CH-46 Sea Knight

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CH-46 Sea Knight
Marines board a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter, from HMM-162, on USS Saipan, during beach-landing training.
Type Assault helicopter
Manufacturer Vertol Aircraft Corp.
Boeing Vertol
Maiden flight August 1962
Retired 2004-09-04 (USN)
Planned 2014 (USMC)
Status Active service
Primary users United States Marine Corps
Japan
Saudi Arabia
Sweden
Produced 1962-1971
Number built 600+
Variants CH-113 Labrador
April 1, 2004: Sailors from USS Saipan (LHA-2) rush out to unchain a CH-46 Sea Knight.
April 1, 2004: Sailors from USS Saipan (LHA-2) rush out to unchain a CH-46 Sea Knight.

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].

Contents

[edit] Development

Piasecki was a pioneering developer of tandem-rotor helicopters, with the most famous previous helicopter being the Piasecki H-21 "Flying Banana". The CH-46 was one of its first gas turbine designs, with a tricycle landing gear and sponson arrangement. It would lead to the larger (and still produced) CH-47 Chinook medium lift helicopter used by the US Army as well as other forces. A twin rotor design uses all of its power to lift, since it does not have an anti-torque tail rotor, and its tail ramp enables quick exit and loading of cargo and troops.

[edit] YHC-1A

The original Model 107/YHC-1A was rejected by the Army as being too small for its needs. The YHC-1A was then evaluated by the U.S. Marine Corps, and ordered as the HRB-1 (CH-46A after 1962). The Army would order the larger Model 114/HC-1B, later CH-47. It has a four-post landing gear, and sponsons which run the entire length of the cabin.

[edit] Overview

Known colloquially as the "Phrog", the CH-46 Sea Knight was first procured in 1960 from the Vertol Aircraft Corporation (formerly Piasecki) under the designation of "HRB" to meet the medium-lift requirements of the Marine Corps.[2] The acquisition of Vertol by Boeing Aircraft Co. resulted in Boeing Vertol. 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.

As of December 15, 2006 Columbia Helicopters, Inc of Aurora, Oregon has purchased the Type certificate of the Model 107 from Boeing[8]. Currently the company is seeking FAA issuance of a Production Certificate to produce parts with eventual issuance of a PC to produce aircraft.

[edit] Variants

[edit] US versions

Marines load a simulated casualty onto a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter while conducting convoy operations training at Camp Dawson, West Virginia
Marines load a simulated casualty onto a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter while conducting convoy operations training at Camp Dawson, West Virginia

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, utility medium transport and SAR 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 medium transport helicopter for the US Navy. Similar to the CH-46A.
  • HH-46A : A small number of HH-46As were converted into SAR helicopters.
  • RH-46A : A small number of CH-46As were converted into minesweeping helicopters.
  • UH-46B : USAF
  • CH-46D ：Assault and utility medium 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-46F : Improved version of CH-46D, electrical distribution, com/nav update BUNO 154845-157726. Last production model in the United States.
  • VH-46F : VIP transport helicopter.
  • CH-46E : Not a Boeing Vertol production model. Current version used by the US Marine Corps. Approximately 350 airframes were updated to CH-46E standards. Marines took the CH-46D and CH-46F and converted to "E" models: CH-46D/E and CH-46F/E called DECHOS and FECHOS. These aircraft have improved avionics, hydraulics, drive train and upgraded 1870 shp T58-GE-16 engines. In the 1980's SR&M program consolidated the two "E" models together through standardization. The wiring, avionics and hydraulics were stripped and the airframes were rebuilt the airframes a single "E" model standard. When complete the aircraft where CH-46E. Distinguished from earlier models by the square main engine exhausts.

Dynamic Component Upgrade (DCU) incorporated starting in the mid-1990s provides for increased capabilities through strenghened drive systems and rotor controls.

[edit] Canadian Versions

A CH-113 Labrador practicing an airlift from a Canadian Coast Guard cutter.
A CH-113 Labrador practicing an airlift from a Canadian Coast Guard cutter.
Main article: CH-113 Labrador
  • 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.

[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

Columbia Helicopters Inc Boeing Vertol 107 C-FHFW and Boeing 234 N245CH rest on the company pad in Aurora, Oregon
Columbia Helicopters Inc Boeing Vertol 107 C-FHFW and Boeing 234 N245CH rest on the company pad in Aurora, Oregon

[edit] Military operators

[edit] Civilian 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

[edit] References

  1. ^ CH-46E Sea Knight Helicopter. HQMC Fact File. U.S. Marine Corps.
  2. ^ CH-46 Sea Knight [H-49 "Phrog"]. Globalsecurity.org.
  3. ^ Boeing Vertol 107 - CH-46 Sea Knight. Helicopter History Site. Helis.com.
  4. ^ Ask A Marine. HMM-364 Purple Foxy Ladies.
  5. ^ Crawley, James W.. Swan song for Navy's ugly-duckling copter. SignonSanDiego.com.
  6. ^ (2006). "Major Acquisition Programs - Aviation Combat Element Programs". Headquarters Marine Corps.
  7. ^ White, LCpl Samuel. VMM-263 ready to write next chapter in Osprey program. U.S. Marine Corps.
  8. ^ Type Certificate Data Sheet No. 1H16 (.pdf). Federal Aviation Administration (Jan 17,2007). Retrieved on February 8, 2007.

[edit] External Links

[edit] Related content

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Portal:United States Marine Corps
 United States Marine Corps Portal

Related development

Designation sequence

  • HH-43 - XH-44 - H-45 - CH-46 - CH-47 - H-48 - H-49

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