Lockheed AP-2H
| Lockheed AP-2H Neptune | |
|---|---|
 Lockheed AP-2H of the VAH-21 squadron in 1969 |
|
| Type: | Attack aircraft |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
June 7, 1967 |
| Commissioning: |
1968 |
| Production time: |
1966 to 1967 (conversion from P-2H) |
| Number of pieces: |
4th |
The AP-2H Neptune was an attack aircraft of the US Navy , by the four copies during the Vietnam War were used.
development
These are P-2H conversions that carried the electronic system TRIM (Trails & Roads Interdiction, Multi-Sensor). Little has been disclosed of this target acquisition system, but it likely included FLIR , low-level video, and terrain tracking radar. The aircraft were also adapted for night-time operations, with flame suppressors on the piston engines and “breastfeeding packages” on the additional turbo jets . The armament described below (which also included two rear-firing 20mm cannons for targets that have already been flown over) could also be supplemented by trunnion-mounted 7.62mm M60 machine guns that were inserted into the removable rear windows.
commitment
The four converted machines were used from the US base in Cam Ranh Bay from January 14, 1968 in Vietnam. On September 1, 1968, the four aircraft were combined in the VAH-21 Roadrunners squadron . However, the squadron was decommissioned on June 16, 1969. The AP-2H were mothballed. The machines were mainly used to test new night vision devices and their possible uses. The knowledge gained was u. a. used in the equipment of the Grumman A-6C Intruder .
description
| Type | multi-seat attack aircraft |
| drive | two Wright R-3350 -32W turbo combination piston engines with 2,610 kW each two Westinghouse J34 -WE-32W turbo jets with 1,542 kg each |
| Flight performance | Top speed 648 km / h, range 3,450 km |
| Dimensions | Span 31.65 m, length 27.94 m |
| Weight | empty: 22,646 kg max. Takeoff weight 36,233 kg |
| Armament | six 20 mm M64 cannons; two SUU-11B / A cases each with a 7.62 mm minigun machine gun and up to four cases for a total of max. 76 70mm missiles |
swell
- US Naval History Center: Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 1, The History of VA, VAH, VAK, VAL, VAP and VFA Squadrons ( PDF )
