S-2 Tracker was a huge advance in the ASW warfare, because a single aircraft could be used for the hunter/killer tasks previously carried out by pairs of aircraft type “Guardian” or “Skyrider” due to the enormous amount of equipment needed to these missions.In the right wing, a 70 million candlepower searchlight was installed to help visual detection in patrol and maritime rescue missions. Tracker has been in service with 20 countries, including civilian operators who used them in fire fighting missions.Usually, the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carriers carried two S-2 Tracker squadrons, which gave their Task Forces excellent ASW protection. The last Tracker were removed from carrier wings in 1976.In this picture we can see the retractable magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) boom fully extended. This device, along with the “Jezebel” type sonobuoys, were the main submarine detection equipment.The weapons load capacity exceeded 2 tons and usually was composed by homing torpedoes, depth charges, mines, bombs and rockets. This aircraft may even carry nuclear warhead depth charges.The Argentine Navy operated the S-2A, S-2E and S-2G variants, totaling 16 aircraft. They fought in the Falklands War and later 6 aircrafts were updated to the S-2T Turbo Tracker model, of which 2 units still currently in service.Canada widely used the CS2F-1 (S-2A) model that was gradually modernized to the CSF2F-2 and CSF2F-3 variants. They served aboard the Bonaventure aircraft carrier and from land bases until the late 1990s, when they were removed from service.Taiwan Navy had in service 25 S-2E and 7 S-2G that were upgraded to the S-2T variant at the end of the 80s. Currently, 11 S-2T still in service with the Air Force, because were transferred from the Navy in 2013.This is the S-2E variant, the last to be manufactured. This aircraft entered service with several improvements such a larger internal bay, new search radar, computerized anti-submarine equipment and new Jullie-Jezebel type sonobuoys.The S-2E variant was subsequently improved, resulting in the new S-2G variant (on the image). The new equipment carried included the AN/AQA-7 DIFAR sonobuoy processor and the AN/ARR-75 sonobuoy receiver. A total of 252 S-2E aircraft were built.Turkey operated more than 30 S-2A and E variants from naval bases. They were transferred by the U.S. Navy and the Netherlands since the 1960s and were in service until the mid-1990s, when they were retired after some accidents due to structural fatigue.
