Hobby Master HA4902 1:72 S-3A Viking "Hukkers"

Hobby Master HA4902 1:72 Lockheed S-3A Viking BuNo 159741, VS-28 "Hukkers" USS Forrestal, US Navy.

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.

VS-28 “Gamblers” was commissioned in 1960 at Quonset Point, Rhode Island. The VS-28 mission is to locate and counter enemy submarine threats. In January 1974 they moved to NAS, Cecil Field, Florida. After deployments aboard the USS Saratoga and USS Independence, VS-28 began the first of 4 cruises on USS Forrestal in 1986 that lasted until April, 1990. VS-28 gained the nickname “Hukkers”, a derivative of “Hunter/Killers”. Story has it that Hunter Killer belt buckles were ordered but arrived spelled HUKKERS. VS-28 was deactivated October 1, 1992.