Lexington Park in St. Mary's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Lockheed S-3B Viking
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 30, 2019
The Last of the Breed Successor to the propeller-driven S-2 Tracker (also here on PRNAM's flight line), the S-3 gave its crews a well-integrated suite of ASW (anti-submarine warfare) and anti-ship systems with more warfighting capability and less operator workload. In the late 1980s, most S-3As were converted into S-3Bs, with new sensors and the ability to launch anti-ship missiles. A few years later, sixteen S-3As were converted into ES-3A electronic intelligence aircraft. By the late 1990s, with helicopters performing the aircraft carrier group's ASW duties, S-3s were restricted to anti-ship and refueling missions. The last Vikings were retired from the Navy in 2016. They were the last of the Navy's fixed-wing, carrier-based ASW aircraft.
Our Display Aircraft S-3B Bureau Number 159770 was, like all S-3s, originally built as an S-3A. In October 1976, it was transferred to the Naval Air Test Center. Over the years, our Viking was used for carrier suitability testing and to evaluate Harpoon and Maverick missile integration, along with various navigation and radar equipment upgrades. In October 2003, our S-3 was transferred to Operational Test Squadron VX-1, where it tested software upgrades and missile integration. It was transferred to PRNAM in January 2006 after logging 4285.7 flight hours, 187 catapult launches, 341 arrested landings, and 5922 total landings.
• Primary Mission: Anti-submarine & anti-surface warfare
• Crew: Pilot, Copilot/Co-Tactical Coordinator, Acoustic Sensor Operator, and Tactical Coordinator
• U.S. Service Timeline (S-3 Series): 1974 - 2016
• Max. Gross Weight: 52,500 lb
• Dimensions: 53.3 ft length, 68.7 ft wing span
• Propulsion: Two General Electric TF34-GE-400 turbofan engines
• Max. Operating Speed: 493 MPH (sea level)
• Armament: Bombs, depth bombs, missiles, torpedoes (weapons bay and external pylons)
Erected by Patuxent River Naval Air Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Military • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is January 2006.
Location. 38° 16.545′ N, 76° 27.687′ W. Marker is in Lexington Park, Maryland, in St. Mary's County. Marker can be reached from Three Notch Road (Maryland Route 235) just north of Buse Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lexington Park MD 20653, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 30, 2019
Credits. This page was last revised on September 1, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 114 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 1, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.