AF-2 GUARDIAN ‘FIRE BOMBER’

The Grumman AF-2 Guardian was an American in-flight anti-submarine (ZOP) aircraft from the Cold War period. The prototype flight took place in 1945. The machine was put into service with the US Navy in 1950, to be withdrawn from it in 1955. In total, about 390 copies of this aircraft were built. The drive was provided by a single engine Pratt and Whitney R-2800-48W with 2400 hp . The plane reached the maximum speed of 510 km / h, and the maximum range was 2400 kilometers. The Grumman AF-2 Guardian was commissioned by the US Navy, which wanted to acquire a specialized ZOP on-board aircraft in the mid-1940s - it was to be the first such aircraft in its history! Initially, they wanted to create a twin-engine machine, but the idea was abandoned - as was the use of a jet engine. Finally, it was decided to introduce a machine that is classic in its design, with one piston engine and a large wingspan. The AF-2 Guardian was not liked by the pilots because it was difficult to pilot, had poor performance and was emergency - in the course of his short service there were several disasters with his participation. It is worth adding that the AF-2 machines operated in pairs: one plane carried the equipment tracking the submarine (the so-called "guppy" or "hunter"), and the other plane carried depth bombs and torpedoes (the so-called "scrapper" or "killer") . The planes took part in the Korean War (1950-1953), and afterwards it was quickly replaced in line by the more successful Grumman S-2 Tracker planes.