Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King

SH-3 Sea King
US Navy SH-3H Sea King helicopters
Role ASW/SAR/utility helicopter
National origin United States
Manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft
First flight 11 March 1959
Introduction 1961
Status Active service
Primary users United States Navy
Italian Navy
Brazilian Navy
Japan Maritime Self Defense Force
Variants Sikorsky S-61L/N
Sikorsky S-61R
Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King
Westland Sea King

The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King (company designation S-61) is a twin-engined anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter. It served with the United States Navy and other forces, and continues to serve in many countries around the world. The Sea King has been built under license in Italy and Japan, and in the United Kingdom as the Westland Sea King. The major civil versions are the S-61L and S-61N.

Contents

Design and development

In 1957, Sikorsky was awarded a contract to develop an all-weather amphibious helicopter. It would combine submarine hunter and killer roles. It was designed for shipboard operations, as the five main rotor blades as well as tail section with its five blades can be folded for easy stowage. Because of its amphibious hull, the Sea King has the ability to land on water. The sponsons were fitted with deployable airbags to enhance flotation.[1]

The prototype flew on 11 March 1959. In late 1961 and early 1962, a modified early production US Navy HSS-2 Sea King was used to break the FAI 3 km, 100 km, 500 km and 1000 km helicopter speed records. This series of flights culminated on February 5, 1962 with the HSS-2 setting an absolute helicopter speed record of 210.6 mph.[2] This record was broken by a modified Sud Super Frelon helicopter on July 23, 1963 with a speed of 217.7 mph.[3]

Armament and equipment of Sea Kings vary widely with their role. Typical armaments can be four torpedoes, four depth charges or two anti-ship missiles (Sea Eagle or Exocet). It can also readily be configured to deploy the B57 tactical nuclear weapon. A large Chaff Pod is sometimes carried for anti-ship missile defense of the Carrier Battle Group. ASW equipment includes AQS-13B/E dipping sonar with a 500 foot cable, 5000 watts of power and a Sonar Data Computer for processing sonar and sonobuoy data, 21 sonobuoys (various models), ARR-75 Sonobuoy Receivers, ASQ-81 Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD Bird) and AKT-22 Data link to transmit sonar and sonobuoy data to the rest of the Fleet. In the search and rescue role the cabin can accommodate 22 survivors or nine stretchers and two medical officers. In the troop transport role 28 soldiers can be accommodated.

Operational history

The Sea King first flew on 11 March 1959; it became operational with the United States Navy in June 1961 as the HSS-2. The designation for the aircraft was changed with the introduction of the unified aircraft designation system in 1962 to the SH-3A. It was used primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also served in anti-ship, search and rescue, transport, communications, executive transport and Airborne Early Warning roles. Aircraft carriers always deployed the Sea King as the first aircraft in the air and the last to land serving in air operations as plane guard and SAR for the fixed winged aircraft. An SH-3A, operating from the USS New Orleans amphibious assault ship, was used in the February 1971 Apollo 14 recovery mission.

In the US Navy, it was replaced in the ASW and SAR roles by the SH-60 Sea Hawk during the 1990s, but continues in service for other roles, for ASW in the reserves, and around the world. All H-3 aircraft in US Navy service are used in the logistics support, range support, Search and Rescue, test, and VIP transport roles. The H-3 was finally retired on 27 January 2006 in a Final Flight ceremony in NAS Norfolk, Virginia, by Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 2 (HC-2), the Fleet Angels. HH-3 variants based on the SH-3 airframe were built for the US Air Force.[1]

Sea Kings are used as one of the official helicopters of the President of the United States and are operated by the United States Marine Corps. Sea Kings use the call sign Marine One when the president is aboard.

Variants

US military

XHSS-2 
The only prototype of the H-3 Sea King.
YHSS-2 
Prototype and trials aircraft. Seven helicopters were built for the US Navy.
SH-3A  
Anti-submarine warfare helicopter for the US Navy (245 built); originally designated HSS-2.
HH-3A 
Search and rescue helicopter for the US Navy (12 converted from SH-3A).
CH-3A 
Military transport version for the US Air Force (three converted from SH-3A later became CH-3B).
NH-3A (S-61F)
Experimental high speed compound helicopter, with extensive streamlining, no floats, short wings carrying two turbojet engines for extra speed.(1 Converted from SH-3A). Later modified with a tail rotor able to rotate 90° to serve as a pusher propeller.
RH-3A 
Minesweeper helicopter for the US Navy (9 converted from SH-3A).
VH-3A 
VIP transport helicopter for the US Army and Marine Corps (eight built, plus 2 SH-3A (STAKE) conversions which were rebuilt from damaged helicopters (one YHSS-2 and one SH-3A); originally designated VHSS-2. One (Army operated) was given to Egypt in 1972 and one (also Army operated) crashed at Walker Key, Bahamas in 1973; the rest were returned to the US Navy (HC-6) in 1975/6) and replaced by the VH-3D. At least 2 have subsequently been placed in museums.
CH-3B 
Military transport helicopter for the US Air Force.
SH-3D (S-61B) (HSS-2A) 
Anti-submarine warfare helicopter for the US Navy (73 built and two conversions from SH-3As).
SH-3D (S-61B) 
Anti-submarine warfare helicopter for the Spanish Navy (six built).
SH-3D-TS 
Anti-submarine warfare version.
VH-3D 
VIP transport helicopter for the US Army (until 30 June 1976) and the US Marine Corps.
SH-3G 
Cargo, utility transport helicopter for the US Navy (105 Conversions from SH-3A and SH-3D).
SH-3H (HSS-2B) 
Anti-submarine warfare helicopter for the US Navy (Conversions from older versions).
SH-3H AEW 
Airborne early warning version for the Spanish navy.
UH-3H 
cargo, utility transport version for the US Navy.

Sikorsky designations

S-61 
Company designation for the H-3 Sea King.
S-61A 
Export version for the Royal Danish Air Force. Wider pontoons w/o flotation bags, a 530 liter centre tank instead of a dipping sonar and no automatic powered folding system.
S-61A-4 Nuri
Military transport, search and rescue helicopter for the Royal Malaysian Air Force. It can seat up to 31 combat troops (38 built).
S-61A/AH 
Utility helicopter for survey work and search and rescue in the Antarctic.
S-61B 
Export version of the SH-3 anti-submarine warfare helicopter for the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force.
S-61D-3 
Export version for the Brazilian Navy.
S-61D-4 
Export version for the Argentine Navy.
S-61NR 
Search and rescue version for the Argentine Air Force.
S-61L/N
Main article: Sikorsky S-61
Civil versions of the Sea King.
S-61R
Main article: Sikorsky S-61R
The S-61R served in the United States Air Force as the CH-3C/E Sea King and the HH-3E Jolly Green Giant, and with the United States Coast Guard and the Italian Air Force as the HH-3F Sea King (more commonly referred to by the nickname "Pelican").[4]
S-61V 
Company designation for the VH-3A, (1 built for Indonesia).

S-61V-1 : Export version of the VH-3A, one built for Indonesia.

United Aircraft of Canada

Main article: CH-124 Sea King
CH-124 
Anti-submarine warfare helicopter for the Royal Canadian Navy (41 assembled by United Aircraft of Canada).[5]
CH-124A 
The Sea King Improvement Program (SKIP) added modernized avionics as well as improved safety features.[5]
CH-124B 
Alternate version of the CH-124A without a dipping sonar but formerly with a MAD sensor and additional storage for deployable stores. In 2006, the 5 aircraft of this variant were converted to support the Standing Contingency Task Force (SCTF), and were modified with additional troop seats, and frequency agile radios. Plans to add fast-rope capability, EAPSNIPS (Engine Air Particle Separator / Snow & Ice Particle Separator) did not come to fruition.[5]
CH-124B2 
6 CH-124B's were upgraded to the CH-124B2 standard in 1991-1992. The revised CH-124B2 retained the sonobuoy processing gear to passively detect submarines but, the aircraft was now also fitted with a towed-array sonar to supplement the ship's sonar. Since anti-submarine warfare is no longer a major priority within the Canadian Forces, the CH-124B2 were refitted again to become improvised troop carriers for the newly formed Standing Contingency Task Force.[5]
CH-124C 
One CH-124 operated by the Helicopter Operational Test and Evaluation Facility located at CFB Shearwater. Used for testing new gear, and when not testing new gear, it is deployable to any Canadian Forces ship requiring a helicopter.[5]
CH-124U 
Unofficial designation for 4 CH-124's that were modified for passenger/freight transport. One crashed in 1973, and the survivors were later refitted to become CH-124A's.[5]

Westland

Main article: Westland Sea King

The Westland Sea King variant was manufactured under license by Westland Helicopters Ltd in the United Kingdom, who developed a specially modified version for the Royal Navy. It is powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Gnome turbines (license-built T58s), and has British avionics and ASW equipment. This variant first flew in 1969, and entered service the next year. It is also used by the Royal Air Force in a search and rescue capacity, and has been sold to many countries around the world.

Agusta

AS-61 
Company designation for the H-3 Sea King built under licence in Italy by Agusta.
AS-61A-1 
Italian export model for the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
AS-61A-4 
Military transport helicopter, search and rescue helicopter.
AS-61N-1 Silver
License built model of the S-61N, with a shortened cabin.
AS-61VIP 
VIP transport helicopter.
ASH-3A (SH-3G) 
Utility transport helicopter
ASH-3D 
Anti-submarine warfare helicopter. Flown by the Italian, Brazilian, Iranian, Peruvian and Argentinian navies.
ASH-3TS 
VIP, executive transport mission helicopter. Also known as the ASH-3D/TS.
ASH-3H 
Anti-submarine warfare helicopter

Mitsubishi

S-61A 
Licence built-version of the S-61A as Search-and-Rescue and Utility helicopters for the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (18 Built)
HSS-2 
Licence built version of the S-61B as an Anti-submarine warfare helicopter for the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (55 Built).
HSS-2A 
Licence built version of the S-61B(SH-3D) as an Anti-submarine warfare helicopter for the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (28 Built).
HSS-2B 
Licence built version of the S-61B(SH-3H) as an Anti-submarine warfare helicopter for the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (23 Built).

Operators

 Argentina
 Brazil
 Canada
 Denmark
 Egypt
 India
 Iran
 Iraq
 Ireland
 Italy
 Japan
 Malaysia
 Peru
 Saudi Arabia
 Spain
 Venezuela
 United States

Aircraft on Display

Specifications (SH-3)

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b Jackson 2005, p. 207.
  2. ^ Taylor, John W.R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1963-1964, Jane's All The World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd.
  3. ^ Taylor, John W.R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1966-1967, Jane's All The World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd.
  4. ^ United States, 1974. pg. A-40; 1998. pg. A-43; 2004. pg. 43
  5. ^ a b c d e f "CH-124 Sea King Variants". Canadian American Strategic Review. Archived from the original on 2007-09-11. http://web.archive.org/web/20070911183438/http://www.sfu.ca/casr/bg-helo-ch124-variants.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-19. 
  6. ^ brazilian H-3
  7. ^ Patriots Point - Tour Exhibits - Planes & Flight Deck - SH-3G Sea King
  8. ^ a b s-61 H-3 in US Navy - Helicopter Database
  9. ^ Aviation Museum: NAS Norfolk
  10. ^ Aviation Museum: Quonset Air Museum
  11. ^ a b c The VH-71 Kestrel Helicopter: January 2009
Bibliography
  • Eden, Paul, ed. The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft. London: Amber Books, 2004. ISBN 1-904687-84-9. 
  • Jackson, Robert, ed. "Sikorsky S-61/SH-3 Sea King." Helicopters: Military, Civilian, and Rescue Rotorcraft (The Aviation Factfile). London: Grange Books Ltd, 2005. ISBN 1-84013-812-2.
  • United States. Department of Defense. DOD 4120.15-L Model Designation of Military Aircraft, Rockets, and Guided Missiles. Washington, DC: Department of Defense, 1974.
  • United States. Department of Defense. DOD 4120.15-L Model Designation of Military Aircraft, Rockets, and Guided Missiles. Washington, DC: Department of Defense, 1998.
  • United States. Department of Defense. DOD 4120.15-L Model Designation of Military Aircraft, Rockets, and Guided Missiles. Washington, DC: Department of Defense, 2004.

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