| Grumman S-2 Tracker in Australian service | |
|---|---|
 A Royal Australian Navy S-2G Tracker in 1977 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Anti-submarine warfare |
| Manufacturer | Grumman |
| History | |
| In service | 1967–1984 |
The Royal Australian Navy operated Grumman S-2 Tracker anti-submarine warfare aircraft from 1967 to 1984. The type flew from the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne and shore bases. A total of 32 Trackers were purchased in two batches which were delivered in 1967 and 1977.
An order for 14 S-2E Tracker operational aircraft and two S-2A ground trainers was placed in 1964 as part of a project to reinvigorate the Navy's aviation capability. The aircraft were delivered in 1967 and began to enter service the next year. They proved successful in their intended role, and were also used for land-based patrols. They did not see combat, but operated from Melbourne across the Pacific region during training exercises and patrols. All but three of the S-2Es were destroyed by a deliberately lit fire in December 1976, and 16 S-2G Trackers were rapidly acquired to replace them. These aircraft entered service in 1977 and undertook the same tasks as the S-2Es. After Melbourne was decommissioned without replacement in 1982 the Government decided to dispose of the Trackers, and most of the fleet was sold in 1984.