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Lockheed P2V-3 Neptune
Hello everybody. I’d like to suggest the Lockheed P2V-3 Neptune for the US aviation tech tree in War Thunder. The P2V-3 was another attacker version with improved engines and retained the same turrets. It was designed as a maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft for the US Navy. The US tech tree is still currently lacking some maritime patrol bombers from the US Navy branch. Since the P2V Neptune was the most significant aircraft in the US Navy service during the Cold War, the P2V-3 could be another postwar patrol bomber to the US tech tree. I am suggesting this particular variant because this was the earliest variant that had seen action during the Korean War.
Key Characteristics
Maritime patrol attacker
6 x 20-mm fixed cannons in the nose
2 x Wright R-3350-26W air-cooled radial piston engines with jet augmenters
Eight JATO rockets
2 x 20-mm cannons in tail turret and 2 x .50 cals in dorsal turret
Maximum of 8,000 pounds bomb load
History
Background
The Lockheed P2V (later known as P-2) Neptune was a maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft developed for the US Navy to replace Lockheed’s PV-1 Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon. The P2V intended to fulfill the role of a naval land-based patrol bomber. Its initial development began on December 6, 1941, and the P2V was a low-priority work compared to other aircraft in development during World War II. Later, on February 19, 1943, the US Navy ordered two prototype XP2V-1s and awarded Lockheed a contract in April 1944, finalizing the standing order. The first prototype flew in May 1945, and production began in 1946. The first production P2V-1 Neptune rolled out and was accepted into service in 1947.
Third Version - Lockheed P2V-3 (Model 326)
The P2V-3 was generally the same as the P2V-2 but had uprated 2,700-hp R-3350-26W engines with water injection providing 3,200 hp each. The variant was the first model to incorporate jet augmenter engine exhaust stacks, providing additional thrust. The P2V-3 retained the antisubmarine warfare kit and fixed nose armament of the P2V-2.
The Navy awarded Lockheed a contract that covered the delivery of 40 standard P2V-3s, 11 nuclear-armed P2V-3Cs, 30 P2V-3Ws, and 2 P2V-3Zs, totaling 83 aircraft. The P2V-3W was the first variant to mount the latest APS-20 radar in a large radome under the nose. The P2V-3 made its first flight on August 12, 1949, and the final P2V-3 was delivered to the Navy in January 1950.
The P2V-3 was the earliest variant that saw action in the skies over Korea, where Neptune’s primary duty was patrolling the seas bordering Korea. The aircraft would also serve in a stint as a ground attack aircraft. In the ground attack mode, the aircraft unleashed a devastating head-on attack with its six 20-mm nose-mounted cannon and 16 wing-mounted 127-mm HVAR rockets. The aircraft later carried out secondary missions of rocket and night bombing attacks, including mine laying, daylight bombing, and photographic reconnaissance during the final stages of the Korean War. The VIP combat transport version of P2V-3Z was used to fly VIP personnel into combat areas in relative comfort and safety. This variant deleted the nose armament and dorsal turret and replaced three-bladed props with four-bladed props. Two aircraft of this variant saw action during the Korean War. Seven US Navy patrol squadrons used the P2V Neptune during the Korean War. The P2V-3 was also used to perform clandestine electronic intelligence missions over the eastern Soviet Union and China at risk of lethal shootdowns by the interceptors.
The P2V-3 would be superseded and replaced by much more capable P2V-4 and P2V-5 Neptunes later in 1954.
Specifications
Lockheed P2V-3 Neptune
General Characteristics
Crew: 7
Dimensions:
Length: 77 ft 11 in (23.75 m)
Height: 28 ft 1 in (8.56 m)
Span: 100 ft (30.48 m)
Wing Area: 1,000 sq ft (92.9 sq m)
Propeller:
Type: 2 x 3-bladed constant-speed propellers
Diameter: 15 ft 1 in (4.6 m)
Powerplant:
Type: 2 x Wright R-3350-26W air-cooled radial piston engines
Output: 6,300 hp (6,387.38 ps)
Fuel/Oil:
Fuel: 2,350 US gal. (8,896 L)
Oil: 156 US gal. (590.5 L)
Weights:
Empty: 34,700 lb (15,740 kg)
Gross: 49,255 lb (22,342 kg)
Max. Takeoff: 62,000 lb (28,123 kg)
Max. Bomb Load: 8,000 lb
Engine Ratings
Combat
3,150 bhp @ 2,900 rpm @ S.L.
Military
2,700 bhp @ 2,900 rpm @ 3,700 ft (1,128 m)
1,900 bhp @ 2,600 rpm @ 14,500 ft (4,420 m)
Normal
2,300 bhp @ 2,600 rpm @ 6,200 ft (1,890 m)
1,900 bhp @ 2,600 rpm @ 17,000 ft (5,182 m)
Takeoff
2,700 bhp @ 2,900 rpm @ S.L.
Performance with Empty Bomb Load @ Combat Power
Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.13 hp/lb (0.29 ps/kg)
Wing Loading: 49.3 lb/sq ft (240.7 kg/sq m)
Airspeeds:
Sea Level: 302 mph (486 km/h)
Critical Altitude: 318 mph @ 16,500 ft (511 km/h @ 5,029 m)
Stall:
Power-off: 104 mph (167 km/h)
No Fuel: 92 mph (148 km/h)
Power-on: 83 mph (134 km/h)
Climb Performance:
Rate of Climb: 1,220 - 2,310 fpm (6.2 - 11.7 m/s)
Time to Altitude:
9.2 minutes to 10,000 ft (3,048 m) @ normal power
24.3 minutes to 20,000 ft (6,096 m) @ normal power
Takeoff Distance - Calm: 1,860 ft (567 m)
Service Ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,620 m)
Combat Radius: 788 - 1,323 miles (1,268 - 2,129 km)
Combat Range: 1,974 - 3,308 miles (3,177 - 5,324 km)
Armament
Guns:
6 x 20-mm cannons (200 rpg; 1,200 rounds)
Turrets:
2 x .50-cal. guns in deck turret (400 rpg; 800 rounds)
2 x 20-mm cannons in tail turret (400 rpg; 800 rounds)
Bombs:
4 x 2,000-lb bombs
8 x 1,000-lb bombs
12 x 325-lb depth bombs
2 x 2,000-lb mines
8 x 1,000-lb mines
Rockets:
4 x Tiny-Tim rockets
16 x 5-inch (127-mm) HVAR rockets
Torpedoes:
2 x Mk.35 torpedoes
2 x Mk.41 torpedoes
Drop Tanks:
2 x 500-gal drop fuselage tanks
Other:
8 x JATO rockets
8,000 lbf (35.6 kN) thrust for a ten-second duration
Standard Aircraft Characteristics
Conclusion | Why it should be in the game
The Lockheed P2V-3 Neptune was a land-based maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare bomber in an attacker configuration intended to be operated as the hunter of submarines and later used in the ground attack role. The P2V-3 had an essential history of service in the US Navy and was involved in the Korean War. It could be placed as the early Tier IV aircraft before the A-26 Invaders. While the top speed performance is lacking for the P2V-2, its armament and sturdy strength would make up for it. It would excel at close air support rather than bombing bases in realistic battles.
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Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃
2 Likes
Alrighty, this gets my instant and absolute +1! A P2V would be awesome to see in the US Lineup
6 20mm cannons is deadly. I definitely want this one underneath the skyraider.
+1 It would be an interesting addition.
