Patrol ClassPatrol craft are land-based, long-range, multiengineaircraft used primarily for antisubmarine warfare(ASW) patrol. Patrol squadrons operate from thecontinental United States and overseas bases. The P-3Orion is the Navy’s primary ASW patrol aircraft.The P-3 Orion (fig 8-46) is equipped with magneticanomaly detection (MAD) gear, sonobuoys, radar, andother submarine detection systems. It is armed withtorpedoes, bombs, missiles, and depth charges for kills.It has the primary mission of detecting, locating, anddestroying enemy submarines. The P-3 Orion canrespond quickly to hunt down submarine contacts longbefore surface units can arrive. Other duties includeconvoy escort, photographic missions, and aerialmining.Antisubmarine ClassAntisubmarine aircraft operate from CVs inconjunction with hunter-killer group helicopters andsurface craft. The S-3 Viking is an example of such anaircraft.The Viking (fig. 8-47) is a high-wing, jet-powered,twin-engine, carrier-based ASW aircraft. It carriessurface and subsurface search equipment withintegrated target-acquisition and sensor-coordinatingsystems that collect, interpret, and store ASW sensordata. It has direct attack capability with a variety ofarmaments.Warning AircraftCarrier-based airborne early warning (AEW)aircraft maintain station at some distance from a task8-37Student Notes:Photograph courtesy of LCDR Mike HarrisonFigure 8-44.—F-14 Tomcat.Photograph courtesy of Randy HeppFigure 8-45.—F/A-18 Hornet.Photograph courtesy of PH2 Damon J. MortizFigure 8-46.—P-3 Orion.Photograph courtesy of LCDR Mike HarrisonFigure 8-47.—S-3 Viking refueling an F-14 Tomcat.
Integrated Publishing, Inc. - A (SDVOSB) Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business
