GRUMMAN S-2D TRACKER

Specifications for the GRUMMAN S-2D TRACKER

The S-2 Tracker is a carrier-based antisubmarine search and  attack aircraft It was one of the first aircraft designed to combine the detection equipment and armament to hunt and destroy submarines while operating from aircraft carriers. The first flight of the prototype S-2 was 4 December 1952, and production deliveries started in 1953. A total of 1,342 aircraft were eventually built in 16 configurations. The major configurations included the S-2 Tracker, the C-1 Trader, and the E-1B Tracer. Testing of the various versions and configurations of the aircraft continued here at Patuxent River from the early 1950's through the early 1970's. The last US Navy Fleet operational squadron (VS-37) flying Trackers was disestablished on 28 August 1976.

Our display aircraft, S-2D BuNo 149240, was delivered to the Navy on 20 March 1962. After serving in various assignments, it joined the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aircraft stable in December 1969, where it was involved in meteorological and oceanographic research missions, including thunderstorm research. It was also utilized in tactical flights involving chaff and sonobuoys. It was flown by NRL until its final flight here at Patuxent River in February 1981. It joined our Patuxent River Naval Air Museum stable in 1982.