The P2V-5 Model 426 was the most numerous variant produced by Lockheed and would be the basis for the largest number of sub-type modifications developed of any of the Neptune series.
First flown on 29 December 1950, twenty-three Model 426-42-06s (124865/124887) were built. The new P2V-5 replaced the six cannon solid nose cone of the P2V-4 with an Emerson Aero 9B turret armed with a pair of 20mm cannon. The 20mm tail turret as well as the .50 caliber machine gun armed dorsal turret remained unchanged from the P2V-4. The P2V-5 was capable of carrying an 8,0001b load of mines, torpedoes, bombs or depth charges and sixteen rockets on under-wing launch stubs, later reduced to 8 with the addition of the J-34s. An APS-20 radar was mounted in the underbelly position just behind the nose wheel doors. Beginning with 127759 and subsequent the Aero 9B was replaced by the 12" longer Aero 9C nose.
The wing tip fuel tanks were enlarged and were moved from an under wing tip position on the P2V-4, to the outside center of the wing tips and could carry an additional 350 gallons of fuel in each tank. In an emergency, the new tip tanks could be jettisoned. In addition, the forward portion of the starboard wingtip tank housed a powerful searchlight with a moveable reflector and arc element that was linked by servomotors to the nose turret guns. The port wingtip tank had APS-8 search radar mounted in its forward portion.
The Wright Cyclone R-3350-30W engines remained unchanged from the P2V-4. The weight of the additional equipment without a corresponding increase in power caused the top speed to drop to 341 mph. However, the added fuel capacity increased the P2V-5's range to 4,750 miles.
147 Model 426-42-11s for the US Navy, the RAF and the RAAF, in which accommodation was provided for an ECM operator, to increase crew size from eight to nine.
98 model 426-42-13s were built for the US Navy (127781/127782 and 128327/128422), and were fitted during production with a 17-ft (5'18-m) tail 'stinger' extension housing a MAD (magnetic anomaly detection) system.
80 Model 426-42-15s (131400/131479) had the MAD 'stinger' extension, an observation nose, and the defensive armament reduced to two 0-50-in guns in the dorsal turret. Beginning with 131400, this model would have the smaller circular 200 gallon tip tanks and the aft station replaced the circular windows with larger rectangular windows.
The Marineluchtvaartdienst (MLD, Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service) received twelve Model 426-42-16s which were similar to the 426-42-13s (with MAD 'stinger', nose and dorsal turrets) but had revised crew accommodation.
Finally 64 Model 426-45-15s (131480/131543) which differed from the 426-42-15s in being powered by 3,500 hp R-3350-32W Turbo-Compounds were delivered to the US Navy the last of which was delivered in September 1954.
P2V-5 from VP-5 from the early 1950's. It's identity unknown, it is nevertheless a nice study of the Neptune with the shorter Aero 9B nose, fully turreted and able to carry 8 HVAR rockets under each wing. Photo most likely taken during VP-5's deployment to Keflavik during 1953.
This P2V-5F carried the 7T tail codes for NAS Seattle sharing the apron with an Grumman S2F Tracker and a Douglas AD-5 Skyraider.
Interestingly the ALR-3 fairing appears to be installed over the "2" of the Modex number. This might suggest that this photo was taken sometime after 4/1960 when Neptunes began getting fitted with Julie Equipment per Service Change No. 838. (Scanned from Photo)
A P2V-5FD assigned to VU-3 taken at NAS Miramar in 05/58. A Ryan KDA-1 Firebee hung under the port wing. The P2V-5FD replaced the Douglas JD-1D Invader as the primary drone director aircraft. By 1979 the last DP-2E had been retired to the boneyards.
Fifty-two P2V-5s were delivered to the Royal Air Force beginning in 1952. Designated Neptune MR.1s, Initially delivered with nose, dorsal and tail turrets, 27 aircraft were later modified by Scottish Aviation Ltd. replacing the nose and tail turrets with the clear nose and MAD tail. The RAF Neptunes were not retrofitted with the later J-34 jets.
The Neptune entered service with 217 Squadron and would also equip Nos. 36, 203 and 210 Squadrons. Intended as a "stop-gap" replacement, the Neptunes were replaced by the Avro Shackletons beginning in 1956. No. 217 Squadron was the last to relinquish its P2V-5s in March 1957.
Following negotiations between the governments of the Netherlands and Portugal, 12 Dutch Navy P2V-5s were transferred to the Portuguese Air Force. The P2V-5s would replace the aging PV-2 Harpoons of Maritime Reconnaissance Squadron 61 at Base Aerea (BA) No. 6 at Montijo, near Lisbon on Portugal's west coast. Prior to the Portuguese handover, the original Aero 9C nose turrets were replaced with the clear observation nose. A few Neptunes retained their original dorsal turrets during the early part of their FAP careers, eventually all of the Martin turrets were removed. The FAP Neptunes were given the serials 4701 through 4712 and designated P-2E.
Contrary to the NATO charter, FAP Neptunes were used in combat operations during Portugal's colonial wars in Africa during the early 1960s and again, late in the decade. During 1968 and '69, two Neptunes were assigned to BA 9 at Luanda, on Angola, South Africa's west coast. From there, the P-2Es carried out bombing missions in support of Portuguese troops and flew coastal patrols. Others operated from the island of Sao Tome, nearly 200 miles off Gabon's shore, during the Biafra war, watching for armed ships. At Bissau, Portuguese Guinea in North Africa, BA 12 operated a pair of P-2Es along with a Douglas C-47, modified as a bomber.
By 1977, of the original 12, only four P-2Es remained operational with BA 6, the remainder having been scrapped or stripped for parts. Numbers 4707 and 4711 were the last Neptunes in Portuguese service, until they were finally withdrawn from use during 1978.
PAF P-2E 4807
Lockheed P2V Neptune
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Last Published Update 01/07/2025