Paladin the Grumman AF Guardian

The Grumman AF Guardian was the first purpose-built anti-submarine warfare (ASW) carrier-based aircraft to enter service with the United States Navy. It consisted of two airframes, one for detection gear, the other for weapons. The Guardian remained in service until August 1955, when it was replaced by the twin-engine Grumman S-2 Tracker. The Guardian was the largest single-engine piston-powered carrier aircraft ever to see service.


General characteristics

Crew: 3 (4 in AF-2W variant)
Length: 43 ft 4 in (13.21 m)
Wingspan: 60 ft 8 in (18.49 m)
Height: 16 ft 2 in (5.08 m)
Wing area: 560 ft² (52.03 m²)
Empty weight: 14,580 lb (6,613 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 22,640 lb (11,567 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-48W "Double Wasp" radial engine, 2,400 hp (1,790 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 253 mph at full throttle not to exceed 30 minutes at 15,000 ft, gross weight 21,000 pounds (276 kn, 510 km/h)
Range: 1,500 mi (1,304 nmi, 2,415 km)
Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (9,900 m)
Rate of climb: 1,850 ft/min (9.4 m/s)

Armament

Rockets: 16× 5 in (127 mm) unguided High velocity aircraft rocket (HVAR) rockets
Bombs: 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) of bombs, torpedoes, and depth charges