Grumman AF Guardian

Grumman · United States · first flew 1945 · transport aircraft

The Grumman AF Guardian was a carrier-based anti-submarine warfare aircraft that operated in paired hunter-killer teams: the AF-2W hunter carrying search radar and the AF-2S killer carrying weapons. It was the first purpose-designed ASW aircraft to enter carrier service with the US Navy.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	13.21 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Post-war US Navy carrier-based ASW aircraft
Operates in paired hunter-killer teams
Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp with large cowling

A portly single-engine carrier aircraft resembling an enlarged Avenger; the AF-2W has a large belly radome, while the AF-2S carries weapons externally and has a MAD tail boom.

Specifications

The Grumman AF Guardian has a length of 13.21 m (43 ft).
It has a wingspan of 18.49 m (61 ft).
Its maximum speed is 500 km/h (311 mph).
Typical crew: 4.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Development began late in WWII as a replacement for the TBF Avenger in the ASW role and the prototype flew in December 1945. The Guardian entered service in 1950 and its hunter-killer team concept allowed specialisation of sensors and weapons across two aircraft types. The system was replaced by the more capable S2F Tracker, which combined both functions in one aircraft.

Variants

AF-2W was the search (hunter) variant with a large radome; AF-2S was the attack (killer) variant with weapons bay and Magnetic Anomaly Detector gear; the AF-3S added Julie/Jezebel equipment.

Where you'll see it

Operated exclusively by the US Navy from 1950 to 1955, when the S2F Tracker replaced it.

Related aircraft

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