GRUMMAN S2F TRACKER
TRACKER SERVICE
| Manufacturer: | The Grumman Aircraft Engr. Corp., Bethpage, Long Is., New York, USA |
| Models: | G-89, G-96, G-117, G-121, G-125 |
| Designations: | S2F; C-1, E-1, S-2, TF, WF, CS2F & CP-121 (RCAF) |
| Names: | Tracker; Trader (TF), Tracer (WF) |
| First official flight: | (XS2F-1) 04/12/1952 |
| Factory production period: | 1952 - 1961 |
| Primary service period: | 1954 - 1975 |
| Last official flight: | (ES-2D) 03/1986 (C-1A) 30/09/1988 |
TRACKER VARIANTS
| 1952 | Model G-89 | XS2F-1 | 2 | |
| 1953 | Model G-89 | YS2F-1 | 15 | Total: 0017 |
| 1953 | Model G-89 | S2F-1 | 742 | Total: 0742 |
| 1954 | Model G-89 | S2F-2 | 77 | Total: 0077 |
| 1959 | Model G-121 | S2F-3 | 100 | |
| 1960 | Model G-121 | S2F-3S | 252 | Total: 0352 |
| 1955 | Model G-96 | TF-1 | 87 | |
| 1957 | Model G-117 | WF-2 | 88 | Total: 0175 |
|
Grand Total: 1363 |
| 1956 |
Foreign built - Canada: Model: ? |
CS2F-1 | 60 | |
| ? | Model: ? | CS2F-2 | 40 |
Grand Total: 0100 |
TRACKER PRODUCTION
XS2F-1
Prototype, twin-engined ASW aircraft.
Produced 1952
Grumman Bethpage, New York (F)
| BuNo.129137, 129138 | ? |
Total: 0002 |
YS2F-1
As XS2F-1, developmental aircraft, later
upgraded to operational status as S2F-1.
Produced
Grumman Bethpage, New York (F)
| BuNo.129139 / 129153 | ? |
Total: 0015 |
S2F-1
As XS2F-1, engine upgrade, minor changes.
Produced
Grumman Bethpage, New York (F)
| BuNo.133043 / 133328 | 14 / 299 | |
|
BuNo.136393 / 136747 - 12 to Italy, mixed MM136556 to MM136742. - 47 to Japan as 4101 / 4147. |
302 / 656 | |
|
BuNo.144696 / 144731 - 8 to Italy, mixed MM144696 to MM144717. - 13 to Japan as 4148 / 4160. |
657 / 692 | |
| BuNo.147549 / 147561 | 693 / 705 | |
| BuNo.147577 | 706 | |
|
BuNo.147636 / 147645 - 10 to The Netherlands as 146 / 155. |
707 / 716 | |
|
BuNo.148278 / 148303 - 10 to Italy as MM148294 / MM148303. - 16 to The Netherlands as 156 / 171. |
717 / 742 | |
|
BuNo.149037 / 149049 - 13 to Brazil as P-16A, 7014 / 7026. |
743 / 755 | |
|
BuNo.149843, 149844 - 2 to The Netherlands as 172, 173. |
? | Total: 0742 |
| 2 additional airframes cancelled. | ||
S2F-2
As S2F1, larger bomb-bay, tail.
Produced 1954 - 1955
Grumman Bethpage, New York (F)
| BuNo.133329 / 133388 | N01 / N60 | |
| BuNo.140104 / 140120 | N61 / N77 |
Total: 0077 |
| 1 additional airframe cancelled. | ||
S2F-3
As S2F-1, enlarged forward fuselage, tail,
wing span, engine nacelles, fuel capacity.
Produced
Grumman Bethpage, New York (F)
| BuNo.147531 / 147537 | 1C / 7C | |
| BuNo.147868 / 147895 | 8C / 35C | |
| BuNo.148717 / 148752 | 36C / 71C | |
| BuNo.149228 / 149256 | 72C / 100C | Total: 0100 |
| 1 additional airframe cancelled. | ||
S2F-3S
As S2F-3, upgraded detection equipment.
Produced
Grumman Bethpage, New York (F)
| BuNo.149257 / 149275 | 101C / 119C | |
| BuNo.149845 / 149892 | 120C / 167C | |
| BuNo.150601 / 150603 | 168C / 170C | |
| BuNo.151638 / 151685 | 171C / 218C | |
| BuNo.152332 / 152379 | 219C / 266C | |
| BuNo.152798 / 152845 | 267C / 314C | |
| BuNo.153559 / 153582 | 315C / 338C | |
|
BuNo.153595 / 153608 - 14 to Australia as N12-153595 / N12-153608. |
339C / 352C | Total: 0252 |
| 12 additional airframes cancelled. | ||
S2F-3S Tracker, BuNo. 149877, was redesignated
as an S-2E in 1962
and retired from US Navy service in 1974. After three years in storage
it was sold to the Turkish Navy with s/n: TCB-877 in 1977 where it
served until it's retirement in 1993. The Turkish Navy operated a total
of 8 S-A and 30 S-2E Trackers from 1971 to 1993.
Turkish Air Force Museum, Istanbul, Turkey, 2005.
TF-1 Trader
As S2F-1, crew trainer / transport version.
Produced
Grumman Bethpage, New York (F)
| BuNo.136748 / 136792 | 1 / 45 | |
| BuNo.146016 / 146057 | 46 / 87 | Total: 0087 |
TF-1W
- Proposed AEW version, developed into the WF series.
XWF-1
- Project only, developed into the TF-1Q variant.
WF-2 Tracer
As TF-1, AEW version, large dorsal radome,
modified tail section.
Produced 1957 - 1958
Grumman Bethpage, New York (F)
| BuNo.145957 / 145961 | 1 / 5 | |
| BuNo.146303 | 6 | |
| BuNo.147208 / 147241 | 7 / 40 | |
| BuNo.148123 / 148146 | 41 / 64 | |
| BuNo.148900 / 148923 | 65 / 88 | Total: 0088 |
| 21 additional airframes cancelled. | ||
|
Grand Total: 1363 |
Foreign built - Canada:
CS2F-1
As S2F-1, version for Royal Canadian Navy.
Produced
DeHavilland Canada, Downsview,
Toronto, Ontario (DH)
| (RCAF) 1500 / 1559 | 1 / 60 |
Total: 0060 |
CS2F-2
As CS2F-1, equipment upgrades.
Produced
DeHavilland Canada, Downsview,
Toronto, Ontario (DH)
| (RCAF) 1560 / 1599 | 61 / 100 |
Total: 0040 |
|
Grand Total: 0100 |
TRACKER CONVERSIONS
US Navy
| S2F-1S | 1+ | S2F-1, fitted with Julie/Jezebel detection gear. |
| (S2F-1S1) | 1+ | S2F-1S, updated detection equipment fitted. |
| S2F-1T | 207 | S2F-1, crew trainer conversions. |
| S2F-1U | 1+ | S2F-1, utility conversions. |
| S2F-2P | 1 | S2F-2, photo reconnaissance conversion. |
| S2F-2U | 48 | S2F-2, utility conversions. |
| TF-1Q | 4 | Model G-125 TF-1, factory conversions with ECM equipment. |
| XTF-1W | 1 | TF-1(136792), 1956, prototype AEW conversion for WF series. |
US Navy (1962 redesignations)
| C-1A | 1+ | 1962, redesignation of the TF-1. |
| EC-1A | 4 | 1962, redesignation of the TF-1Q. |
| E-1B | 1+ | 1962, redesignation of the WF-2. |
| YS-2A | 1+ | 1962, redesignation of the YS2F-1. |
| S-2A | 1+ | 1962, redesignation of the S2F-1. |
| TS-2A | 207 | 1962, redesignation of the S2F-1T. |
| US-2A | 51 | 1962, redesignation of the S2F-1U. |
| S-2B | 1+ | 1962, redesignation of the S2F-1S. |
| (US-2B) | 1+ |
S-2B, target tugs / light transports. 75 S-2A also converted to this standard. |
| S-2C | 1+ | 1962, redesignation of the S2F-2. |
| RS-2C | 1 | 1962, redesignation of the S2F-2P. |
| US-2C | 48 | 1962, redesignation of the S2F-2U. |
| S-2D | 1+ | 1962, redesignation of the S2F-3. |
| (ES-2D) | 7 | S-2D, conversions for USN missile range patrol. |
| (US-2D) | 54 | S-2D, target tug / communications conversions. |
| S-2E | 1+ | 1962, redesignation of the S2F-3S, 8 to Brazil as P-16E. |
| (S-2G) | 50 |
S-2E, 1972-1975, electronic upgrades, prototype was YS-2G. Conversions by Martin-Marietta Aerospace Corp., Georgia. |
| S-2F | 1+ | 1962, redesignation of the S2F-1S1. |
| (US-2F) | 1 | S-2F, conversion for communications duties. |
Foreign Conversions
| UP-16A | 8 | P-16A (S2F-1), Brazilian designation for cargo conversions. |
| CS2F-3 | 1+ | CS2F-1/-2, RCN equipment and detection gear upgrades. |
| CP-121 | 100 |
CS2F-1/-2/-3, 1968, redesignation after the Royal Canadian Navy became the Canadian Armed Forces. New CAF s/n: 12100 / 12199. |
| S2F-U | 3 | S2F-1, target tug conversions for Japan's JMSDF. |
| CS-2A | 17 |
CS2F-1, Netherlands redesignation of ex-RCN aircraft. Assigned Dutch s/n: 180 / 196. |
| S-2N | 18 |
S-2A, Netherlands aircraft with modifications. Upgrades by Fairey Aviation, Canada. |
| (US-2N) | 4 | S-2N, conversions as target tugs. |
FOREIGN MILITARY / CIVILIAN SERVICE
- Trackers were in military service with Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada,
Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Peru, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey,
Uruguay and Venezuela.
- S-2T Turbo Tracker, 1986, conversions with turbo-prop engine upgrade,
operated by the navies of Argentina and Taiwan with several on the civil
market. Conversions by Marsh Aviation Co., Arizona.
- Conair Firecat, 1999, 35 civil fire-bombers, conversions by Conair Group,
Canada. Also converted as the Conair Turbo Firecat.
- Several Trackers on the civil market as Warbirds, private aircraft etc.