Military Patrol and Anti-Submarine Aircraft Scrapbook
Photos by Bob Finch, Scott Jankowski, Tim Adams, Shawn Byers, Scott Zeno and Ken Kula
Since World War I, patrol aircraft have performed reconnaissance flights to help guard countries’ coastlines and sovereign airspace and seas. Patrol aircraft also performed anti-surface and anti-submarine duties after spotting enemy ships and submarines. Here is a look at several types of aircraft used for these duties… this is not meant to be a definitive look at all military forces or types, but a general review of some types and the countries which operate(d) them.
Grumman TBM Avenger
Consolidated PB4Y
Consolidated PBY Catalina
World War II saw the use of long-ranged patrol aircraft such as the Consolidated PBY and PB4Y, as well as carrier-based Grumman TBM.
World War II – era aircraft:
Canadair RCAF CP-107 Argus
Lockheed U. S. Navy SP-2H Neptune
Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune at NAS Jacksonville repainted as LA-9 which went missing in action
NAS Brunswick Maine was home to P2V Neptunes that patrolled the Atlantic Ocean, this one is still a gate guard at the Brunswick Executive Airport
deHavilland-built CP-121 Tracker, a Grumman S-2 built under license
Later, in the 1950s, Grumman’s S-2 Tracker and the Canadian-built CP-121 Trackers were operated from carriers, and Lockheed P2V Neptune and Canadian CP-107 Argus aircraft operated from on-shore bases.
Breguet 1050 Alize
Lockheed P-3C Orion in one of 2012’s CONA commemorative color scheme
Turboprop powered aircraft came next, including the French Breguet Alize carrier -based aircraft, and the Lockheed P-3 Orion and Breguet Atlantic long-range patrollers, especially in the 1950s and -60s.
Cold War-era aircraft:
Lockheed P-3 Orion:
EADS HC-144A in commemorative colors
Lockheed HC-130J Super Hercules
During the 1970s, piston-powered aircraft were continually phased out for more turboprops, such as the ATR-42 and CN-235/HC-144 twins. Lockheed C-130s were modified for longer-ranged patrol missions, including search and rescue and weather recon.
Post Cold War aircraft:
CN-235:
Royal Air Force’s Nimrod MR.2
U.S. Coast Guard HU-25 Guardian
Lockheed S-3 Viking
Jet powered patrol and anti-submarine aircraft included the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod, based upon the Comet jetliner, and several French Dassault Falcon jets for shorter-ranged operations. The Lockheed S-3 Viking was operated from U. S. aircraft carriers for several decades.
1970s and later aircraft:
Falcon:
Today, newer aircraft, such as the Boeing P-8 Poseidon are replacing older turboprops and jets.
Current jets:
Boeing P-8 Poseidon:
