All 46 of the P2Y-2/3 Rangers, plus the XP2Y aircraft, were delivered by March 1935 and were deployed in 1936. Most of the squardon activities included participating in different Fleet Problems in the Atlantic, Caribbean and off Hawaii and Midway in the Pacific (for a complete list of squadron activities see: Ginter, Steve. Consolidated P2Y Ranger in the BIBILIOGRAPHY). While most of the operations were in the southern waters, based on the 1938 war plans with Japan, the Navy had established by 1941 seaplanes base at Sand Point, Washington, and Sitka and Dutch Harbor, and NAS Kodiak in Alaska. One of the Sand Point seaplane tenders would have been sent forward so that it would be in place at each of those stations when the aircraft squadron deployed so that squadron personnel could be housed aboard the tender. The squadron aircraft would moor to buoys. The buoys had been placed at Kodiak and at Dutch Harbor in the mid-thirties. No ramps were available to beach the aircraft.

One of the important operations the P2Y Ranger took part in was the enforcement of the Neutrality Zone, which had been established by the Conference of Foreign Ministers of the American Republics. The ensuing Declaraton of Panama on October 2, 1939 established a 300 mile neutrality zone around the shores of the North and South American continents (see map). VP-54 was assigned to Patrol Two, which operated out of Newport, Rohode island with the destroyers USS Hopkins and USS Goff, along with the seaplane tender USS Owl. It assigned to patrol beween the 38th and 43rd parallels. VP-52 and VP-53 were assigned to Patrol Three and covered the area between the 34th and 38th parallels, along with the destroyers USS Barry, Decatur, Manley and Reuben James. The main result of the Neutrality Zone was to enhance cooperation between the United States and British Royal Navy, and to standardize communications prior to Amercuia's entrance into World War II.

Even as the final P2Y-3 was being delivered, the Navy was looking for another patrol bomer. In the short time the P2Y Ranger had been in service, aircraft, and more importantly, engine design and proceeded at breakneck speed. While the P2Y Ranger had long legs, it had a limited carrying capacity and was slow compared to the new aircraft being produced. In October 1933, the Navy put out an order for a monoplane patrol aircraft. Since landing fields were still realitively rare in the Pacific, the order was for flying boat. Mac Laddon and Consolidated responed with the the Model 28, or XPBY-1. In many ways it was simply an upgrade of the P2Y. The wing span was 104 ft versus 100 ft for the P2Y, it had a parasol wing with external bracing. Where the XPBY-1 differed was a clean single rudder tail, more of the wing bracing being internal, and more importantly larger engines, Pratt and Whitney R-1830-58 engines producing 825 hp each. It had the same ceiling as the P2Y Ranger, but had a maximum speed of 189 mph at 7,000 ft and a range of 2,990 miles. It could also carry torpedoes. After modifactions to the tail to prevent it from submerging underwater during takeoff, it was first delivered to VP-11 on October 1936.

The appearance of the PBY Catalina did not spell the immediate end of the P2Y Ranger. Start in 1938, squadrons began replacing the P2Y Ranger with the PBY Catalina, and this would continue until completed in June 1941. However, the P2Y would soldier on in patrols in the Neutrality Zone and finally being reassigned to NAS Pensacola aircraft for training new pilots. Attrition and corrosion would take its total and by the end of 1943 all of the P2Ys had been retired. In total, 55 P2Ys had been constructed. The aircraft had only been in existance for approximately 12 years, but had made historic flights, and had provide valuable experience for Consolidated to produce one of the iconic aircraft of World War II, the Consolidated PBY.

Consolidated P2Y-3 of VP-7 in 1936.

A P2Y-3 of VP-7 Squadron passing Shishaldin Volcano in the eastern Aleutian Islands in July 1938.

An image of changes to come. A flight of P2Y-3 Rangers flying over Destroyer Squadron 20 on September 14, 1936. Note the PBY-3 flying with the P2Y-3s of VP-7. There are four of the older Martin PM-1s of Patrol Squadron 9 in the background.