The C-2A had been on the cusp of retirement for years—but has been repeatedly held back amid problems with the CMV-22 Osprey, its designated successor.

The USS Nimitz (CVN-68), the United States Navy’s oldest active nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is operating in the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to arrive in New York City this week, where she will lead the International Naval Review 250. Following the historic event in New York, part of the ongoing 250th anniversary celebrations of the United States of America meant to mark the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America, the carrier is set to be retired.

It was fitting that the US Navy also conducted the final carrier on-board delivery (COD) flights involving a C-2A Greyhound logistics aircraft earlier in the month. Two Greyhounds from Fleet Logistic Support Squadron 40 (VRC-40) landed onboard the Nimitz, including one that “carried aboard Vice Admiral Doug Perry, commander of both the Joint Force Command Norfolk and the US 2nd Fleet,” according to international military analyst firm Janes.

Adm. Perry and several reporters were present as the C-2s catapulted from the flight deck of the supercarrier for the final time. It was expected to be the final COD takeoff involving the legacy aircraft.

The C-2A Greyhound’s Specifications

• Manufacturer: Grumman (now Northrop Grumman)
• Year Introduced: 1966
• Number Built: 56 (~15 still in service)
• Length: 56 ft 10 in (17.3 m)
• Wingspan: 80 ft 7 in (24.5 m)
• Weight (MTOW): 57,500 to 60,000 lbs (depending on carrier vs. field operations)
• Engine(s): Two Allison T56-A-425 turboprop engines (4,600 shp each)
• Top Speed: ~343 knots (395 mph, 635 km/h)
• Range: 1,000 nautical miles (~1,150 mi, 1,852 km)
• Service Ceiling: 30,000 ft (9,144 m)
• Loadout: Can carry 10,000 lb (4,535 kg) cargo, up to 26 passengers or 12 litter patients
• Crew: 4 (2 flight crew, 2 loadmasters)

Derived from the E-2 Hawkeye, the C-2 has been the primary logistics aircraft of the United States Navy for more than six decades, transporting cargo, mail, and passengers. Current plans call for the Greyhound to be replaced by the CMV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.

The Greyhound’s Long Service with the US Navy

The Greyhound is long in the tooth, and its coming retirement is long overdue. Although the plan to replace the C-2 with the CVM-22B dates back to the mid-2010s, the push to retire the Greyhound has repeatedly come to a halt amid troubles with the Osprey—including a total grounding of the fleet in 2024 following a fatal air crash in Japan. In the aftermath of the crash, the US Navy was forced to “rethink its plans on how it resupplies its fleet of aircraft carriers,” according to USNI News—both in the short term during the grounding and in the long term as concerns over the safety of the Osprey were being addressed.

The remaining 15 C-2A Greyhounds are set to be retired and replaced by 38 CMV-22B Ospreys. Although systemic issues with the CVM-22Bs have not been fully addressed, the “Hard Clutch” problem required an extensive hardware update, and it remains heavily monitored.

If the Ospreys are grounded, it could present severe logistical gaps. That may require the use of Black Hawk or other rotary aircraft to fill the void. Moreover, the C-2A Greyhound is able to carry heavier, bulkier cargo loads than the Osprey, and has a longer operational range. It can also be reconfigured for unique loads—notably for multiple medical litters, which the Osprey would struggle to carry.

Still, critics note that after 60 years in service, and nearly 40 for even the newest models, maintaining the aging airframes and finding replacement parts has become increasingly difficult and costly.

VRC-40, the “Rawhides,” is now the US Navy’s final active squadron that operates the transport aircraft. Current plans call for VRC-40’s decommissioning ceremony to be held at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, at the end of July.

The C-2A Greyhound Aircraft Retirement Sundown will be marked aboard the retired World War II-era aircraft carrier USS Midway (CV-41) in San Diego, California, in September.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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