | | James A. Blake, e-mail, 23.10.2013 07:38 I'm writing this in 2013 so my memory is not so precise now. I was aboard the Intrepid; 1965. Was trained in air anti sub warfare in Norfolk and Key West. Flew and worked on the Grumman S2 Tracker. The day after I was separated I reported for work at Grumman Aerospace. Then on to Cape Kennedy for the Apollo space program. What a trip!!! reply | | Donald Emrick, e-mail, 15.04.2013 04:21 Was an ADR in VT-28 NAS Corpus Christi Tx From feb. 67 to july 69. Flew many X country flights. Loved working on those 1820 engines. those were some of the most memorable years. Really enjoyed it. reply | | Michael W. Wewers, e-mail, 10.02.2013 21:42 I fail to ever see the fact that 4 S2-D's were also employed by (Legacy) US Customs Air Support Branches in the mid to late 1970's for A /C Interdiction purposes. They had their APS 88 radars modified along with R&D for the original FLIRs ultimately to utilized by later generation Navy Fighters etc. Unfortunately I only have a couple of old photographs, but you would be welcome to have copies. At the time I was the Chief of the Air Support Branch at Homestead AFB, Fl. Too bad this great old birds do not get some glory for their participation in the "Was on Drugs". Good stories also available. Thanks you. reply | |
| | Gayheart, e-mail, 03.02.2013 04:15 This is a E-Mail correction posted on 01.02.2013 reply | | Garry Iversen, e-mail, 02.02.2013 21:23 I served in the Navy from Jan.64 to Dec.67 and was in VS-37 out of North Island NAS. We deployed onboard the USS Hornet. I have about 850 hours in the back seat of the S2D /E model as a radar and MAD equipment operator. My last carrier landing was my 100th addrested landing. I was an enlisted man but the pilots would let we sneak up front and fly the plane for short periods of time. They didn't tell me about the trim controls and I remember it felt like I was flying a truck. I later got my private /comm Inst. tickets and retired in 2007 as an air traffic controller at Los Angeles Center and High Desert Approach Control at Edwards Air Force Base. S2's are still being used locally as fire fighters. Great airplane. reply |
| Gayheart, e-mail, 01.02.2013 03:52 Was in VT31 at NAS Corpus from 67to70 rate was ADR love the sound of the engines Had a lot of fun working on the S2
made A lot of friends. reply | | LCDR Gordon A Bonnel USN(ret), e-mail, 28.11.2012 20:55 If you are interested in the S-2 check out the RAFS website and drop me an email reply | | Frenchy Dampier, e-mail, 05.11.2012 21:25 I flew off both the Bennington and the Ticonderoga in 1968 &1970 with VS38 My crew was the only crew to never fail to fly in 1970. reply | | Dave McLean, e-mail, 16.08.2012 04:40 As an Ensign and nugget naval aviator, I flew the US-2B with VC-2 Det Jax '74-'75. Called ourselves "skeet for the fleet" our primary mission being towing targets for ships to practice gunnery. Thankfully, the Det was decommissioned and I headed for VP-24 and P-3C's. reply |
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Garry Iversen
Not sure I remember you but I also was aircrew and flew the same years.
I was in VS-21 an AW-3. You are right what a kick those hydraulic Cat shots were.
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