Grumman AF Guardian

The Grumman AF Guardian was the first purpose-built anti-submarine warfare carrier aircraft to enter United States Navy service, built as two airframe variants, one carrying detection gear and the other weapons. It grew out of the internally developed Grumman Model G-70, first flown as the XTB3F-1 on 19 December 1945, and on 24 December 1945 the Navy changed its role from torpedo bomber to anti-submarine warfare. The Guardian entered fleet service on 27 September 1950 and was the largest single-engine piston-powered aircraft ever to see service. The last was delivered in March 1953 with 389 built, and the last aircraft left active service on 31 August 1955 as the twin-engined S-2 Tracker replaced it.