The clock has struck midnight for one of the US Navy’s most versatile assets. Though it has not been given the attention the F-14 Tomcat received at its retirement, the S-3 Viking, or “War Hoover” as it is affectionately known, has certainly proven its worth over its 34 years of service.

Mission and Evolution

With landing gear derived from both the A-7 Corsair II and F-8 Crusader, and equipped with the same engines as the A-10 Thunderbolt, the S-3 might be dubbed the Frankenstein of US naval aircraft.

Initially designed to replace the aging S-2 Tracker in the anti-submarine warfare role, the S-3A became operational with the VS-41 Shamrocks in February 1974.

While 179 S-3A models were produced at the Lockheed plant in Palmdale, California, the A-model’s service life was relatively short. By the late 1970s, the Viking’s mission had become more complex due to the increased lethality of the Russian submarine threat. Of the original S-3As, 119 were eventually upgraded to the S-3B configuration with more advanced radar and weapons systems to counter Russian technological advancements.

In the 1990s, with a diminished Soviet threat, most of the S-3’s antisubmarine warfare equipment was removed. The Viking’s mission evolved into surveillance, precision-targeting, surface attack, and aerial refueling. Additionally, sixteen Vikings were converted to ES-3 Shadows for carrier-based electronic intelligence duties, effectively replacing the EA-3B Skywarrior.

Combat History

With the retirement of the KA-6D Intruder in 1997, the S-3B stepped in as the only aerial refueling aircraft in the Carrier Air Wing until the Super Hornet assumed the role in 2002. During Operation Enduring Freedom, it was S-3Bs serving as refueling tankers that enabled Navy strike aircraft to reach targets in Afghanistan and return safely to their aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom the S-3B was further upgraded with new navigation, communications, and weapons systems. Due to the heavy air attack tempo during 2003-2004, the S-3B was called into battle and performed up to 30 missions per day. The first “kill” by a Viking, using a Maverick missile, was noted in March 2003 when a VS-38 aircraft struck a naval target on the Tigris River in Iraq.

Sunset

Sadly, while the War Hoover was making its mark in the Middle East, an S-3 “Sundown Plan” was being developed in the U.S. Since 2004, when the retirement schedule was implemented, the Viking squadrons have disappeared one by one. Now only the VS-22 “Checkmates” remain. The squadron is scheduled to stand down on January 29th, 2009, and the distinct sound of the S-3B will be silenced (except for a single NASA example) soon after this article is published. Like the Tomcat before it, the Viking has fallen to the emergence of the FA-18E/F Super Hornet.

Future?

The desert in Tucson, Arizona is now lined with rows of preserved Vikings at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group. Unbelievably, most of these aircraft have expended only 50% of their expected lifespan. While the U.S. has tried to sell them to other countries, a buyer has yet to come forward. Possibilities exist for their use as drug interdiction platforms or fire bombers, but to date only NASA found a suitable use for the airframe, as a test platform.

Conclusion

On a personal note, I will truly miss the sights and sounds of the S-3 Viking. While attending San Diego State University during the mid-80’s I spent many an afternoon on the beach outside Naval Air Station North Island, “studying” for exams while taking in the almost constant S-3 flight activity at the once very active base. It was not uncommon to see several flights of four S-3s perform carrier breaks overhead and watch each jet fly its low final approach over the beach, engines emitting the characteristic “burping” noise. One can only hope that those engines will be sparked to life once again in the not too distant future.