CH-46 Sea Knight
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| CH-46 Sea Knight | |
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| Marines board a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter, from HMM-162, on USS Saipan, during beach-landing training. | |
| Type | Assault helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Boeing Vertol |
| Retired | 2004-09-04 (USN) 2014 (USMC) |
| Status | Active service |
| Primary user | United States Marine Corps |
| Produced | 1971-???? |
| Number built | 524 |
The Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight is a medium-lift tandem rotor assault helicopter, used by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) to provide all-weather, day-or-night assault transport of combat troops, supplies and equipment. Assault Support is its primary function, and the movement of supplies and equipment is secondary. Additional tasks include combat support, search and rescue, support for forward refueling and rearming points, CASEVAC and Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) [1].
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[edit] Overview
Known colloquially as the "Phrog", the CH-46 Sea Knight was first procured in 1960 under the designation of "HRB" to meet the medium-lift requirements of the Marine Corps.[2] In total, 524 H-46s were produced for the United States Navy and Marine Corps with the final production version being the CH-46E (although an F variant was procured, the E was the later model and carried the more advanced T-58-GE-16 engines.) Used in all Marine combat and peacetime environments since that time, the last Sea Knight rolled off the assembly line in February of 1971. [3]
Still regularly flown by the Marine Corps, its longevity as a reliable airframe has lead to such mantras as "phrogs phorever" and "never trust a helicopter under 30 [4]." While the United States Navy retired the airframe on September 24, 2004 , replacing it with the MH-60S Seahawk. [5], the Marine Corps plans to maintain its fleet until the MV-22 is fully fielded[6] In March of 2006 Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 263 (HMM-263) was deactivated and redesignated VMM-263 to serve as the first MV-22 squadron [7]. The replacement process is expected to continue through the other medium helicopter squadrons into 2014.
The Navy Air Systems Command temporarily grounded all CH-46 helicopters on 18 August 2002 due some rotorhead cracks found on one. It was found only one had this problem, and the restriction was lifted [8].
[edit] Variants
[edit] US versions
Total U.S. H-46 production amounted to 524, ending in 1971.
- Model 107 : Company model number.
- Model 107-II : The third YHC-1 prototype was converted into a commercial airline helicopter.
- Model 107M : Military transport prototype for the US Marine Corps.
- YHC-1A: Test and evaluation aircraft for the US Army. Evolved into the CH-47 Chinook. Adopted by the US Marine Corps as the HRB-1. Later redesignated YCH-46C.
- HRB-1 : original designation before being renamed as CH-46A under the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system
- CH-46A : Assault and utility transport helicopter for the USMC, fitted with two 935-kW (1,250-shp) General Electric T58-GE-8 turboshaft engines. (Previously HRB-1).
- UH-46A ：Utility transport helicopter for the US Navy. Similar to the CH-46A.
- HH-46A : SAR
- RH-46A : A small number of CH-46As were converted into minesweeping helicopters.
- UH-46B: USAF
- CH-46D：assault and utility transport helicopter for the USMC, fitted with two 1044-kW (1,400-shp) General Electric T58-GE-10 turboshaft engines.
- HH-46D: A small number of UH-46Ds were converted into SAR helicopters.
- UH-46D ：Utility transport helicopter for the US Navy. Similar to the CH-46D.
- CH-46E : Current version used by the US Marine Corps.
- CH-46F :
- VH-46F : VIP transport helicopter.
[edit] Canadian Versions
- CH-113 Labrador : Search and rescue version for the Canadian Forces Air Command. (18)
- CH-113 Voyageur : Assault and utility transport version for the Canadian Forces. Version more of a modified CH-47 then a Sea Knight.
[edit] Swedish Versions
- Hkp 4A :Boeing Vertol 107-II, used originally by Air Force for SAR. (10),
- Hkp 4B :Boeing Vertol 107-II-15, Navy (3)
- HKP 4C :Kawasaki KV-107-II-16, Navy (8)
- HKP 4D :Rebuilt Hkp 4A for SAR/ASW (Navy) (4)
[edit] Japanese Versions
- KV-107II-1 ：Utility transport version. (CT58-110-1）
- KV-107II-2 ：Commercial airline version. (CT58-110-1）
- KV-107IIA-2 Improved version of the KV-107/II-2. (CT58-140-1)
- KV-107II-3 ：Minesweeping version for the JMSDF. (CT58-110-1). (3 built).
- KV-107II-3A : Uprated version of the KV-107/II-3. (CT58-IHI-10-M1)
- KV-107II-4 ：Assault and utility transport version for the JGSDF.（CT58-IHI-110-1）
- KV-107II-4A ：Uprated version of the KV-107/II-4. (CT58-IHI-140-1）
- KV-107II-5 ：Long-range SAR version for the JASDF. (CT58-IHI-110-1）
- KV-107II-5A : Uprated version of the KV-107II-5A. (CT58-IHI-104-1)
- KV-107II-7 : VIP transport version.（CT58-110-1）
- KV-107II-16 ：（Rolls-Royce Gnome H.1200 turboshaft engines）
- KV-107IIA-17 ：Long-range transport version for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.（CT58-140-1）. (One built).
- KV-107IIA-SM-1 ：Firefighting helicopter for Saudi Arabia. (CT58-IHI-140-1M1）
- KV-107IIA-SM-2 ：Aeromedical and rescue helicopter for Saudi Arabia. （CT58-IHI-140-1M1）
- KV-107IIA-SM-3 ：VIP transport helicopter for Saudi Arabia. （CT58-IHI-140-1M1）
- KV-107IIA-SM-4 ： Air ambulance helicopter for Saudi Arabia. (CT58-IHI-140-1M1）
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (CH-46 Sea Knight)
General characteristics
- Crew: 4: 2 pilots, 1 crew chief, 1 aerial gunner/observer
- Capacity: 25 troops
- Length: 45 ft 8 in fuselage (13.92 m
- Fuselage width: 7 ft 3 in (2.2 m))
- Rotor diameter: 51 ft (16 m)
- Height: 16 ft 8.5 in (5.1 m)
- Disc area: 4,100 ft² (380 m²)
- Empty weight: 15,537 lb (7,047 kg)
- Loaded weight: 17,396 lb (7,891 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 24,300 lb (11,000 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× General Electric T58-GE-16 turboshafts, 1,870 shp (1,400 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 165 mph (143 knots; 265 km/h)
- Combat radius: 184 mi (160 nm, 296 km)
- Ferry range: 420 mi (360 nm, 676 km)
- Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
- Rate of climb: 2,045 ft/min (10.4 m/s)
- Disc loading: 4.2 lb/ft² (21 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.215 hp/lb (354 W/kg)
Armament
- Guns: 2× XM-218 .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns (optional), 1 Ramp mounted 240G 7.62mm machine gun (optional)
[edit] References
- ^ CH-46E Sea Knight Helicopter. HQMC Fact File. U.S. Marine Corps.
- ^ CH-46 Sea Knight [H-49 "Phrog"]. Globalsecurity.org.
- ^ Boeing Vertol 107 - CH-46 Sea Knight. Helicopter History Site. Helis.com.
- ^ Ask A Marine. HMM-364 Purple Foxy Ladies.
- ^ Crawley, James W.. Swan song for Navy's ugly-duckling copter. SignonSanDiego.com.
- ^ (2006). "Major Acquisition Programs - Aviation Combat Element Programs". Headquarters Marine Corps.
- ^ White, LCpl Samuel. VMM-263 ready to write next chapter in Osprey program. U.S. Marine Corps.
- ^ Factfile: CH-46 Sea Knight. BBC.com.
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