Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA4908
S-3B Viking BuNo 159390, VS-30 CAG, 2005
 
General Background
In 1974 the Lockheed S-3 Viking entered service with the USN as a twin-engine jet aircraft used for enemy submarine warfare. By the late 1990’s the role shifted to surface warfare providing the carrier battle group with long range surveillance capabilities and aerial refueling. The S-3 was in production from 1974 until 1978 with 186 (187) aircraft completed. Most airframes saw upgrades to the S-3B and sixteen became ES-3A “Shadow” electronic intelligence collection aircraft. The low pitch sound of the engines earned the S-3 the nickname “Hoover” after the vacuum cleaner.
 
The Aircraft
Built as S-3A Viking 159390 MSN 394A-3026 the aircraft was delivered to VS-29 “Dragonflies” and shortly thereafter converted to an S-3B. In 1992 the aircraft was transferred to VS-30 “Diamondcutters” coded as AA-700 aboard the USS Saratoga before moving to the USS John F. Kennedy in April of 2004 as the CAG aircraft. VS-30 made its last deployment on June 7, 2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On January 3, 2005 159390 was sent to AMARC as 2s0076. After 53 years of active service a deactivation ceremony for VS-30 was held on December 9, 2005.