Matt "Linus" Ottosen
lockheed pv-2 harpoon
Commemorative Air Force: Arizona Wing Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon configured as a RAF B-32 Ventura.
Derived from the PV-1 Ventura model, the PV-2 Harpoon made modifications on the previous model by increasing the wing area giving it more load-carrying capability. The redesign came about from weaknesses found in the PV-1 from poor-quality takeoffs with a full load of fuel. Armament was also upgraded to a standard five forward-firing machine gun arrangement. The bombardier's position from early PV-1s was also removed as part of the redesign in the PV-2. Due to the added weight, and the use of the same engines as the PV-1s, the Harpoon was unable to meet anticipated speed statistics. Initial stress tests on the wings uncovered a tendancy to dangerously wrinkle. As a result, deliver to the Navy was delayed until the redesign of the wings was completed.
The PV-2 Harpoon saw combat as part of the US Naval Reserve in the Pacific Theater up until the later 1940s. Surplus models ended up being supplied to nations such as Portugal, Peru, the Netherlands, Italy and Japan. Many models were converted into civilian VIP transport aircraft by the Howard Aero Services, while even more were coverted into mosquito-spray planes. Today, only a few remain in flying condition as historical warbirds.
The PV-2 Harpoon was a major redesign of the Ventura with the wing area increased from 551 ft² to 686 ft² giving an increased load-carrying capability. The motivation for redesign was weaknesses in the PV-1, since it had shown to have poor-quality takeoffs when carrying a full load of fuel. On the PV-2, the armament became standardised at five forward-firing machine guns. Many early PV-1s had a bombardier's position, which was deleted in the PV-2. Some other significant developments included the increase of the bombload by 30% to 4,000 lb. Another development was the ability to carry eight 5 in HVAR rockets under the wings.
While the PV-2 was expected to have increased range and better takeoff, the anticipated speed statistics were projected lower than those of the PV-1, due to the use of the same engines but an increase in weight. The Navy ordered 500 examples, designating them with the popular name Harpoon.
Early tests indicated a tendency for the wings to wrinkle dangerously. As this problem could not be solved by a 6 ft reduction in wingspan (making the wing uniformly flexible), a complete redesign of the wing was necessitated. This hurdle delayed entry of the PV-2 into service. The PV-2s already delivered were used for training purposes under the designation PV-2C. By the end of 1944, only 69 PV-2s had been delivered. They finally resumed when the redesign was complete. The first aircraft shipped were the PV-2D, which had eight forward-firing machine guns and was used in ground attacks. When World War II ended, all of the order was cancelled.
With the wing problems fixed, the PV-2 proved reliable, and eventually popular. It was first used in the Aleutians by VP-139, one of the squadrons that originally used the PV-1. It was used by a number of countries after the war’s end, but the United States ceased ordering new PV-2s, and they were all soon retired from service.
lockheed pv-2 harpoon
Commemorative Air Force: Arizona Wing Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon configured as a RAF B-32 Ventura.
Derived from the PV-1 Ventura model, the PV-2 Harpoon made modifications on the previous model by increasing the wing area giving it more load-carrying capability. The redesign came about from weaknesses found in the PV-1 from poor-quality takeoffs with a full load of fuel. Armament was also upgraded to a standard five forward-firing machine gun arrangement. The bombardier's position from early PV-1s was also removed as part of the redesign in the PV-2. Due to the added weight, and the use of the same engines as the PV-1s, the Harpoon was unable to meet anticipated speed statistics. Initial stress tests on the wings uncovered a tendancy to dangerously wrinkle. As a result, deliver to the Navy was delayed until the redesign of the wings was completed.
The PV-2 Harpoon saw combat as part of the US Naval Reserve in the Pacific Theater up until the later 1940s. Surplus models ended up being supplied to nations such as Portugal, Peru, the Netherlands, Italy and Japan. Many models were converted into civilian VIP transport aircraft by the Howard Aero Services, while even more were coverted into mosquito-spray planes. Today, only a few remain in flying condition as historical warbirds.
The PV-2 Harpoon was a major redesign of the Ventura with the wing area increased from 551 ft² to 686 ft² giving an increased load-carrying capability. The motivation for redesign was weaknesses in the PV-1, since it had shown to have poor-quality takeoffs when carrying a full load of fuel. On the PV-2, the armament became standardised at five forward-firing machine guns. Many early PV-1s had a bombardier's position, which was deleted in the PV-2. Some other significant developments included the increase of the bombload by 30% to 4,000 lb. Another development was the ability to carry eight 5 in HVAR rockets under the wings.
While the PV-2 was expected to have increased range and better takeoff, the anticipated speed statistics were projected lower than those of the PV-1, due to the use of the same engines but an increase in weight. The Navy ordered 500 examples, designating them with the popular name Harpoon.
Early tests indicated a tendency for the wings to wrinkle dangerously. As this problem could not be solved by a 6 ft reduction in wingspan (making the wing uniformly flexible), a complete redesign of the wing was necessitated. This hurdle delayed entry of the PV-2 into service. The PV-2s already delivered were used for training purposes under the designation PV-2C. By the end of 1944, only 69 PV-2s had been delivered. They finally resumed when the redesign was complete. The first aircraft shipped were the PV-2D, which had eight forward-firing machine guns and was used in ground attacks. When World War II ended, all of the order was cancelled.
With the wing problems fixed, the PV-2 proved reliable, and eventually popular. It was first used in the Aleutians by VP-139, one of the squadrons that originally used the PV-1. It was used by a number of countries after the war’s end, but the United States ceased ordering new PV-2s, and they were all soon retired from service.