Country of origin:

United States of America

Description:

Carrier-borne anti-submarine patrol aircraft

Power Plant:

Two 1,138 kw (1,525 hp) Wright R-1820-82 nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engines

Specifications:

Armament:

Two homing torpedoes; one Mk 101 depth bomb, or four 175 kg (385 lb) depth charges in bomb bay; six underwing racks for torpedoes; 12.7 cm (5 in) rockets, Zuni rockets, or 113 kg (250 lb) bombs; housing for sonobuoys and marine markers in rear of engine nacelles; fuselage dispenser for 60 underwater sounding charges for echo ranging

History:

On 4 December 1952 Grumman Aircraft flew the prototype of what was, for many years, one of the most important anti-submarine aircraft in the western inventory. Designed to incorporate the functions of a submarine hunter and killer, the basic Tracker design was used in three different roles: the Trader, a general-utility transport and trainer; the Tracer, airborne early warning and fighter direction aircraft; and the Tracker, anti-submarine patrol aircraft.

The first model produced was the TS-2A, of which 500 were built, examples being sold to a number of countries. The S-2A was a training variant, and the S-2B featured the Jezebel acoustic search equipment and Julie acoustic echo ranging systems. The S-2C was developed to carry larger anti-submarine weapons. Sixty were built and, to compensate for the increased weight from the larger weapons bay, the tail surface area was increased.

The S-2D had an increased span, improved operational equipment and armament. The prototype S-2D flew on 2 May 1959. The S-2E was similar to S-2D, but had more advanced ASW electronic equipment and provision for new types of armament, including nuclear depth charges, AS-12 air-to-surface missiles, and mini-guns.

Other variants included the TF-1 Trader, which did not have the anti-submarine equipment installed and was used as a supply aircraft for the carrier fleet of the United States Navy (USN); and the S2F-1 which for the first time had search and strike functions in the one aircraft. The WF-2 Tracer had a crew of four and had a large saucer-like radome above the fuselage housing an APS-82 air-search radar and twin fins and rudders, and a revision of the wing folding mechanism.

Subsequently the Model S-2G appeared. This was an updated S-2E with new anti-submarine sonic systems which gave a vastly improved capability as compared to previous models. Some 60 US Navy S-2Es were converted to S-2G standard.

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) had a number of S-2E and S-2G Trackers in service over the years comprising 14 Model S-2Es and 16 Model S-2Gs, which were attached to VC816, the Tracker squadron based on board ‘HMAS Melbourne’, and VC851, the Tracker training squadron at ‘HMAS Albatross’ at Nowra, the onshore station. In addition to training work at Nowra, and normal anti-submarine patrols from ‘HMAS Melbourne’, the Trackers were successfully used for other work, including detecting ‘boat people’ refugee boats, the occasional smuggler whilst based in northern and western parts of Australia, search-and-rescue, and other duties.

Over the years 32 Trackers have come on charge of the RAN. These have included N12-133160, an S-2A used as an instructional airframe. This aircraft was an historic airframe obtained in 1966 to provide training for ground-crews and on arrival in Sydney, NSW was accidentally dropped into Sydney Harbour by the lifting crane. It was repaired by Hawker de Havilland at Bankstown, NSW and then stored beside the Parramatta River at Gladesville, NSW until taken to Nowra. It was eventually obtained by the Queensland Air Museum at Caloundra and work has continued to rebuild the aircraft for static display.

Fifteen S-2E aircraft were taken on charge being serials N12-151646, and N12-153595 to N12-153608 inclusive. The latter S-2E was lost on 10 February 1975 when it was catapulted off ‘HMAS Melbourne’ near Jervis Bay, NSW and crashed into the sea. Nine of the other S-2E aircraft were destroyed in a catastrophic hangar fire at Nowra on 4 December 1975.  Only four survived, these being: N12-151646, later used as an instructional airframe; and N12-153597, N12-153598 and N12-153604.

In 1968 No 851 Squadron was re-formed to provide conversion training for Tracker crews, later becoming VC851. In 1976 six additional Trackers were ordered as a result of a fire at ‘HMAS Albatross’ at Nowra, this order being increased later to ten S-2Gs. Sixteen S-2G aircraft  (serials in the range N12-152334, N12-152800 to N12-152816, and N12-153566 to N12-153582) were eventually obtained second-hand from American service stores located at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, the United States military storage centre. They were refurbished and flown to San Diego, California where they were loaded on board ‘HMAS Melbourne’ in March 1977 and were off-loaded in Sydney on 5 April 1977.

When ‘HMAS Melbourne’ was de-commissioned in June 1982 VC816, its Tracker squadron was disbanded and its aircraft were delivered to VC851. The Tracker continued in service on patrols along the east coast and around the Bass Strait oil platforms until 30 June 1984 when they were withdrawn. This occasion was marked by a formation of seven aircraft from VC851 flying over Sydney and Canberra, ACT. The type had flown 67,000 hours in service. At the time the Chief of the Naval Staff stated the Tracker “had made a remarkable contribution to the nation during its 16 years in service”, adding “It is a tribute to the aircrews and maintainers that in all that time only one aircraft has been lost in a flying accident…there has not been a single fatality”.

Following the Australian Government’s decision in 1983 to withdraw all fixed-wing aircraft from RAN service from 30 June 1984, the Trackers were withdrawn from service and stored. In 1984 the S-2G Trackers were offered for sale by the Australian Department of Administrative Services and in November that year it was announced Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing Chinook helicopters would airlift them from Nowra to a container ship that was sailing from Melbourne to the United States of America. At the time the name of the new owner was not disclosed but reports stated the aircraft would be fitted with turbines and sold to an Asian military force. In the event the aircraft were not exported and remained stored at Nowra.

In late 1985 an announcement was made the Trackers had been sold to a French operator but this deal also fell through. In 1991 it was announced there would be a new life for 18 survivors after they were bought by Hookway Aviation. Two were flown to Sale, VIC where work commenced on their refurbishment, a further two to be flown to Sale, and the remainder to be conveyed by road. By 2005 none of the aircraft had been returned to airworthiness. In 2006, following the death of the owner, it was expected some of these would be obtained for museums.

Also in 1985 the CSIRO announced the ex-RAN Trackers could be converted to the firebombing role and given to Indonesia for the search role, the conversion to be carried out by Hawker de Havilland. In Federal Parliament it was suggested the Trackers could be converted to firebombers in Australia and remain in Australia for that role. Overseas a number of S-2F and CS-2F Trackers were converted to the firebombing role, also being converted to turbine power with the installation of Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67AF engines. In addition, Brazil, Taiwan and Argentina converted Trackers to turbine power, this involving the installation of the Garrett TPE-331 turboprop of 1,227 kw (1,645 hp).

For many years one Tracker (N12-152812) was used by the Qantas Sydney Apprentice School but in late 2006 it was no longer required and was transferred to the Historic Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) Museum at Albion Park, NSW where it has been refurbished. It was to be eventually restored to airworthiness but HARS later obtained two more Trackers, one airworthy, so it has been restored to static display only.

One Tracker (N12-152333 – VH-NVX) was operated by the RAN Historic Flight in airworthy condition for many years and was regularly seen at air displays around the country but eventually the RAN Historic Flight was disbanded and the aircraft were placed in storage. Four others were held by the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Nowra.

In 2019 it was announced VH-NVX would be flown to the HARS Museum at Albion Park and continue to be kept airworthy; the others to be used for static display or for spares. Tracker VH-NVX was flown to Albion Park late in 2019.  A second Tracker was transferred to Albion Park by road, giving HARS a fleet of three Trackers, one airworthy.  A further Tracker which had been in storage at Nowra was transfered to the HARS collection in early 2023.

Eleven aircraft owned by Hookway Aviation were stored for some years at West Sale, VIC but were eventually broken up for parts and shipped to the United States.