S3A Viking (BuNo 159769, VS-31 "Topcats", USS Independence, US Navy

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In 1974 the Lockheed S-3 Viking entered service with the USN as a twin-engine jet aircraft used for enemy submarine warfare. By the late 1990’s the role shifted to surface warfare providing the carrier battle group with long range surveillance capabilities and aerial refueling. The S-3 was in production from 1974 until 1978 with 186 (187) aircraft completed. Most airframes saw upgrades 
to the S-3B and sixteen became ES-3A “Shadow” electronic intelligence collection aircraft. The low pitch sound of the engines earned the S-3 the nickname “Hoover” after the vacuum cleaner.

Early in WWII Scouting Squadron 31 was formed and decommissioned in 1945. In 1948 it was re-established as VC-31 but in 1949 became the Atlantic Fleet’s first VS Squadron when it was tasked to perform carrier-based anti-submarine warfare duties. With the new task came a new name, VS-31 (Anti-Submarine Squadron 31) “Topcats”. In 1973 VS-31 moved their S-2 Trackers to Florida and in 1974 became the first VS deployed on USS Independence. In 1977 VS-31 would once again sail on USS Independence but now equipped with the S-3A Viking.

Specifications for the Lockheed S-3 Viking
Crew – 4 / 1 x Pilot, 1 x Co-Pilot, 1 x TACCO, 1 x Sensor Operator (TFO)

Dimensions
Length – 53 ft 4 in   (16.26 m)
Wingspan
Unfolded – 68 ft 8 in   (20.93 m)
Folded – 29 ft 6 in   (9.00 m)
Height – 22 ft 9 in   (6.93 m)

Weight
Empty – 26,581 lb   (12,057 kg)
Loaded – 38,193 lb   (17,324 kg)
Maximum Take-off – 52,539 lb   (23,831 kg)

Performance
Engines – 2 x General Electric TF34-GE-2 turbofans producing 9,275 lb   (41.26 kN) of thrust per 
engine
Fuel Capacity (JP-5)
Internal – 1,933 US gal   (7,320 L)
External – 2 x 300 US gal   (1,136 L) tanks
Speed
Maximum
@ Sea Level - 493 mph   (795 km/h)
@ 20,000 ft   (6,100 m) - 514 mph   (828 km/h)
Cruise – 405 mph   (650 km/h)
Range – 3,182 miles   (5,121 km)
Ferry – 3,875 miles   (6,237 km)
Service Ceiling – 40,900 ft   (12,465 m)
Rate of Climb – 5,120 ft/min   (26 m/sec)

Armament
4 x internal and 2 external Hardpoints capable of carrying an assortment of ordnance weighing a 
maximum of 4,900 lb   (2,220 kg)
Assortment of Ordnance
10 x 500 lb   (227 kg) Mark 82 bombs
2 x 1,000 lb   454 kg) Mark 83 bombs
2 x 2,000 lb   (908 kg) Mark 84 bombs
6 x CBU-100 cluster bombs
2 x Mark 50 torpedoes
4 x Mark 46 torpedoes
6 x mines or depth charges
2 x B57 nuclear bombs
2 x AGM-65E/F Maverick missiles
2 x AGM-84 Harpoon missiles
1 x AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER missile
The 2 under-wing hardpoints can hold unguided missile pods or the 300 US gal fuel tanks.

Avionics
AN/APS-116 sea search radar, maximum range 173 miles   (278 km)
S-3B upgraded to AN/APS-137 Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR)
OR-89 FLIR camera with 3 X zoom
AN/ARS-2 sonobuoy receiver with 13 blade antennae on the airframe for precise buoy location
Up to 60 sonobuoys (59 tactical, 1 Search and Rescue (SAR)
AN/ASQ-81 magnetic anomaly detector (MAD)
AN/ASN-92 INS with Doppler radar navigation and TACAN