The neptune got its start as early as 1944, where two xp2v1 prototypes are delivered with 15 production p2v1 models. However, for many years their predecessors never knew that there were any landbased patrol planes other than p2vp2 neptunes. The lockheed p2 neptune originally designated p2v until september 1962 was a maritime patrol and asw aircraft. First flown 1945last naval reserve retired 1978 the lockheed p2v neptune had one of the longest production runs in us history with a total of 1181 built. The lockheed p2v neptune is unique in that it is the only american naval land based patrol plane ever designed expressly for this purpose. I especially liked chapter, because i was a vp1,sp2h crewman during this era. The p2v 7s were collected from lockheed s burbank plant by crews from no. The lockheed p2 neptune designated p2v by the united states navy prior to september 1962 was a maritime patrol and antisubmarine warfare asw aircraft. Among the many derivatives of the lockheed p2v 5 was an obscure series called the p2v 5fe, otherwise known as the ep2e from september 1962. For a superb book by stewart wilson about the lockheed p2v neptune in australian service see. The lockheed ep2e p2v5fe neptune rick morgan books. The lockheed p2vp 2 neptune is a twinengined longrange maritime patrol and antisubmarine aircraft produced by the usamerican manufacturer lockheed corporation. Work on the design began at lockheeds vega subsidiary in september 1941, with john b. P2v5f neptune vp8 in flight c1958 the lockheed p2 neptune originally designated p2v until september 1962 was a maritime patrol and asw aircraft.
Lockheed p2v neptune antisubmarine warfare maritime patrol. It was developed for the united states navy by lockheed to replace the lockheed pv1 ventura and pv2 harpoon, and being replaced in turn with the lockheed p3 orion. The lockheed p2 neptune designated p2v by the us navy prior to september 1962 was a maritime patrol and asw aircraft. Beginning with the p2v5f model, the neptune became one of the first operational aircraft fitted with both. Between 1952 and 1954 83 p2v6 long nose neptunes built. Histories and photographs of lockheed p2v neptunes of vp1.
There were more than seven notably different configurations of the neptune but one of the most popular besides the 7 was the 5. This is the second of of the two lockheed neptune p2v 7s operated by hars. This model had a top dash speed of 364mph making it the fastest. The p2v neptune redesignated p2 under the unified 1962 system was a maritime patrol and antisubmarine aircraft first flown in 1945. The lockheed p2v neptune is largely a forgotten aircraft, since it arrived too late for world war ii and was eventually overshadowed by its. The lockheed p2v p2 neptune was a very successful postwar maritime patrol bomber that was developed during the second world war, but didnt enter service until after the war was over. Designed as a landbased aircraft, the neptune never made a carrier landing, but a small. Initial models featured an impressive armament of cannons and heavy caliber machine guns of which 6 x 20mm cannons were mounted in a battery in the nose while 2 x 20mm cannon sat in a tail turret.
An illustrated history schiffer military history mutza. It was developed for the us navy by lockheed to replace the lockheed pv1 ventura and pv2 harpoon, and was replaced in turn by the lockheed p3 orion. In 1994, they moved to their current facilities in montana. Picture of lockheed p2h neptune military aircraft and. The p2v neptune series of aircraft was one of the more successful postwar designs for america, with service that spanned decades for a. We hope you enjoy reading our blog as much as we enjoy writing it. Rockwell ov10 bronco piper l4 grasshopper stinson l5 sentinel taylorcraft l2 grasshopper westland lysander jets. Lockheeds p2v5 was built in larger numbers than any other member of the neptune family with 424 being delivered from 1951 for the u. Email from jorgen andersen email from vahe demirjian, with information from pocock, chris, 2010. The lockheed model 726, the p2v7, was the final neptune variant off the lockheed production line. Photograph by baldur sveinsson and profile below by jeffery cultice.
In 1955, the dash5 was replaced on the production line by the improved p2v7 p2h, with the last of these 287 coming off the line in 1964. Lockheed p2v p2 neptune military history encyclopedia. It was during this time that vp65 won the noel davis battle e award in 1972, presented by the department of the navy to the most efficient aviation patrol squadron of the united states naval reserve. It began about a year ago when i began to wonder why there. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. A special asw 2s and skiequipped 2n p2v2s were followed by carrier, command transport and radar search 3c, 3z and 3w versions of the p2v3. Lockheed s p2v neptune was a cold war maritime patrol aircraft that was involved in many surveillance operations during the 1950s and 1960s. Navy reserve patrol squadron vp65 sorties from naval air station point mugu, calif. The book includes 30 pages of text in english and dutch plus black and white and full color photos. This soft cover book is new and in good condition with no stains, dents, or tears. Lockheed p2v5 vs 7 neptune hasegawa occasionally releases their 172 p2v7 p2h neptune kit it was also sold under the revell brand.
Thanks for your understanding, stay safe and look after family and friends during these unprecedented times. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. After ww ii, continuing through the 1950s, the navys air antisubmarine warfare forces technology gap rapidly widened by advancing capabilities of submarines. The lockheed p2 neptune was a maritime patrol and antisubmarine warfare asw aircraft. Aero l29 delfin aero l39 albatros aermacchi mb326 avro vulcan. Neptune 566 was one of 31 operated by the french armed forces from the late 1950s and was allocated to french marine escadrille 12. While takeoffs from carriers were performed, using jato assist, the neptune never landed aboard a carrier. The neptune enjoys the distinction of being the only designedforthepurpose.
Paul muller the vp navy pages by nevins frankel p2 page mid atlantic air museum that has the only operationally configured flying sp2h 145915 australian neptunes. Lockheed p2v neptune antisubmarine warfare maritime patrol aircraft the lockheed p2v neptune series was an exceptional aircraft in service with the united states navy and air force during the cold war years. Click here or on the picture to go to the unit selection page. The lockheed p2v neptune model gallery lockheed 426 p2v5 neptune mr. The first three aircraft were scheduled to arrive in townsville on 10 march 1962 and for the occasion a welcoming ceremony complete with dignitaries and the raaf band was planned. Last active p2v neptune fleet retiring as aerial firefighting.
There isnt much on this aircraft on the web or in most books. Lockheed p2vp2 neptune specifications technical data. Subscribe to our mailing list to receive an email when we add a new story. In october 1974 buaer 141234, the squadrons last sp2h was officially transferred to. Lockheed p2v 5 vs 7 neptune hasegawa occasionally releases their 172 p2v 7 p2h neptune kit it was also sold under the revell brand. Neptune aviation was founded in 1993 and began operations that same year. Mar, 2014 the lockheed p2 neptune originally designated p2v until september 1962 was a maritime patrol and asw aircraft. The foundation of the company was the result of the purchase of black hills aviation in alamogordo, new mexico. We are aware of 7 similar reference publications related to lockheed p2 neptune. Courtesy the book checker tail2, a photo book dealing with usn and usmc aircraft at nas. Nov 21, 2015 the lockheed p2 neptune was a maritime patrol and antisubmarine warfare asw aircraft. Redesignated sp2h, op2e, and ap2h after 1962, neptunes continued to serve through the viet nam war and until the mid 1970s. Redesignated sp2h, op2e, and ap2h after 1962, neptune s continued to serve through the viet nam war and until the mid 1970s. An illustrated history schiffer military history mutza, wayne on.
My husband spent his viet nam years in the nose of a p2v and talks about it often. The lockheed p2v neptune is unique in that it is the only american naval landbased patrol plane ever designed expressly for this purpose. Lockheed p2v neptune antisubmarine warfare maritime. The lockheed p2 neptune was a maritime patrol and antisubmarine warfare aircraft. Lockheed p2v5 neptune in the royal netherlands navy.
P2v p2 neptune by now most vp personnel in fleet squadrons hardly remember that there were ever anything but p3s in navy vp squadrons. If you are interested in building scale models of the lockheed p2 neptune, any and all scales, this. The p2v 7 model, the type acquired and now operated by the midatlantic air museum, was first flown in 1954. An illustrated history by wayne mutza, 97807643015, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Dec 31, 2017 the lockheed p2 neptune designated p2v by the united states navy prior to september 1962 was a maritime patrol and antisubmarine warfare asw aircraft. Lockheed p2v2 neptune lockheed p2v neptune aircraft of nas dallas. First flown on april 26, 1954, model 7264514 was powered by a pair of 3,700hp with water injection wright r335032w turbo compound engines and a pair of westinghouse j34we36 turbo jet engines. Win jacksons neptune site with photos of p2s from vp31 detnoris and nartdnartu north island. Lockheed p2v5f neptune on display at estrella warbirds museum, paso robles.
The p4m mercator was designed by martin to take over the navy patrol duties of the pb4y2 at the same time that the neptune was proposed for the navy by lockheed. The p2v7s were collected from lockheeds burbank plant by crews from no. The lockheed p2v neptune had one of the longest production runs in us history with a total of 1181 built. Lockheed sp2h neptune in 148 paul budzik fine scale. At that time during the midtolate 90s, 14 aviation services and a nationwide fleet of 44 aircraft, provided aerial firefighting services. We use cookies to give you a great and free experience on our website. Mastercraft collection lockheed p2v5 neptune scale. The book lockheed p2v neptune, an illustrated history by wayne mutza does a wonderful job of describing the construction of the neptune. The p2v neptune series of aircraft was one of the more successful postwar designs for america, with service that spanned decades for a handful of americanfriendly countries.
Designed as a landbased aircraft, the neptune never made a carrier landing, although a. An illustrated history by wayne mutza 1997, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. By that time, however, the p3 orion had replaced the p2 in all service but with reserve units. Modeling the lockheed p2v neptune public group facebook. Lockheed p2v neptune in australian service regimental books. Your information will never be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Ee some of the rare photos from the book are reproduced here in low resolution with the permission of the author and publishers. Lockheed p2v neptune the p2v neptune redesignated p2 under the unified 1962 system was a maritime patrol and antisubmarine aircraft first flown in 1945. This salute to lockheeds line of landbased submarine hunters features the pv1 ventura of world war ii, the p2v neptune of the cold war, and the p3 orion, which is still in service today. Called the p2v neptune until 1962 thereafter the sp2 neptune. Lockheeds neptune was the first aircraft designed exclusively as an antisubmarine patrol bomber and was. Primary design credit is given to john wassall, chief engineer of lockheeds vega division.
The system was designed by lockheed corporation from the outset as a landbased maritime patrol and reconnaissance platform. An illustrated history this informative and long overdue account provides an extraordinary amount of insight into the neptunes lengthy history, beginning with its inception during world war ii to the present day survivors. It was developed for the us navy by lockheed to replace the lockheed pv1 ventura and pv2 harpoon, and. Reading through the text, you will have a very good understanding of the how, what and why of the aircraft. Lockheeds p2v neptune served in korea and vietnam, searched for soviet submarines and even carried nuclear weapons, but today is largely forgotten. The details of these exploits are still not entirely public.