New images added Hobby Master HA4914 S-3B Viking ‘Eyes of the Storm’ 159743, VS-24, 1991
During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, US Navy VS-24 Scouts operated the S-3B Viking as part of carrier air wings deployed to the Persian Gulf. The squadron performed anti submarine warfare, surface surveillance, and aerial refueling missions in support of coalition naval forces. S-3B aircraft were also used for strike support, including targeting coordination and electronic surveillance. VS-24 provided critical overwater patrol coverage and helped secure sea lanes during the conflict. Their versatility allowed them to support both combat and logistics operations, demonstrating the S-3B Viking’s value beyond its original anti submarine role.
Lockheed S-3B Viking
Designed to meet the US Navy’s VSX requirement for an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) aircraft to replace the S-2 Tracker, the S-3 was first flown on January 21st, 1972. Designed for long-endurance missions, the aircraft features a wide low-swept wing and under-wing mounted, high-bypass turbofan engines that produce a distinctively low-pitch sound, earning the plane the nickname “Hoover” (after the vacuum cleaner). After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the ASW role became less significant and the S-3 was increasingly used for surface warfare, surveilance and aerial refuelling missions before being retired from service in 2009.
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