Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune - The Master of the Oceans (VII)

[Nostalgistic]

Would you like to see this in-game?

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Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune (Early)

   Hello everybody. I’d like to suggest the Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune for the US aviation tech tree in War Thunder. The P2V-7 was the last variant of the Neptune with further improved engines and factory-built auxiliary turbojet engines. Further significant modifications were applied to the original design of the P2V Neptune. One of the most prominent features was the Westinghouse J-34-WE-36 turbojet engine installed under each wing, allowing a maximum external load of 10,000 pounds. A total of 359 P2V-7s were produced after 1954 and were used extensively in the US Navy and other foreign users.

   I intend to include an early configuration of the P2V-7 in this suggestion, which means it would retain all turrets in the nose, the dorsal, and the tail. At the same time, it could use the auxiliary turbojet engines along with the turrets. So, in this configuration, it would keep its usefulness and place in War Thunder while faithfully representing the final variant of the Lockheed P2V Neptune.

Key Characteristics

• Maritime patrol bomber with a hybrid engine system
• 2 x Wright R-3350-32WA Turbo-Compound engines driving four-blade propellers
• 2 x Westinghouse J-34-WE-36 auxiliary turbojet engines used for takeoff and combat
• Retained all defensive turrets and APS-20 radar in the radome mounted further forward
• Wingtip tanks reduced in size
• Sixteen JATO rockets attached to the fuselage to assist in takeoff
• Maximum of 10,000 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.

Seventh and Final Version - Lockheed P2V-7 (Model 726)

The P2V-7 was the last Neptune variant to roll off the Lockheed production line. Its fuselage was lengthened, and the cockpit was redesigned and enlarged again to improve visibility. The wing tip tanks were reduced in size and more streamlined. It was powered by a pair of 3,700-hp Wright R-3350-32 Turbo Compound engines with water injection and, for the first time, the Westinghouse J-34-WE-36 turbojet engines factory installed under the wings. The P2V-7 could carry a bomb load of 12,000 pounds. The APS-20 search radar in its larger radome was mounted further forward than that on the earlier P2V-5s.

The first P2V-7 made its maiden flight on April 26, 1954. This variant was the fastest ever built, achieving 364 mph in dash speed mode. Initial production versions of the P2V-7 were built with Emerson Aero 9B turrets in both nose and tail, with the dorsal gun turret remaining unchanged. The latter configuration would remove the turrets and replace them with a clear nose and MAD tail boom. Major subvariants of the P2V-7 included the P2V-7B, P2V-7LP, P2V-7S, and P2V-7U. Lockheed had built 311 P2V-7s, and Kawasaki in Japan produced 48 aircraft under license, bringing the total number of P2V-7s built to 359. A total of 212 was delivered to the US Navy. The final version to remain operational with the Navy for the original patrol mission was the P2V-7S, later redesignated the SP-2H.

By the 1970s, the P2Vs had been phased out from all Fleet Patrol Squadrons, remaining in service with only twelve Reserve Patrol Squadrons. In April 1978, VP-94 transitioned to the P-3 Orion, ending 31 years of P2V Neptune operations with the US Navy. The P2V-7 had served in the US Navy, US Air Force, and US Army. It was in extensive service with other military forces of Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Japan, the Netherlands, the Republic of China, and the United Kingdom. Some retired aircraft ended up in private use by civilians to fulfill aerial firefighting roles.

Specifications

Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune (Early)

General Characteristics

• Crew: 9
• Dimensions:
  • Length: 77 ft 11 in (23.75 m)
  • Height: 29 ft 4 in (8.94 m)
  • Span: 101 ft 4 in (30.89 m)
  • Wing Area: 1,000 sq ft (92.9 sq m)
• Propeller:
  • Type: 2 x 4-bladed constant-speed propellers
  • Diameter: 14 ft 2 in (4.3 m)
• Powerplants:
  • 2 x Wright R-3350-32WA air-cooled radial piston engines
    • Output: 7,400 hp (7,502.64 ps)
  • 2 x Westinghouse J34-WE-36 turbojet engines
    • Output: 6,800 lbf (30.25 kN) static thrust
• Fuel/Oil:
  • Fuel: 2,980 US gal. (11,281 L)
  • Oil: 160 US gal. (605.7 L)
• Weights:
  • Empty: 49,256 lb (22,342 kg)
  • Gross: 64,692 lb (29,344 kg)
  • Max. Takeoff: 80,000 lb (36,287 kg)
  • Max. Bomb Load: 8,000 lb

Engine Ratings

• Military
  • 3,400 bhp @ 2,900 rpm @ S.L.
  • 3,420 bhp @ 2,900 rpm @ 2,200 ft (671 m)
  • 2,550 bhp @ 2,600 rpm @ 16,800 ft (5,121 m)
• Normal
  • 2,800 bhp @ 2,600 rpm @ S.L.
  • 2,850 bhp @ 2,600 rpm @ 4,000 ft (1,219 m)
  • 2,450 bhp @ 2,600 rpm @ 17,800 ft (5,425 m)
• Takeoff
  • 3,700 bhp @ 2,900 rpm @ S.L.
  • 3,750 bhp @ 2,900 rpm @ 3,400 ft (1,036 m)

Performance with Empty Bomb Load @ 60% Fuel and Military Power

• Wing Loading: 64.7 lb/sq ft (315.9 kg/sq m)
• Airspeeds:
  • Sea Level: 379 mph (610 km/h)
  • Critical Altitude: 402 mph @ 19,200 ft (647 km/h @ 5,852 m)
  • Stall Speed: 114 mph (183 km/h)
• Climb Performance:
  • Rate of Climb: 1,910 - 3,135 fpm (9.7 - 15.9 m/s)
  • Time to Altitude:
    • 5.7 minutes to 10,000 ft (3,048 m) @ normal power
    • 13.5 minutes to 20,000 ft (6,096 m) @ normal power
• Takeoff Distance - Calm: 2,470 ft (753 m)
• Service Ceiling: 29,700 ft (9,053 m)
• Combat Radius: 1,139 miles (1,833 km)
• Combat Range: 2,466 miles (3,936 km)

Armament

• Turrets:
  • 2 x 20-mm cannons in bow turret (400 rpg; 800 rounds)
  • 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:
  • Up to 10,000 pounds of mines and bombs
• Rockets:
  • 8 x 5-inch (127-mm) HVAR rockets
• Torpedoes:
  • 2 x Mk.35 torpedoes
  • 2 x Mk.41 torpedoes
• Drop Tanks:
  • 700-gal droppable fuselage tank
  • 2 x 200-gal jettisonable wingtip tanks
• Other:
  • 16 x JATO rockets
    • 16,000 lbf (71.2 kN) thrust for a ten-second duration

Standard Aircraft Characteristics

Diagrams

Cockpit

Images

Conclusion | Why it should be in the game

   The Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune was the last model designed as a land-based maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare bomber designed for the US Navy. Although it was too late for the Korean War, it was used in extensive service with the US Navy and other foreign users, serving as a patrol aircraft that put up the deferrant against surface and submerged threats.

   Because it doesn’t have the fixed armament, it should spawn at the higher altitudes and further from the friendly runway to compensate for lacking top-speed performance. It could get a headstart to bomb the bases and neutralize ground targets. Its role should designate maritime patrol bomber. However, it is in question whether it had a bombsight computer or not to aim and guide the bomb from higher altitudes. To my knowledge, the bombardier-navigator was listed as the aircrewmen of the P2V Neptune solely responsible for directing and releasing the bombs onto the targets. The P2V-7 would probably be the most survivable and fastest Neptune aircraft since it can get away from the combat engagement with its auxiliary turbojet engines.

Related Suggestions

• P2V-1
• P2V-2
• P2V-3
• P2V-5

Sources

• Standard Aircraft Characteristics P2V-7 Neptune Lockheed (30 April 1963)
• Aircraft No.68: P2V Neptune in Action (1986)
• Warpaint Series No.51: Lockheed Neptune (2004)
• p2vneptune.com: The Lockheed P2V Neptune
• P-2 Neptune - Detail and Scale
• Lockheed P-2 Neptune - Wikipedia

Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃

[jon_man1199]

An absolute +1 from me! I honestly love the P2V-7; it’s such a neat plane, and I think it’d be a fantastic addition to the US Bomber lineup

[BasherBenDawg8]

Heck yeah! How could anyone say no to a mixed propulsion bomber?!

[Nostalgistic]

@Nostalgistic

However, it is in question whether it had a bombsight computer or not to aim and guide the bomb from higher altitudes. To my knowledge, the bombardier-navigator was listed as the aircrewmen of the P2V Neptune solely responsible for directing and releasing the bombs onto the targets.

As mentioned in my other P2V thread, the P2V-7 did not install with the optical bombsight but utilized the limited AN/APA-16 radar bombing equipment.

Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune

Good day, everybody. Pardon my giant wall of text. I found the P2V-5 aircraft flight handbook to answer this question at the last minute. As factory-built, I believe the aircraft was not equipped with optical bombsight like the Norden Bombsight. Instead, it was equipped with an AN/APA-16 radar bombing attachment. According to the handbook, “The AN/APA-16 radar bombing attachment is used in conjunction with the radar search equipment to provide a means of accomplishing accurate low altitude…

While it lacked high-altitude bombing capability, I think the P2V-7 and bomber-version Neptunes still should have their semi-historical bombsight in air realistic battles for the sake of gameplay.