Nightmare Fuel For Soviet Submarines; the story of the Canadair CP-107 Argus

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In its day the Argus was the most formidable anti-submarine warfare platform fielded by any NATO country. Canadair adapted the Bristol Britannia into a highly effective low and slow sub hunter. This gave Maritime Air Command the edge in the North Atlantic. It served on the front-line of the Cold War and kept the Soviet submarine threat in check for almost 25 years.

0:00 Introduction
0:28 Canada’s ASW role
2:41 Selection of the Bristol Britannia
4:43 Canadair’s modifications
8:11 Sensors and weapons
14:29 Deployment history
17:59 Mission
20:45 Operational History
22:55 Accidents and Close Calls
24:33 Replaced by the Aurora
26:40 Conclusion

Music:
Denmark - Portland Cello Project

Research Sources:


Footage Sources:

#Argus #CanadianAerospace #PolyusStudios

[RedAir]

2:42 "they remained in service much longer than anticipated"
Motto of the Canadian Forces it seems.

[Ravenankh]

Great video. My father was a flight engineer on the Neptune, Argus, and Aurora. He had the honour of being part of the aircrew on that last Argus flight, as well as delivering the Argus that sits at the Ottawa Air and Space Museum. He passed away last year, I sure he would have enjoyed this.

[regwatts]

I was a navigator on the Argus with 405 squadron during the Cold War. I am very happy to see this story of the plane I spent so much time in. There is a lot more to tell, but... time and memory are marching on. My thanks to the producer.

[bluetopguitar]

As an American I would like to say thank you to Canada for the sacrifices made to our alliance.

[MOTOMINING]

My late dentist, Dr. Richard S. Bell was a Canadian Landcaster pilot in the 50's. He always had pictures of aircraft on the walls and a few stained glass airplanes hanging in the windows. Despite all the extractions and drilling, he was a really nice guy and is definitely missed.

[davidoickle]

As a kid we would stand and watch the Argus fly overhead. I still remember the wonderful sound of those radial engines. It was sad to see them go. Now we hear the Aurora fly overhead. A different sound but still comforting.

[aeyb]

Growing up in the Annapolis valley the Argus’ sound was an almost hourly event, climbing out or approaching almost hourly it seemed, near our house and high school (West Kings, class of 1981). My dad was a civilian doctor spending part of each week at RCAF Greenwood. I was 3 or 4 when lucky enough to taxi in one with my dad from the hangar to flight line, or wherever. Is a Snapshot kind of memory. Remember noticing the bunks and dim lights. A patient of his died when one crashed near RCAF station Bermuda in the mid sixties. I have old slides of him at our house.

[kimchipig]

Circa 1978, I was on Mt Washington on Vancouver Island, for a school ski trip. I wiped out and when looked up, I saw an Argus from Comox regally flying by. Thanks for bring that memory back.

[Ellesmere]

Excellent research and terrific production.
Well done !

[Mariner]

Excellent video - I was a sensor operator in the US Navy's SH-60B Seahawk back in the mid-1980s... I grew up just outside of NAS Moffett Field in California, and HOPED to be a P-3B/C Orion sensor operator... eventually, I qualified as a Sensor Operator in the Orion and Viking later in my career - we often worked with the Canadian military doing ASW operations in the North Pacific.

[warrenosborne]

Thank you, , I was an OT (sub tracker) USN 73-77. Our section went from Navfac Pacific Beach up to Comox BC.
Got to go on a Sosus flight on an Argus. The Canadians were so cool, and let us take turns in the copilots seat and steer the plane. Damn cool memory!

[tomyost]

Thank you for this interesting and revealing story. Canada has always been our closest ally and friend, working alongside the US to keep North America free and safe. Where I live in northern NY, I am always glad to see the stream of Canadian visitors, mostly from Ontario and Quebec, coming down our 'Pen-Can' highway, I-81. That name was given years ago in honor of the completion of I-81 from Pennsylvania, straight north through central New York to the Canadian border. And many stop in Syracuse. Thank you. Peace.

[stephenwebber]

That was the most comprehensive examination of the Argus probably ever! My fathers best friend (Al Metson)was an AME on the Argus. When we went to see the Argus at Rockliffe he commented that someone must have worked hard to get the oil and exhaust stains off the engines and wings. They were always dirty... things you remember from back in the day

[alanwood]

I remember the Argus flying out of Summerside when I was a little kid, usually just a few hundred feet up cruising down the coastline. Always great!

[donaldvincent]

As an American I am amazed at what the Canadians were able to do with a much smaller economy to support such technical projects. Canada and Canadair seem to punch way above their weight back then. (Just look up the CL-84 for instance) I hope they still do! I guess we must wait 40-50 years and check back for new videos then.

[biggoomba]

My wife and I were mechanics on these a/c back in the late 70’s. She was the first woman in 407 squadron, and the best mechanic. There was a different snag every day, never stopped learning. What a machine, shivers.

[dananichols]

Very well done, and great narration! At Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, '71-'75, it was great to see the Argus's and CF-100s come through occasionally. What an awesome platform, with fantastic crews to stay at it for those long, low-overwater missions. My dad was a nav in RC/EC-121 Connies out of Otis AFB, Cape Cod, in the mid-'60s. The R-3350s, with the power-recovery turbines, had a lot of fires; in a little over a year, mid-'60s, Otis lost three aircraft and 50 crew in overwater crashes. Your research, great photos, and history of the effort made by Canada to select and sustain their ASW commitment is commendable. Press on.

[howardthrongard]

Thank you from an old US Navy aircrewman here in the Philippines. I flew missions on the EP-3, EA-3B, and EC-121. Great memories.

[max]

You have done an amazing job with this channel and hope only the best for you and the praise from many others you deserve

[fochall]

My Father was an observer, radio, radar, Julie and jez, cook and quite a few other seats. He was the crew 'can ya hold this here for me while I pee' guy too.
I myself flew on them as a child and teenager quit a few times, and on one of those flights I was the 'hold it here guy'.
Never forget that feeling. The Argus was a boss and tremendously respected threat. Great work!
Thank you