Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King ~ WarManiac

Designation: Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King
Classification Type: Ship-based Anti-Submarine Warfare Helicopter
Contractor: Sikorsky - USA
Country of Origin: United States
Initial Year of Service: 1961
Number Built: 1,100

Pada puncaknya, seri Sikorsky SH-3 untuk AL sangat luas dipakai dan sukses sebagai platform antikapal selam dan operasi SAR. Pengembangan dimulai dari proposal kontrak AL AS pada 1957 yang akan memproduksi purwarupa yang diterbangkan pada 1959. Pengoperasiannya akan secara resmi dilakukan setelah dua tahun penerbangan purwarupanya.

Pada pengoperasian, SH-3 berhasil menjalankan peran pentingnya sebagai perlindungan terhadap kapal selam musuh. Helikoter ini menjadi platform utama, dengan menggunakan radar sonar kedalaman AQS81B, MAD, sonobuoys dan fleet-wide linkup, Sea King memberikan data akurat untuk perlindungan dari serangan musuh. Persenjataan standarnya terdiri dari 2 atau 4 torpedo bersama dengan “chaff pods” untuk perlindungan diri terhadap misil musuh. Persenjataan lain dapat terdiri dari misil anti-kapal atau “depth charges” jika dibutuhkan.

SH-3 dikembangkan untuk menjalankan peran versatil (bermacam-macam), dapat digunakan untuk medis dan transpor secara efisien dan efektif seperti saat digunakan untuk peran pertempuran. Sebagai transpor medis, lebih dari 20 pasien dapat diangkut, atau personel ini dapat diganti dengan 9 tandu medis. Sebagai tambahan, sekitar 28 personel tempur dapat diangkut jika dibutuhkan dalam peran transport militer. Menariknya desain Sea King adalah dia dapat mendarat di air karena desain amfibinya, walaupun dengan waktu mengapung yang terbatas.

SH-3 muncul dengan peran penting baru dari waktu-ke-waktu, yang sangat menarik adalah sebagai Marine One, transport VIP khusus untuk Presiden AS dan dioperasikan oleh Marinir AS. SH-3 juga berperan dalam recovery awak Apollo 14. Dalam area AS, saat ini, SH-3 mulai digantikan perannya oleh SH-60 Sea Hawk yang lebih baru.

Specifications: Sikorsky SH-3D Sea King

Dimensions:
Length: 54.76ft (16.69m)
Width: 0.00ft (0.00m)
Height: 16.83ft (5.13m)

Performance:
Max Speed: 166mph (267kmh; 144kts)
Max Range: 624miles (1,005km)
Climb Rate: Not Available
Ceiling: 14,701ft (4,481m; 2.8miles)

Structure:
Accommodation: 4 + 3
Hardpoints: 4
Empty Weight: 11,865lbs (5,382kg)
MTOW: 21,499lbs (9,752kg)

Power:
Engine(s): 2 x General Electric T58-GE-10 turboshaft engines developing 1,400shp each and driving a five-blade main rotor and five-blade tail rotor.

Weapons Suite:
Varies depending on operator:
2 OR 4 x Mk 46/44 torpedoes
2 x anti-ship missiles
4 x depth charges
Up to 840lbs of ordnance and equipment

Operators:
Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Thailand, Venezuela, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Variants:
XHSS S-2 – Single Example Prototype of the H-3
YHS S-2 – Development and Test Aircraft; seven examples produced.
S-61 - Sikorsky Company Designation
S-61A – Export Designation for Royal Danish AF usage
S-61A Nuri – Export Designation for Malaysian AF usage; dedicated troop transport; seating for 31.
S-61A/AH – Utility Model for Antarctica sear and rescue (SAR) operations
S-61B – Export Designation for Japanese MSDF usage; based on SH-3 model; anti-submarine warfare version.
S-61D-3 – Export Model Designation for Brazil
S-61D-4 – Export Model Designation for Argentina
S-61NR – Search and rescue (SAR) model for Argentine usage.
S-61L/N – Civilian Model of the Sea King
S-61R – Sikorsky company designation for CH-3C/E and HH-3E “Jolly Green Giant” models serving with USAF, USCG and Italian forces.
S-61V – Single Example Model produced for Indonesia; Sikorsky company designation for VH-3A.
HSS-2 - Original Production Series Designation
CH-3A – USAF Dedicated Transport Model; conversions from SH-3A models; 3 examples converted as such.
CH-3B – USAF Dedicated Transport Model
CH-124 – Canadian Naval Model; anti-submarine warfare version
HH-3A – SH-3A model conversions to search and rescue (SAR) aircraft; 12 examples converted as such.
NH-3A (S-61F) – Experimental Variant conversion from SH-3A model; fitted with turbojet engines and wing structures; single example model.
RH-3A – Dedicated Minesweeper; 9 examples converted from SH-3A.
SH-3A - Initial Production Model; dedicated anti-submarine warfare model; fitted with T58-GE8B turboshaft engines of 1,260 horsepower; 245 examples produced.
SH-3D - Upgraded SH-3 Model
SH-3D-TS – Anti-Submarine Warfare Model
SH-3G – Utility/Cargo Model for US Navy
SH-3H - Multirole/General Purpose Anti-Submarine Model; dipping sonar; MAD gear; search radar; for US Navy
SH-3H AEW – Airborne Early Warning
UH-3H – Utility/Cargo Transport Model for US Navy
VH-3A – US Army and Marines VIP Transport Model
VH-3D – US Marine Corps VIP Transport Model
AS-61/ASH-3 - Agusta Production Designation built under license in Italy.
AS-61A-1 – Italian Export Model Designation for Royal Malaysian AF use.
AS-61A-4 – Agusta license production model; search and rescue and military transport model.
AS-61N-1 Silver – Agusta License Production Model of the S-61N but with shorter cabin area.
AS-61VIP – Agusta license production model; VIP passenger transport model.
ASH-3A – Agusta license production model; multi-purpose utility transport model.
ASH-3D – Agusta license production model; anti-submarine warfare version
ASH-3TS (ASH-3D/TS) – Agusta license production executive VIP transport model.
ASH-3H – Agusta license production model; anti-submarine warfare version
Sea King HAS.Mk 1 - Initial Sea King production model produced under license by Westland in the United Kingdom based on a re-engined SH-3D model; fitted with 2 x Rolls-Royce H.1400 Gnome series engines.
Sea King HAS.Mk 2 – Westland license production
Sea King HAS.Mk 5 – Westland license production
Sea King HAS.Mk 6 – Westland license production
Sea King AEW.Mk 2A – Westland license production; dedicated AEW variant; conversion of HAS.Mk 2 models.
Sea King AEW.Mk 5 – Westland license production; dedicated AEW variant; conversion of HAS.Mk 5 models.
Sea King AEW.Mk 7 – Westland license production; dedicated AEW variant; conversion of HAS.Mk 5 models.
Sea King HAR.Mk 3 – Westland license production; search and rescue (SAR) derivative.
Sea King HAR.Mk 3A – Westland license production; search and rescue (SAR) derivative.
S-61A – Mitsubishi license production; based on S-61A model; search and rescue and utility platform._
HSS-2 – Mitsubishi license production; based on the S-61B model; anti-submarine warfare series.
HSS-2A – Mitsubishi license production; based on the S-61B(SH-3D) model; anti-submarine warfare series._
HSS-2B – Mitsubishi license production; based on the S-61B(SH-3H) model; anti-submarine warfare series.