Nederlandse Modelbouw en Luchtvaartsite

Dutch Modelling and Aviation

In Memoriam

Klaas Willem Jonker
(Wilko)
† April 30, 2018

On Monday 30 April 2018, Wilko Jonker died after a long illness at the age of 58. He leaves behind a wife and two children. The Dutch military aviation and plastic modeling were his hobby and on this website he shared all the knowledge he has collected over the years. His hobby has been able to distract him from the persistent disease in his body until the last week of his life. The contacts with other hobbyists were a major support for him.

This website will be maintained by different people for as long as possible, so that other enthusiasts can continue to benefit from extensive content.

History

The development of the P2V began in December 1941, but because the Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon was then in full production, progress was very slow. Only in 1943 US Navy placed an informal order for the construction of two prototypes designated XP-2V. A year later this order was official and an additional fifteen examples were ordered. In 1945 the first flight was made.

The first production model was delivered in 1946 and the type entered operational service in 1947.

The type proved to be easy to produce and to maintain and was used in several variants for a log period.

The Neptune was the US Navy's main submarine fighter until it was replaced by the Lockheed P-3 Orion.

For this task, the unit was equipped with sono-buoys; it was further equipped with turrets, each with two .50 inch machine guns in the nose and one on the back of the fuselage. Later versions were fitted with AN / ASQ-8 MAD in an extended tail; an AN / APS-20 radar in a radome under the fuselage.

The P-2V-5F was the first version that got two additional Westinghouse J-34 jet engines under the wing.

Versions.

XP2V-1:
Two prototypes with two Wright R-3350-8 radial engines each 2300 hp and two .50 in machine guns in the nose, dorsal turret and tail; up to 3600 kg bombs in an internal bomb bay.
P2V-1:
Initial production version, 14 examples built, with two Wright R-3350-8A radial engines each 2300 hp. Further facilities under the wing for 16 Hvar rockets of 130 mm or four 4 Tiny Tim rockets of 300mm
XP2V-2:
Adjusted fifth production P2V-1 with two Wright R-3350-24W radial engines with water injection.
P2V-2:
Second production version with two Wright R-2800 radial engines 3350-24W hp each with water injection. Nose Dome replaced by 'strafer'-nose with six fixed 20 mm cannons. There were 80 pieces built.
  • P2V-2N "Polar Bear": modified version for polar expeditions. Equipped with skis, RATO Facilities, Armament removed.
  • P2V-2S: One example of a version modified for ASW with an AN/APS-20 radar and extra fuel supply.
P2V-3:
Improved version with two Wright R-2400 radial engines 3350-26W hp each and equipped with 'jet exhausts. Built 53 pieces.
  • P2V-3B: Conversion of P2V-3 with an ASB-1 Low Level Radar Bombing System. Sixteen units are modified.
  • P2V-3C: Nuclear bomber for use from aircraft carrier. Equipped with JATO; nose and rugbewapening removed. Eleven pieces converted
  • P2V-3W: 30 examples of an AEW version with AN / APS-20 search radar.
  • P2V-3Z: Two P3V-2s converted for VIP transport.
P2V-4:
Improved submarine fighter with AN / APS-20 radar and provision for sono-buoys; tip tanks under the wing, the starboard tank with a searchlight. The first 25 aircraft had a Wright R-3200 3350-26WA engine horsepower, the last 27 examples were equipped wit two Wright R-3350-30W (with turbocomperession) of 3250 hp. From 1962 the remaining aircraft were referred to as P-2D.
P2V-5:
Improved version, 424 examples built, with two 20 mm cannon in the nose turret, two .50 inch in back and tail dome; larger releasable tip tanks, to nose dome attached searchlight in the starboard tank and an AN / PAS-8 radar in the port tank; an AN / APS-20 in a radome under the fuselage. Later, the nose dome was replaced by a glass scout nose and the tail dome was replaced by an extended tail with MAD (often also be applied to earlier versions)
  • Neptune MR.1: British designation for 52 aircraft delivered to the RAF.
  • P2V-5F: Version with two Wright R-3350-32W radial engines each 3250 hp and two Westinghouse J34 jet every 14.5 KN thrust. Four mounting points under the wing were omitted. Starting in 1962, designated as P-2E.
    • AP-2E: Five examples modified P2V-5Fs with special SIGINT / ELINT equipment.
    • NP-2E: One P-2E adapted as a permanent test device.
    • OP-2E: Twelve examples scouts specially adapted for use in South East Asia.
  • P2V-5FD: Adjusted P-2V5F for use with drones; all armament was removed. From 1962 referred to as DP-2E.
  • P2V-5FE: P2V-5F with additional electronic equipment, from 1962 known as EP-2E.
  • P2V-5FS: Twelve converted P2V-5Fs with Julie / Jezebel ASW from 1962 called SP-2E in 1962.
P2V-6:
Version with enlarged bomb bay, provision for laying mines and photo reconnaissance. Smaller AN / APS-70 radar in p last reviewed the AN / APS-20. Initially same armament as P2V5, but later also equipped with glass nose. 67 pieces built for Us Navy and Aeronavale. Starting in 1962, designated as P-2F.
  • P2V-6B: Sixteen examples built as a shipping facility for two fighters with AUM-N-2 Petrel anti-ship missiles, later read P2V-6M and designated in 1962 as MP-2F.
  • P2V-6F: P2V-6 with two Westinghouse J34 jet later applied every 14.5 KN thrust, since 1962 known as P-2G.
  • P2V-6T: Conversion for training purposes, armaments and tip tanks removed, since 1962 known as TP-2F..
P2V-7:
287 examples of the last version, built by Lockheed version; equipped with two Wright R-3250 3350-32W each HP and Westinghouse J34 jet of 14.5 KN thrust each; revised tip tanks, AN/APS-20 radar in a revised radome and a modified canopy. Starting in 1962, designated as P-2H
  • P2V-7B: 15 aircraft with gunnose for RNlNAS. Later converted to SP-2H with glass nose for anti-submarine warfare.
  • P2V-7LP: Four examples with wheel / ski undercarriage and JATO provision for use in polar regions, since 1962 designated as LP-2J.
  • P2V-7S: Modified version with additional ASW/ECM equipment, including Julie / Jezebel gear, from 1962 known as SP-2H.
  • AP-2H: Four aircraft converted into a heavy armed ground-attack version including FLIR and Low Light TV System; tail dome
  • DP-2H: converted P-2H for use with drones.
  • EP-2H: One converted P-2H UHF telemetry equipment
  • NP-2H: Conversion of one P-2H for testing purposes.
  • RB-69A: Five new and two converted aircraft for the CIA. By Us Navy designated as P2V-7U
  • CP-122 Neptune: Designation of RCAF without Westinghouse supplied.
Kawasaki P-2J (P2V-Kai):
82 examples built under license by Kawasaki with T64 turboprop and other improvements.

 

Technical information Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune
Dimensions:
Length: 24,87 m Wingspan: 31,65 m
Height: 8,55 m Wing area: 92 m2
Weights:
Empty weight: 18956 kg Max. start weight: 34573 kg
Performances:
Max. speed: 548 km/hr Climbing speed: - m/min
Cruising speed: 315 km/hr    
Range: 7650 km Service ceiling: 6227 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type: Two Wright Cyclone R-3350-30W rated 2393 kW each
Crew: -
Armament: Two machine guns in nose; and two in dorsal turret. Bombs; Torpedoes