Grumman S-2 Tracker Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Grumman S-2 Tracker

Grumman S-2 Tracker of the US Navy.
Role	Shipborn anti-submarine aircraft
National origin	USA.
Manufacturer	Grumman
First flight	1952
Introduction	1954
Status	Active in Argentina Navy.
Primary user	US Navy.
Produced	Out of production.
Number built	1284

The Grumman S-2 Tracker is a special American airplane. It was built to find and track enemy submarines. This was especially important during the Cold War, a time of tension between the USA and the Soviet Union. The Grumman company sold these planes to many countries, including Brazil, Japan, and Turkey. A different version of this plane, called the Conair Firecat, was made in Canada. It is used to drop water on fires.

What is the S-2 Tracker?
Images for kids
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What is the S-2 Tracker?

The S-2 Tracker is a type of military aircraft. It was designed to operate from aircraft carriers. Its main job was to hunt for submarines. This kind of mission is called anti-submarine warfare (ASW). The S-2 Tracker was very good at this job.

How the Tracker Helped in the Cold War

During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were rivals. Both sides had many submarines. These submarines could carry weapons. The S-2 Tracker was built to find and stop these submarines. It helped protect ships and coastlines.

Who Used the S-2 Tracker?

The United States Navy was the main user of the S-2 Tracker. They flew these planes from their large aircraft carriers. Many other countries also bought and used the Tracker. These included Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Netherlands, Peru, Turkey, and Uruguay. Some countries still use them today, like Argentina.

The Tracker's First Flight and Use

The very first S-2 Tracker flew in 1952. It was officially introduced into service in 1954. This means it started being used by the Navy then. Over 1,200 of these planes were built. They were a very important part of naval aviation for many years.

The Conair Firecat: A Firefighting Plane

A special version of the Tracker was made in Canada. It is called the Conair Firecat. This plane was changed to fight wildfires. Instead of hunting submarines, it drops water or fire retardant. It helps put out big fires from the air.

Images for kids

Starboard wing root and fold mechanism (note: wing removed)
U.S. Navy S-2 Tracker on the port catapult of USS Lexington ready for take-off, 22 January 1963
A TS-2A aircrew training version of the Tracker in 1976
Argentine S-2T Turbo Tracker in hangar with wings folded.
Australian Tracker 845 "in the chocks" prepares to launch from HMAS Melbourne, 1980
Canadian Forces CP-121 Tracker from VU-33 folds its wings while taxiing at CFB Moose Jaw in 1982
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force S2F-1 at Kanoya Air Base
Dutch Grumman S-2 Tracker
Peruvian Navy S-2E Trackers
S-2E Tracker in the Istanbul Aviation Museum
Uruguayan Naval Aviation Grumman S-2G Tracker (G-121)
An early S2F-1 in 1954
S2F production line in 1956
A US-2C of VC-3.
The final S-2G with its S-3A replacement in 1976
CDF S-2F3AT Turbine Tracker landing at Fox Field, Lancaster, California, while fighting the 2007 North Fire
Argentine S2T Tracker operating from the Brazilian aircraft carrier São Paulo
View from an Australian Tracker on final approach to aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne
Tracker 848 about to take the wire aboard HMAS Melbourne, 1980
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force S2F-C
CDF S-2T on the Sawtooth Complex fire, 2006
French Sécurité Civile S-2FT Tracker used for fire-fighting duties
Canadian-made CS2F-2 Tracker on permanent static display at Base Borden Military Museum