The P-3, the most successful compromise in the history of maritime aviation
Designed to replace the P-2 Neptune, Lockheed’s P-3 Orion is a high-performance anti-submarine warfare (ASW) patrol aircraft with extensive detection gear and equipped to carry torpedoes, depth bombs, mines or nuclear weapons.
The P-3 remains the most successful compromise in the history of maritime aviation.
As explained by Ralph J. Dean in his book Great Maritime Patrol Aircraft of the World: From the Curtiss “America” to the Kawasaki P-1, in the late 1950s, soliciting a new aircraft completely purpose-designed to replace the piston-powered Neptune was hardly considered due to cost. Existing turbojet bombers burned fuel at unacceptable rates, particularly at the low altitudes where maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) do much of their work, so the Navy turned instead to a version of Lockheed’s medium-size airliner, the L-188 Electra, designed for short-and medium-haul up-and-down passenger routes that in a way resembled the yo-yo-like profiles often flown by MPA on station.
The Electra had arisen from solicitations by American Airlines and Eastern Airlines for an aircraft that could carry at least eighty-five passengers, provide nearly jet aircraft cruising speed, yet service the numerous but still relatively short runways dotting the US in the mid-1950s. Lockheed could see that the age of the piston engine airliner was ending, and looked to the Allison turboprop engines that would also serve on the magnificent C-130 Hercules military cargo aircraft. Four of these would move a spacious, wide fuselage, lifted by relatively short wings.
The flawed L-188 Electra airliner
Unfortunately for the reputation of the Electra (and Lockheed), a serious design flaw lurked in the structural supports for the engines. These were insufficiently strong to resist severe gyroscopic “whirl mode” forces, which could arise catastrophically in the protruding nacelles. The defect was eventually sniffed out and corrected, but not before it brought down two Electras, with great loss of life. These crashes (and others from causes not related to the structural problem) wiped out public confidence in the L-188. Once full of promise, only 170 Electras were built.
The Navy version delighted its early operators. The four turboprop engines could be operated at relatively thrifty rates of fuel consumption down low yet provide good transit speed at altitude to get on station or reposition in a hurry when called on. At light weights it seemed to climb like a rocket, and when the work was done the big, fully reversing propellers could stop it on a dime.
Later familiar on the Eastern Airlines “Shuttle,” the Electra could seat over ninety passengers in relative discomfort, but not all that space would be needed in the Navy version, even with the warplane’s extensive electronics bays, sonobuoy racks, and crew of thirteen. As a result, the fuselage forward of the wing was shortened to save weight in the Orion, still leaving room for an ample bomb bay and later a blessed auxiliary power unit enabling ground air-conditioning, electrical power, and engine starts without an annoying host of supporting yellow gear.”
At the top of the game
The Orion differed from its commercial forebear in some other significant ways, notably the introduction of the distinctive magnetic anomaly detector stinger,” weapons hardpoints, and a greatly increased fuel capacity resulting in true intercontinental range. The P-3 could shrug off icing and, when needed, absorb a terrific pounding in turbulence, talents appreciated by Navy “Hurricane Hunters” and the thousands of Navy patrol squadron (VP) aviators who would love it, curse it, and live (and sometimes die) in it.
By the time of the Orion’s mass introduction, Lockheed had diagnosed and for the most part cured the serious design defects that had marred the Electra’s safety record. Navy crews faced greater danger from unfamiliar operating areas, complex mission profiles, and human error than from mechanical issues with the complex but sill-forgiving P-3. Incessant training, repeated check lights, and peer pressure kept them at the top of their game and ready when called on.
Great Maritime Patrol Aircraft of the World: From the Curtiss “America” to the Kawasaki P-1 is published by Schiffer Publishing and is available to order here.
Photo by San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive and U.S. Navy
