The aircraft were S-3As, flown by pilots in training, crewed by TACCOs (Tactical Coordinator Officer), SENSOs (Sensor Operators), and a copilot who was responsible for radar, FLIR, and other supplemental systems. The aircraft were maintained by members of VS-32 with assistance from VS-41 personnel. By the end of the summer of 1975, many of the training tracks were complete, and many VS-32 members continued at VS-41 performing day-to-day operations. The first VS-32 S3A was delivered, and subsequently ferried to NAS Cecil Field by VS-32 personnel. The squadron returned to NAS Cecil Field en masse late 1975, and continued to receive new aircraft regularly. Bureau numbers (BUNOs) began with 159700 and ended with 159711. The purpose of having this number of aircraft, atypical for many sea going squadrons, was that one aircraft would essentially be used for parts, rather than a large purchase of spares alone. In 1976, preparations for working up to the first cruise with the S3 were begun. The squadron sailed on the USS John F. Kennedy out of NS Norfolk, Virginia. During these work-ups, almost the entire squadron personnel, manuals, tools, test equipment, etc. were transported to Norfolk to be loaded onto the Kennedy. After a few weeks of underway training and verification, they would return in entirety to Cecil Field for a short break before returning to the ship. In August 1976 the squadron began moving members and aircraft to Norfolk for a North Atlantic cruise. From September to December 9, they deployed to the North Atlantic for flight operations and training for winter operations. There were opportunities to hunt for potentially hostile submarines. There were a number of successful detections, tracking, identification, and recording on audio and digital tape of Soviet and other submarines. In addition there were a few visual sightings. The S-3A was shown to be an accurate platform for Anti-submarine warfare. There were flight ops north of the Arctic Circle, with flight deck personnel in extreme cold-weather gear. Aircrew members wore poopy suits in case of emergency ejections. During the cruise, the Kennedy visited Edinburgh, Scotland, Wilhelmshaven, Germany, Brest, France, and Portsmouth, England. VS-32 suffered its first major incident when there was an explosive decompression at night at . The co-pilot broke his right arm when the top canopy on co-pilot's side blew off. The pilot was blinded in one eye by debris. All radio communication was lost 150 miles from the