NETHERLANDS - MARINELUCHTVAARTDIENST (MLD)

The Royal Netherlands Navy (MLD) acquired 15 Lockheed P2V-7B Neptune aircraft in 1961 to bolster their presence in Netherlands New Guinea during a conflict with Indonesia. These aircraft were delivered to No. 321 Squadron between September 1961 and February 1962, with most flown from Lockheed Burbank to Naval Air Station Biak, covering over 6,000 miles.

Following the resolution of the conflict in August 1962, the Neptunes returned to the Netherlands, though one aircraft (serial 200) was lost due to an engine fire and crash at Mokmer Airport. The remaining fleet was assigned to 320 Squadron at NAS Valkenburg, replacing Grumman Tracker aircraft. Over time, the fleet underwent major upgrades, including improved ASW/ECM systems and the removal of 20mm nose cannons, transforming them into P2V-7S (SP-2H) variants.

As France stepped up its Neptune replacement program, the MLD Neptune force was supplemented by four French SP-2Hs during 1965. 

By the 1970s, Dutch Neptunes adopted a dark sea grey color scheme and were tasked with search and rescue (SAR) and pollution surveillance. From 1974 onwards, three Neptunes were stationed at Hato Airbase, Curaçao, primarily for SAR duties. The aircraft were gradually retired from service starting in 1969.