page_title: Lockheed P-2 Neptune
section_title: Variants
hierarchical_section_title: Lockheed P-2 Neptune / Variants
caption_attribution_description: English: The Burbank Boomerang is one of five AP-2Es, also designated RP-2Es of the&#160;!st Aviation Company, Crazy Cats, operating on the Naval Air Facility at Cam Rahn Bay, S. Vietnam. These five aircraft flew SIGINT/ELINT missions in vietnam tasked as Ceflien Lion which was part of Project Igloo White. The mission was so dangerous the flight crew was made up entirely of volunteers. When the mission was explained a military commander he commented, "What a bunch of crazy cats." The moniker stuck and the squadron was hence known as the Crazy Cats. The plane is currently on display at the Ft. Rucker, Alabama Army Air Museum. The museum reports it has been recently repainted.
context_page_description: The Lockheed P-2 Neptune was a maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. It was developed for the US Navy by Lockheed to replace the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon, and was replaced in turn by the Lockheed P-3 Orion. Designed as a land-based aircraft, the Neptune never made a carrier landing, but a small number were converted and deployed as carrier-launched, stop-gap nuclear bombers that would have to land on shore or ditch. The type was successful in export, and saw service with several armed forces.
context_section_description: Lockheed produced seven main variants of the P2V. In addition, Kawasaki built the turboprop-powered P-2J in Japan.
  XP2V-1
  Prototype, two built. Powered by two 2,300 horsepower (1,700 kW) Wright R-3350-8 engines with four-bladed propellers, with armament of two .50 in machine guns in nose, tail and dorsal turrets, and 8,000 pounds (3,600 kg) of stores in an internal bomb bay.
  P2V-1
  First production model with R-3350-8A engine. Provision for 16 5 inches (130 mm) HVAR or 4 11 ³⁄₄ inches (300 mm) Tiny Tim rockets underwing; 14 built.
  XP2V-2
  Fifth production P2V-1 modified as a prototype for P2V-2. Powered by water injected R-3350-24W engines.
  P2V-2
  Second production model, powered by two 2,800 horsepower (2,100 kW) R-3350-24W engines driving three-bladed propellers. Nose turret replaced by "attack" nose fitted with six fixed 20 mm cannon. First eight aircraft retained Bell tail turret fitted with twin .50 machine guns, with remaining aircraft using Emerson tail turret with twin 20 mm cannon. 80 built.
  P2V-2N "Polar Bear"
  Two P2V-2 modified for polar exploration under Project Ski Jump. Armament removed, with ski landing gear and provision for JATO rockets. Fitted with early MAD gear for magnetic survey purposes. Used for Operation Deep Freeze Antarctic exploration. The specially modified P2Vs had 16-foot long aluminum skis that were attached to the main landing gear units that when retracted, tucked into fairing just below the engines. This way the modified P2Vs could still land on a regular runway surface.
  P2V-2S
  One P2V-2 modified as a prototype anti-submarine variant with an AN/APS-20 search radar and additional fuel.
  P2V-3
  Improved patrol bomber with 3,200 horsepower (2,400 kW) R-3350-26W engines with jet stack engine exhausts. 53 built.
  P2V-3B
  Conversions from other P2V-3 models, including P2V-3C and −3W, fitted with the ASB-1 Low Level Radar Bombing System; 16 converted.  Redesignated as P-2C in 1962.
  P2V-3C
  Stop-gap carrier based one-way nuclear-armed bomber, not intended to return for a landing on a carrier. Fitted with JATO rocket to aid take-off from carrier and more fuel. Nose guns and dorsal turret removed to save weight. 11 P2V-3s and one P2V-2 modified.
  P2V-3W
  Airborne Early Warning variant, AN/APS-20 search radar; 30 built.
  P2V-3Z
  VIP combat transport with armored cabin in rear fuselage with seats for six passengers. Retained tail turret. Two converted from P2V-3s.
  P2V-4
  Improved anti-submarine aircraft. Fitted with AN/APS-20 search radar and provision for dropping sonobuoys with additional dedicated sonobuoy operator. Underwing tip-tanks added, with searchlight in nose of starboard tip tank. First 25 aircraft powered by 3,200 horsepower (2,400 kW) R-3350-26WA engines, with remaining 27 powered by 3,250 horsepower (2,420 kW) Wright R-3350-30W turbo-compound engines. 52 built in total. Surviving aircraft redesignated P-2D in 1962.
  P2V-5
  Fitted with Emerson nose turret with two 20 mm cannon replacing solid nose of earlier versions, while retaining dorsal and tail turrets. New, larger, jettisonable tip tanks, with traversable searchlight slaved to nose turret in front of starboard tip-tank and AN/APS-8 radar in nose of port tip-tank. AN/APS-20 search radar under fuselage. Later aircraft featured glazed observation nose and MAD gear in place of nose and tail turrets, and revised crew accommodation, with many earlier aircraft refitted. Dorsal turret often removed. 424 built.
  P2V-5F
  Modification with two 3,250 pounds-force (14.5 kN) J34 jet engines to increase power on take-off, and 3,500 horsepower (2,600 kW) R-3350-32W piston engines. The J34 engines and R-3350 had a common fuel system burning AvGas rather than having dedicated jet fuel (as did all Neptunes with jets except the Kawasaki P-2J). Four underwing rocket pylons removed but increased 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg) weapon load. Redesignated P-2E in 1962.
  P2V-5FD
  P2V-5F converted for drone launch missions. All weaponry deleted. Redesignated DP-2E in 1962.
  P2V-5FE
  P2V-5F with additional electronic equipment. Redesignated EP-2E in 1962.
  P2V-5FS
  P2V-5F with Julie/Je
caption: US Army AP-2E also designated RP-2E used in SIGINT/ELINT operations in Vietnam. The Burbank Boomerang is on display at the US Army Aviation Museum at Ft. Rucker Alabama.
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