o,'u D

ll : [\
U

I
\
\
ri
lr How to obia
MACHINE
-
l: ii
: ::::nt. ln case
-::: ::,:-ass
-i
: -:i's f or WAR
UK& Eire: Se-: : --::-: :" ::s:al Order
rn your
::-:h African

Volume3 Issue 36 forf3.95perb^.:' -- : ! : ::vableto

CONTENTS
Assault Helicopters
Adrospatiale SA 32 I Supet
Adrospatiale/We$land SA 320 Puma
WestlandWessex
iVestiand Commando
SikorslryCH"3andHH-3
Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion
0peration'Eagle Claw'
Srkorsl<y H-53 in Action
Sikorsky CH-54 Tuhe
Sikorslcy UH-60 Black Hawk
Assault on Grenada
BellUH-l koquois
Bell0H-58Kiowa
Boeing Vertol CH-47 Chinook
Mrl Mi-O'Hook' and Mi-
IilMi-8'Hip'
Arrned Torces of the World
Frelon
Consultant Editor: Major General Sir
Jeremy Moore KCB OBE MC, Comman-
der of British Land Forces during the
Falklands campaign.
Distribution and marketing oflices:
Orbis Publishino I td
Orbis House "
20-22 Bedfordbury
London WC2N 4BT
Telephone: 01-379 67'1 1
Circulation Director: David Breed
Marketing Director: Michael Joyce
WAR MACHINE
Pr ce UK 80p. lR f1. Aus $1.95, NZ $2.25.
SA F1.95. Singapore $4.50. USA and
Canada $1.95
How to obtain your copies of WAR
MACHINE: Copies are obtainable by plac-
-3 : regular order at your Newsagent, or by
I0'Huke' :'< -E out a subscrlption.
S!bscription Rates
::- s r -onrhs (26 issues) fl23.80; for one
.::" :i ssues) f47.60. Send your order
:-: -a-:,:-ae to Punch Subscription Ser-
::. '..: -j Street, Bletchley, Milton
' : - :. I - : .:s \,' K2 2 BW, being sure to
! :-: :-: ---::- :':l'eflrstlssue required.
Orbis Puolrsni^g -:: :: ..-: .'iC-l'NE
Binders, Orbrs house ----- i::':-ooury,
London WC2N 4BT
Europe: Write with remittance :' i-
C0 per
binder (incl p & p) payable to Orbs Pub-
lishing Ltd to WAR MACHINE Binders,
Orbis House, 20-22 Bedfordbury, London
WC2N 4BT.
Malta: Binders are obtainable through you'
local Newsagent, price f3.95. ln case o'
difficulty write to wAR MACHINE Binders
Miller (Malta) Ltd, M.A. Vassalli Street, Ve-
letta. Malta.
Australia: For details of how to obtain yor'
binders see inserts ln early issues or w'i::
tO WAR MACHINE BiNdErS, First POSI P'i',
Ltd,23 Chandos Street, St Leonards, NS\\
2065. The binders supplied are those rllus.
trated in the magazine.
New Zealand: Binders are availab e
through your local Newsagent or f rom WA;
MACHINE Binders, Gordon & Gotch (NZ
Ltd, PO Box 1594, Wellington.
South Africa: Binders are available throuc -
any branch of Central News Agency. I n cai:
of difficulty write to wAF lvlAcHlNE B -
ders, Intermag, PO Box 57394. Springfie:
Note: Binders and Back Numbers a':
obtainable subject to availability of stoc<.
Whilst every attempt is made to keep t-:
price of the issues and blnders consta-'
the publishers reserve the right to incre.: :
the stated prices at any time when :
cumstances dictate. Binders depictec
this publication are those produced for :-:
UK market only and may not necesse'
be identical to binders produced for s"
outside the UK. Binders and issues ma1 ::=

- S lary (Fart 3) 3::< illumbers subject to import duty and /or local tax=:
- ri &. E re :.:. ---ie,s are obtainable which are not included in the above pr :: ,
unless stated.
Pub ished by Desig n
The WAR MACHINE published by O-:
--: s ?ublishing Ltd
I :e'ospace Publlshing Ltd 1984 Colour Orig nat c' Publishing Ltd has no connection witl' :-.
WAR MACHINE published by Emjay. --.
:
I
,, :-' prof es, diagrams and cutaway Tl.a-: l,,-
:".... .9s @ Pilot Press Ltd
Typesetting: !, ,
atter is a magazine devoted to comp,-:
s 'nLr ation gam ng and further inform:: , ' I
E:itcrial Offices :"c srbscrlption details can be obta -=:
. \'1:ch ne Film workr :--: .:
'-
-:-:srace Publishing Ltd
- 3.'e;,r Mow Passage Artists: It
-: -::n \iV4 4PH Keith Wcc.::,. .l
1,1:naging Editor: Stan Morse i.::-': i : r= :.* :: dgeme:,ts I
!d torial: Trisha Pa mer 1 0845 l: :. : :: :.:._- : :: . I
Chrls Bishop
Jon Lake
I
Chr s Chant I

Fonlrmmrng issues feature:

Modenr Towed Artillery
Ilirng-boats of World Wu II
liliem Tracked APCs and IFVs
Iight Fighters of World Wu II F
Hdem Destoyers

I
:f';:;'r .=i.! iri::'

I

The assault helicopter is perhaps the most useful and
vercatile type of aircraft avail&le to anair armof anysize,
Despite being less glamorous than superconic fighters, and
Iess available in'hand-me-down' gifts from the majorpowers,
assault helicopters are foundinthe inventoies of almost
every air force and have seen seruice in every conllict since
Malaya andVietnam.
Despite the lact that development of the hehcopter can be traced back
some 50 years to the advent of the autogyro, rt rs only rn the past 20 years
or so thai the helicopter has gained widespread acceptance as a
weapon of war,
Capable of operation virtually anywhere in the world, the helicopter ts
a truly remarkable flyrng machine, and it would be fair to say that its
impact on the conduct of war has been no less dramatic than that of
fixed-wrng aircraft. But it was not always thus, and rndeed there were
many who questioned the very validity of the concept, Vietnam, the
availability of turbine power and the immortal 'Huey' changed all that
and no self-respecting air force, na!ry or army would now be wtthout a
complement of these hrghly versatile machines.
Today, hehcopters routrnely undertake a multiphcity of missions rang-
ing from anti-submarlne warfare through airborne early warning to
electronic combat, Perhaps the most important single mission, however,
is that ofassault and assault support, for the hehcopter can truly lay claim
.;:
i: -
t:
?"r q r;.- -
Assault helicopters were first used by the RoyalAir Force in Malaya. Here a
WestlandWhirlwindHAR.Mk4 of No. 155 Squadrondrops aninfantry patrol
in a remote jungle clearing.
to have liberated the foot soldrer, No longer is it necessary lor tr:
humble 'grunt' to march for hours or days before taking up arms: tocia-,-
he can travel rapidly to the combat zone, arriving fresh and ready to i:
battle. Simrlarly, artillery support can be deployed rapidly to virtua-.-.'
any location at which it is urgently needed, And in the event oi :.::
fortunes oiwar proving unkind, it is possrble to evacuate personnel a:i
equipment in short order, thus enabling them to fight another battle ::.
another day.
To use the modern military vernacular, the helicopter, be it large ltk=
the Slkorsky CH-53E Super Stalllon or small like the Bell OH-58 Kiora
can truly be sard to be a force multlplier.
A South African Air Force Puma from No. /9Sgn, baseda t Swartkop, edges
towards a rocky outcrop in the Drakensberg mountains. South African Pumas
have been used exfensiye Iy on operations in Angola and Namibia.
m eetorpatiale SA 321 Super Frelon
A development of the original Sud-
Aviation SA 3200 Frelon (hornet)
medium-transport helicopter which
flew for the frst time during June 1959,
the A6rospatiale SA 32I Super Frelon
holds the distinction of being the
largest European-designed helicopter
yet to attain quanttty productron, and is
presently in sewice with several of the
world's air arms.
A number ofvariants have appeared
to date, optimized for a variety of mis-
sions ranging from anti-submarine
warfare through conventional trans-
port to assault duty, and the type has
seen some combat action, most not-
ably with Israel's Heyl Ha'Avir which
employed the type in the commando
raid on Beirut airport several years
ago,
Initially designated SA 3210, two
prototypes were built (one troop trans-
port model and one for maritime ap-
plications), these making their respec-
tive marden flights in December 1962
and May 1963, Four pre-production SA
321 he[copters followed them down
the Marigmane line before examples of
the SA 32lG ASW model for France's
A6ronavale began to appear in the last
quarter of 1965, these subsequently
entering service durinq the course of
1966. Designed for operatron from the
m ffi eetorpatialeAtr/estlandSA
Puma
A Puma of the Royal Moroccan
G endarmerie Air S quadron, a
paramilitary force orgahi zed
alongthe same lines as the
F rench G end arm erie. The
Puma has beenwidely
exported and over 600 have
beenbuilt.
APumaofNo.230 SqnRAF
garishly painted with 'Tiger
S tripes' for a NATO Tiger
Meet. The RAF's Pumas were
used extensively in Rhodesia
during Britain's monitoring ol
the elections and the
ceasefire.
Without doubt one of the more suc-
cessful examples of Anglo-French col-
laboration, the A6rospatiale/Westland
SA 330 Puma has been in guantity pro-
duction for more than 15 years and is in
widespread use throughout the world,
serving with close to 40 air arms plus
many civilian concerns,
Originally conceived by Sud-
Aviation in response to a French army
(ALAT) requrrement for an all-
weather/aIl-climate medium tactical
helicopter capable of carrying 16
troops or foeight, the SA 330 prototype
was still in the process of manufacture
when, in 1967, it was selected to fulfi1
702
often cramped confines of aircraft-
carriers, the SA 321G has a folding tail
section to assist in stowage and tn-
corporates Sylphe panoramic radar in
the outrigger floats, dunking sonar
equipment and provision for the car-
riage of up to four homing torpedoes,
In addition to the mantime version
produced lor France, the Super Frelon
has also appeared in civil gnrise but
failed to secure any substantial orders,
However, it has achieved some suc-
cess in the export market, Israel berng
one of the flrst customers when it
ordered the SA 32lK for military trans-
port duties. Delivery of these began rn
1967, and thetype has srnce proved its
worth in airborne assault misslons on
the Royal Air Force's Tactrcal Trans-
port Programme, subsequently be-
comrng the subject of a joint produc-
tion agrreement between A6rospatiale
rn France rn Westland Helicopters in
the United Krngdom. Coincidental wtth
thrs decision, an ordet was placed for
40 Puma HC.Mk I hehcopters for the
RAF.
Two prototypes and six pre-
production specimens were built rn all,
the first of these making a succesful
maiden fliqht in mid-April 1968. The
irst production example ofthe SA 3308
for ALAT took to the air in September
1968, with deliveries beginning fairly
several occasions, Lacking the amphi-
bious qualities of the SA 321G, the SA
32lK is essentially a military variant of
the SA 32U; another derivative of this
type rs the SA 321L, which is in wide-
spread service with the South African
Ar Force, another air arm which has
used the Super Frelon in combat on
numerous occasions. Another sub-
type is the SA 32lM operated by Libya
in dual ASWsearch-and-rescue tasks,
whilst fwther customers include China
and lran,
Specification
A6rospatiale SA 32 lG Super Frelon
Tlpe: ASW helicopter
Armament: four hominq torpedoes
**'=***-***
AIR
€
soon after that, in March 1969, although
the varrant did not attain full operation-
al status until June 1970, By then, the
last pre-production machine had been
modifled to RAF confignrration and this
was joined by the first Westland-built
SA 330E rn the trials progrramme on 25
November 1970, Delivenes to the RAF
got under way in 1971, initially to No.
240 Operational Conversion Unit and
later in the year to No, 33 Squadron,
both being based at Odiham,
In addition to these two customers,
the Puma soon found favour overseas,
the initial export model being the SA
330C, Based on the SA 3308, this
An Adrospatiale Super Frelon in the
colours of the Libyan air force belore
the introduction of a plain green
I slamic flag in the mid I 970s. Libyan
Super Frelons are used mainly for
search and rescue.
Powerplant: three Turbom6ca IIIC-6
turboshafts each rated at 1, 550 shp
(1Is6 kw); (SA 32lK) 1,870 shp
(i394 kW) GE TSB- 10 engnnes
Performance: maximum speed at sea
level275 krn/h (171 mph); cruising
speed at sea level 250 kn/h (i55 mph):
service ceiling 3 150 m ( 10,325 ft);
normal range at sea level 820 lcn (509
miles)
Weights: empty 670 kg (14,771 1b);
maximum take-off 13000 kg (28,660 ]b)
Dimensions: main rotor diameter lB,9C
(62 ft 0 in); lengrth of fi.rselage 19.40 m
(63 ft 73/q in); h6ight at tail rotor 6,65 m
(21 ft 10 in); mainrotordiscarea
280.55 m'z(3,020 sq ff)
€
ffi:
H:
q
re*'5
=*:.- ' -.e6
achieved considerable success
although it rs no longer in production,
having been supplanted by later mod-
els such as the SA 330H and SA 330L,
both of which incorporate improve-
ments arrsing from early operational
experience, whrch indicated a need
for additional power,
Production of the Puma was original-
ly centred on Yeovtl and Marignane,
but licence production and assembly
agreements have since been reached
with ICA in Romama, with Nurtanio in
Indonesia and with Helibras in Brazil,
while a more recent development, the
AS 332 Super Puma, first flew in
September 1978, this featuring diffe-
rent and more powerful engnnes. com-
posite rotor blades, sinqle-wheel main
landing gear units and full de-icing
equipment.
Specification
A6rospatiale/Westland SA 330L Puma
Tlpe: medium transporVassault
helicopter
Armament: a wide diversity of cannon,
machine-guns, rockets and missiles
can be carried
Powerplant: hvo Twbom6ca T\rrmo
IVC turboshafts each rated at 1,575 shp
(1174 kW)
Performance: maximum permissible
speed 293 lsr/h (lB2 mph): maximum
cruisrnq speed 271 km,tr (168 mph);
servrce ceiling 6000 m (19,685 ft);
maxrmum range at normal cruise
speed 572 km (355 miles)
Weights: empty 3615 ks (7970 lb);
maximum take-off 7400 kg (16,3 15 lb)
Dimensions: diameter of main rotor
15,00 m (49 ftZVzin): lencrth 18, l5 m
(59 ft 6/z ln); heisht 5. 14 m ( 16 ft
I0 Vz tn), main rotor disc area I 76, 7 I m2
(1,902,2 sq ft)

The pilotof thisNo.33 SqnPuma

rndulges in som e low flying along a
river in Belize. The squadron,
normally based atOdiham, keeps a
detachment in Belize in supportof
British ground forces who deter
ex pansion by neigh bouring
Guatemala-

ffi WestlandWessex
Despite the fact that it is essentially
based upon the early 1950s vintage
Sikorsky S-58, the Westland Wessex is
still extenslely used by the British
armed forces, examples servrng with
the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Au
Arm on a variety of tasks which encom-
pass arr-sea rescue, commando assault
and logistical support,
Initially acquired to fr:lfil the Royal
Navy's need for a modern and relative-
ly sophisticated anti-submarine war-
fare helicopter, the Wessex has de-
monstrated considerable versatility
and durability since then, Built under
licence and developed by Westland,
the Wessex enjoyed the benefits be-
stowed by h;rbine power and entered
service wrth the Fleet Air Arm as the AWessex HC.Mk 2 oI No. 28 Sqn based at KaiTak, Hong Kong. The squadron's
Wessex HAS.Mk I dwing 1960, The used during the Falklands conllict, tak- role is mainly one of supporting the Hong Kong police and British Army in
next major variant to appear was the ing part in operations on East Falkland anti-illegal immigration operations.
Wessex HC.Mk 2 for the RAF, this and also being involved in lesser ac-
being able to carry a payload of 16 tions at South Georgia. Losses were A Royal Navy Wessex HU .Mk 5
been used operationally in the
troops or seven stretchers when oper- fairly high, largely as a result of the disembarks a group of Royal
Middle East and in the Fatklands
ating ln the casevac (casualty evacua- sinking of Ihe Atlantic Conveyor, MarinesonanexerciseinNorway. conflictof IgS2.OlderWessexare
tion) role, which was carryingT a number of Wes- BritishWessexhelicoptershave single-engined.
Further refinement of the special sex reinforcements when it was struck
ued ASW equipment brought about by an Exocet mr,ssile.
the Wessex HAS.Mk 3 version, which
was instantly identifiable by virhle of
the distinctlve dorsal radome, many of Specification
the orrginal Wessex HAS,Mk Is being Westland Wessex HU.Mk 5
retrofitted wlth this equipment. TWo Type: tactical transport and assault
Wessex HCC.Mk 4 helicopters for The helicopter
Queen's Flight
Fliqht followed,
followed. the final ver- Armament: provision for machine-
sion being
beinq the Wessex EHU.Mk 5, Used gnms and anti-tank missiles
solely by the Fleet Air fum, the Wes- Powerplant: one Rolls-Royce Coupled
sex HU,Mk 5 was earmarked princi- Gnome 101/l I I limited to total
pally for assault duties and was the combtnedpowerof I,350 shp
logical replacement icr those West- (1007 kw)
land Whirlwinds whrch had performed Performance: maximum speed
this function for several years, Payload 212 lan/h(I32 mph); cruisingspeed
capability of the Wessex HU.Mk 5 was I95 kn/h (l2l mph); servrce ceiling
essentially identical to that of the RAF's 4300 m (14, 100 ft); range with standard
Wessex HC.Mk 2 and, indeed, both tuel628 krn (390 miles)
variants are able to carry underslung Weights: empty 3927 lb (B,657 1b);
loads, a vaiuable option when speed is maximum take-off 6 120 kg ( i3, 500 ]b)
of paramount concern, as is often the Dimensions: main rotor diameter
case in combat, 17.07 m (56 ft 0 in); lengrthoftuselage
Although less capable than the Sea 14,7 4 m (48 ft 4Vz tn), heisht 4, 93 m
King HC,Mk 4 with regrard to payload, ( 16 ft 2 in); main rotor disc area
the Wessex HU,Mk 5 was extensively 228.82m2 (2,463 sqft)
 Westland Commando
l:.,::-:ed :or tactical military dutres,
::.: Westiand Commando evolved
:::::- ::e Westland Sea King anti-
i-::.J:ne'warfare helicopter, itself a
::'"':-:pment of the original Sikorsky
S:-: Sea King which rs widely used by
.---=-S Naqr.
-::krng specialized ASW equip-
:-:---: the Commando was originally
:,-:.:erved mainly for the expod mar-
j :r has achieved some success in .;r
=-c
.-:-= :-eld examples being pwchased
:-.' !;ript and Qatar, A basically similar
:-i:rr.ne, known as the Sea King TheWesUand Commando is a dedicated assaultversion of the navalSeaKing 1,660 shp (1238 kW)
.-iC,Mk 4, has also been acquired by helicopter, and has been widely exported. This example is one of 28 operated Performance: cruisingt speed at sea
::.: Royal Navy and this presently by the Egyptian air force. level 2OB km/h ( 129 mph); range with
:::,'es with two Commando squad- maximum payload and reserves
::- being employed purely in the search and rescue and strtke tasks, HC,Mk 4s was obtained, these routine- 444 km (276 mrles); ferry rangre with
...s.iilt role, Unlike the Commando, which is ly being used to alrlift Royal Marines maximum fuel 1460 km (9OZ miles)
: eaturinet a fixed tail-wheel landing principally intended for use from land and possessing the ability to operate in Weights: empty 5,544 kg (12,222 lb';
;::r and lackrng the sponsbns of the bases, the Sea King HC.Mk 4 is fre-
quently deployed aboard aircraft-
all krnds of environment, ranging from
the heat and humidity of the tropics to
maximum take-off 9525 kg (2 I,000 lb)
Dimensions: main rotor diameter
S.:: iing, the Commando can carry up
: 2E fully-armed troops as well as a carriers and thus possesses foiding the bitter cold of the Arctic crrcle. 18.90 m (62 ft 0 rn); lengrth, rotors
::e','; of two, In addition, it possesses main rotor blades and tail unit to facilr turning 22, 15 m (72 ft B in); height 5. 13
r.: ablhty to carry underslung loads of tate stowage aboard ship, Airhft capa- Specification m (16 It 10 rn): main rotor disc area
'-: ic 3629 kq (8,000 lb), whilst provi- bility is slightly less than that of the Westland Sea King HC.Mk 4 2BA 47 mz (3 O19 sq ft)
:,:: ior fltment of armament also exists, Commando, at 27 troops or 3402k9 Type: tactical transporVassault
-:.. parent company having evaluated (7,500 Ib) ofcargo slung externally, but helicopter An Egyptian Commando on test in
: '.-anety of weapons including gruns, the type more than proved its vaiue in Armament:awide variety of cannon, Britain before delivery. The
:::ket pods and missiles, A particular- the Falklands duringr the 1982 cam- machine-gmns, rockets and misstles Commando is notused by Britain's
-.'ersatile helicopter, the Commando paign, playing a major part in support- can be carried armed forces, but the generally
-'.'
'i equally adept at assault, casualty ing the rapid advance of Britrsh troops Powerplant: two Rolls-Royce Gnome similar Sea King HC.Mk4 was used
:','acuation, Iogistrcal support, combat on Port Stanley, A total of 15 Sea King H. 1400- I turboshafts each rated ai intensively in the Falklands.
E Hitorrt yCH-3 andHH-3
A variant of the highiy successful
Sikorsky 5-61 series which was origi-
nally conceived in response to a US
Navy requuement, the CH-3 was in-
tended for sewice with the US Air
Force purely in the transport role, and
came about in the early I960s when the
USAF identified a need for a long-
range helicopter to resupply the
'Texas Tower' radar facilities situated
in the offshore water in the southern
USA.
This task was first performed with a
trio of CH-38 helicopters, these being
simply HSS-2s obtained on loan from
the USS Navy, and their success soon
led to a formal USAF decision to ac-
quire the CH-3C, To enable the US Arr
Force mission 10 be performed satis-
factorily several desigm changes were
recommended, the most obvrous of
these concerning the aft fuselage
whrch was modified to incorporate a
hydraulically-powered rear door and
loading ramp, whilst the landing gear
was also changed rn favow of a more
conventional tricycle layout with twin
wheels on each unit, In addition, a high
degree of self-sufficiency was re-
quired for operation at remote sites
E Hitorrt y cH-53
In its present production form as the
CH-53E Sea Stallion, the Srkorsky 5-65
is easily the largest and most powerful
helicopter to emerge in the West, pro-
totype examples demonstrating im-
pressive lift capability on numerous
occasions in recent years, Desigm of
the basic Sea Stallion in fact dates back
to 1960, when the US Marine Corps
requested indrstry to submit propos-
als for a new type to replace the Srkor-
sky CH-37 Mojave, a piston-engine
type whrch was then rapidly ap-
proaching obsolescence,
Sikorsky responded with the 5-65, a
qurte massive machrne with a number
of interesting features and with heavy
emphasrs placed on payload capabil-
ity and ease of operation in the field,
Flown for the first trme in prototype
form dwing October 1964, the type
was ordered lnto production with de-
liveries of the imtial variant, the CH-
53A, beginnlnq in September 1966,
Deployment to Vietnam followed swift-
ly, examples being active from the US
Martne Corps facility at Marble Moun-
tain near Da Nang at the beginning of
1967, and thereafter the Sea Stalhon
played a major part in the remainder of
the war, its all-weather capability sig-
nificantly enhancinq heavy-1ift re-
sources in that theatre,
The second major production model
to see service wrth the US Marines was
the CH-53D which was rntroduced in
March i969 and fitted with more
powerful engines a well as a special
internal cargo-handhng system cap-
able of operation by just one man. Up
to 55 fully-armed troops could be car-
ried by the CH-53D, and this derivative
where grround facilities were lacking,
and this necessitated provsion of an
auxiliary power unit.
Known in company parlance as the
S-61R, this model made its maiden
flight in June 1963, entering sewrce at
Tyndall AFB, Florida, just before the
end of the same year. A total of 50
helicopters of this type was burlt for the
USAP, production switching ln 1966 to
the more powerful CH-3E, of which 77
were produced although many
appeared as (or were later modified
to) HH-3E Jolly Green Giant standard
for sewice with the Aerospace Rescue
and Recovery Sewice in the combat HH-3F Pelican, is widely used by the A Sikorsky HH -3E Jolly Green Giant
search and rescue role, rn which the US Coast Guard on search and rescue recover s a downed pilot in Vie tn am.
type performed many heroic rescue duties of a humanitarian nature, The IilH-3 was used extensively in
actions in both North and South Viet- Vie tn am, s ome in the as s ault role.
narn, Specification
Best known for its expiorts in the res- SikorskyCH-3E
cue role, the CH-3 is also employed in Type: transport helicopter (465 miles)
drone recovery, whilst a handful of ex- Armament:none Weishts: empty 60 10 kg (13,255 lb);
amples has seen service with the Powerplant: two General Electric TSB- normal take-off 9635 kg (2 i, 247 lb);
USAF's small force of special opera- GE-5 turboshafts each rated at maximum take-off 10000 kq (22,050 lb)
tions squadrons rn support ofUS Army 1,500 shp (1119 kW) Dimensions: main rotor dlameter
special forces umts engaged in clan- Performance: maxrmum speed 18,90 m (62 ft 0 in); lengrth, rotors
destine operations, These have now 261 kn/h (162 mph); service ceiling twrun922,25 m (73 ft0 in); heisht
largely grven way to the CH-53C. 3385 m (I1, 100 ft); range rmth 5,51 m(-18 ft I in); mainrotordiscarea
An essentially srmilar version, the maximum fuel and reserves 748 km 280,5 mz (3,019 sq ft)
Sea Stallion
measrues model in the fauly near fu-
ture to replace the RH-53D.
miles)
Weights: empty 14537 kg (32,048 1b);
maxrmum take-off 3I369 kg (69,750 lb)
still equlps several USMC squadrons Specification Dimensions: main rotor diameter
today, Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion 24,08 m (79 ft 0 in); length, rotors
Other variants which have ap- Type: heavy-lift transporVassault twning22.48 m (73 ft 9 in); height
peared rnclude the HII-S3B and IIH- helicopter 8,46 m (27 ft 9 in); main rotor disc area
53C, both for service with the Aeros- Armament:none 455,36 m'z (4,901.66 sq ft)
pace Rescue and Recovery Serrnce on Powerplant: three General Electric
combat search and rescue dutles, and T64-GE-415 turboshafts each rated at
the CH-53C which is employed by the 3,670 shp (2737 kW) A Sikorsl<y RH-53D Sea Stallion in the
USAF in support ofspecial forces units Performance: maximum speed at sea mar kings of M arine H elicop ter M ine
and to move ground-based tactical level 315 l.ff/h (196 mph); maximum C oun termeasu res S qu adron I 6.
radars. cruising speed at sea level 278 km/h H e licopters from this u nit m ade the
Yet another derivative rs the RH-5.3D (173 mph); range at optimum crutse ill-fated attempt to rescue America's
minesweeper, this using towed condrtron with reserves 492 kn (306 Embassy hostages in Tehran.
sweeping equipment in clearance op-
erations. Currently equipping three
US Navy squadrons, the RH-53D was
also the model which took part rn the
disastrous attempt to free the Amer-
ican hostages held in Tehran,
The most recent addition to the Sea
Stallion family :,s the CH-53E Super Stal-
lion mentioned above, Thrs rs a radi-
cally different machine wlLrch arose
from the realization in the early 1970s
that even grreater heavy-lift potential
would be needed in fuh;re by the US
Marrne Corps, Althouqh its airframe rs
basically srmrlar to that of earlier mod-
els, the CH-53E has three engnnes dnv-
ing a seven-bladed main rotor and also
incorporates a qrreatly uprated trans-
mission. The type has recently been
introduced to operational serrnce. pro-
duction is continuing for the US
Marines, and the US Navy has plans to
obtain the MH-53E mine counter-
About 25 5-65 helicopters were purchased by the Heyl Ha'Avir (lsrael air
force). They are basically CH-53Ds with inflight-refuelling probes and desert
equipment.
705
Operation'Ecrgle Clcrw'
America's attempttor6scue ffteftostagesheldbymilitantstudents inTehranwasa
bold venture that failed largely due to unsewiceability of the RH-53D helicopters,
and was made tragic by an accident which destroyed two aircraft and killed eight
men.
When militant Iranian students seized the US
Embassy and Foreign Affairs buildings in
Tehran on 4 November 1979 during the Islamic
revolution, they also seized numerous Amer-
ican hostages, Over the next few months the
hostages provided much useful propaganda
for the new extremist regime and for this
reason, as well as concern for the safety of the
hostages, the US government made numerous
unsuccessful diplomatic attempts to free them,
From the early days of the crisis the possibili-
ties of a military solution were also explored,
and it has been claimed that an American re-
connaissance pady was sent into Iran only five
days after the embassy had been seized, The
reports from this group (as well as the spec-
tacular successes.of rescue operations by the
Israelis at Entebbe and the West Germans at
Mogadishu) maywell have promptedthe initial
decision to free the hostages by armed action
despite President Carter's speech to the Con-
gress in early January in which he stated that
such an operation lvould almost certainly end
in failure and the death of the hostages'.
The obvlous choice to conduct a military
rescue mission was the US Army's 'Blue Light
or 'Delta' force, This had been established at
Fort Bragg, North Carollna, about two years
earlier, and its first members had been trained
by the SAS in the UK. This force, composed of
resourceful and experienced commando
troops, was entrusted with the execution of the
mission, The process of assembling the various
elements which were to take part in Operation
'Eagle Claw' is believed to have begmn in late
November 1979, when a number of crews were
drawn from several US Marine Corps heavy-lift
helicopter squadrons. There was some critic-
isms that these crews were selected more to
ensure US Marine Corps participation than for
their ability Six Slkorsky RH-53D Sea Stallion
helicopters, drawn from Helicopter Mine
Countermeasures Squadron 16, were airlifted
to Diego Garcia late in 1979 and were
embarked on the aircraft-carrier USS Kjlty
Hawk.The RH-53D was feltto be the helicopter
most suitable for the job since, stripped of its
minesweeping eguipment and provided with
additional fuel capacity and navigational
equipment, it had sufficient range and payioad
for the mission. Moreover, as a naval helicopter
it looked less out of place on an American
carrier; US Air Force or US Army helicopters
might have compromised security, The RH-
53D also has a folding boom and is thus more
easily stored in an aircraft-carrier's hangar
deck. These six aircraft were later transferred
to USSIfirni/2, which brought with it two further
RH-53Ds.
Missionapproval
Intensive trainlng was conducted in the de-
sert around Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada,
during March and April 1980 On 14 April Pres-
ident Carter finally approved the mission. One
week later the assault squad crossed the Atlan-
tic in Lockheed C-130s, and then flew on to
Masirah, an Omani airfield on an, island off the
coast oiOman, Conflicting reports suggest that
Cairo West might have been used as the
springboard for the mission but this seems un-
likely, although US reconnaissance aircraft had
been making intensive use of alrfields in Egrypt
in connection with the Iran crisis, and the
C-130s probabiy did refuel at Cairo West be-
fore flying on to Masirah.
Intensive US Navy manoeuvres were
already under way in the indian Ocean and
these, involving two carrier task groups,
served to camoullage preparations for the res-
cue mission. Their presence may also indicate
serious consideration of alternative military
solutions to the crisis, such as a naval blockade
or a punitive strike on Iranian wells and re-
fineries.
The assault team consisted of 93 men from
'Delta Force' to rescue the bu.lk olthe hostages
from the Embassy, and another 13 from
'another unit' to rescue the three hostages from
the Foreign Affairs buildingr. On 24 April this
team was airlifted from Masirah to Desert One,
a smali airstrip 480 km (300 miles) south east of
Tehran, in Lockheed MC-130E Hercules from
the 7th Special Operations Squadron based at
Ramstein in Germany, The MC-130E is a ver-
sion of the Hercules designed specifically for
clandestine ln-filtration missions at low level
and is equipped with comprehensive ECM
and electronic warfare equipment. Three EG
l30E Hercules from the 7th Airborne Com-
mand and Control Squadron accompanied the
MC-130s, carrying fuel cells with which to re-
fuel RH-S3Ds, which were to rendezvous with
the assault force at Desert One,
The six Hercules arrived at Desert One on
schedule with llttle difficulty, A team had
already visited the airstrip and installed a radio
beacon in late March, and it is believed that
USAF C-130s had used the airstrip some two
years eariier on earthguake relief operatiors.
The C-130s were to have been joined some
30 minutes later by the eight RH-S3Ds, which
were to be refuelled before transporting the
assault force to Desert Two, another desert
strip I05 km (65 miles) south east of Tehran
As the evening draws in and light
begins tofade, final preparations are
made to the eight Sikorsky RH-13Ds
on the deck of USS Nimitz r,vftiJe tletr
crews wait, tense and newous.
 Ele cw-ThePlan
USAF C-141 StarLilter lands at Desert 7hree.
an lranian afufield which was to have
secured by a force of Rangers and held untiJ
hostages and rescaers had beenevacuated.
Mn

F - I 4 Tomcats and A-7 Corsatrs

from t/SS Nimitz aad USS Coral
Seaare tasked with providing
fighter cover and air support
should it be required. Carrier
based aircraft are to escottthe
RH-53s from Tehtan to Desert
Three after Delta Force have
treed the hostages.

Delta
Tehran: Under cover of the night, DesertTwo: Delta Force to wait until
ls

Fo'ce rslostorm tle Embassyald rescue tle lexteven rga'dlnendnvelnto

:hetostages. ^ Te"e'an
?. nverc-lessJopieobvlocal
i "a-aOents'
: "..
Oorr i Desert one: Delta F0 rce tra nsfers from
qrl-53s.\ \
DesertThree:A.loersonnelweretobe its l\,4Cj 30s to the RH-53s which are
flown ro Desen Three or the
ref uelled bythe ECI 30s. The ECl30s
I
These would ther be abandored and a \ returnto lvasirah, the BH-53s aret0 f y0n
wou doe{ ownoutond JSAF Starlitte" \ "* to DesertTwo.

Esfahan o

\ Yazdo
'r

\ . Kerman

Shiraz r

PERSIAN GULF

l
ON'IAN
\
One of three EC- I 30 Hercules takes off from Masirah, I

laden wilh fuel which will be used to refuel the !

helicopters which are to carry Delta Force to within

striking distance of Tehran. Three more MC- I 30 Masirah
Hercules carry Delta Force to Deserf One.

of eisrhf RFI-S3.Sea
Th e I as t
Stallions lifts offfrom t/.S.S Nimiu
to begrin its long joumey to
D esert One. H ere the RH - 5 3s will
refuelandpickupthe
Commandos who are to make
the rescue hid. They are ta be
Ilown to D esert Two, where thq
will wait un ti| the following
evening betore d iving in to
Tehran.
Operation'Eagle Claw'
An A-7 Corsair of VA-97'War H awks' waits to be
launched. Another Corsair, ofVA-27 'Royal Maces',
is in position on U.SS Coral SeaS port catapult. Both
aircraft bear the distinctive recognition stripes
applied to aircraft participating in Operation
'EagleClaw'.

near the town ol Garmsar, landing one hour

before sunrise, The assault force was to be met
at Desert TWo by lranian agents with various
vehicles and, after nightfall, driven to Tehran.
There lranian agents, co-ordinated by an
American agent travelling on false papers,
were aiready to have infiltrated the Embassy
compound before the men of the 'Delta Force'
stormed the Embassy, using a non-fatal para-
lysing nerve gas to immobilize the gmards.
When the Embassy had been secured the RH-
53Ds were to fly in and land in the compound,
or if this were lmpossible the nearby footbail
stadium, to airlift out the assault force, agents
and hostages, Meanwhile a Hercules gnrnship
was to be circling the Mehrabad internatlonal
airport to prevent Iranian fighter aircraft from
being scrambled, with another circling over
the Embassy, tasked to prevent lranian armour
moving up during the raid and then to destroy
the Embassy after the evacuation. The assault
force and hostages were to be flown to Desert
Three, the Iranian airfield of Manzariyeh,
which was to have been secured earlier by a
contingent of American Rangers. The RH-S3Ds
were to be abandoned and destroyed, and Operation 'Eagle Claw', carrying distinctive would have carried such markings if invoivei
everyone flown out on board USAF Irockheed recognition stdpes on the starboard wing. The in the operation.
C-141 Starl,ifters. It is thought likely that Iranian Coral Sea's Vought A-7s (of VA-27 'Royal The joumey of the eight RH-S3Ds did no:
radar and communications were to have been Maces' and VA-97 'War Hawks') and McDon- progress smoothly, for only sx arrived at De-
jammed by Grumman EA-6B Prowlers from the neil Douglas F-4Ns (from VMFA-323) all car- sert One and all were substantially delayed
Nimitz, and fighter cover to have been pro- ried black and red stripes, as did the A-7s of The helicopters crossed the Iranian coast a:
vided, if necessary, by Grumman F- 14 Tomcats VA-82'Marauders' and VA-86'Sidewinders' on 30 m (100 ft), flying in pairs in a loose diamoni
from the same ship. It is possible that air strikes Ihe Nimitz. Some VA-35 'Black Panthers' Grum- formation. Soon afterwards one helicopter
would have been launched to prevent lranian man A-6 Intruders carried similar markings,
air force interference, but this seems unlikely and there is some evidence to suggest that the
as great care had been taken to avoid Iranian .lftmr'fz-baseQ F-14s, from VF-41 'The Black
casualties and any ensuing major international Aces' and VF-84 'The Jolly Rogers', cairied red The moment of tragedy. With the mission already
incident. and black bands, and it seems likely that Prow- aborted, one of the RH-53s collides with a fuel-
Strike aircraft from both the USSNl?ttfz and lers, Lockheed S-3 Vikings, Grumman E-2 laden Hercules as it positions for a top-up of fuel
USS Coral Sea were certainly committed to Hawkeyes and Douglas EKA-3 Skywarriors for the long journeybackfo USS Nimitz.

made an emergency landing suspecting an
imminent rotor blade failwe. The helicopter
was abandoned and its crew picked up by
another RH-53D, which continued to the ren-
dezvous although now some way behind sche-
dule.
Meanwhile the rest of the formation had
been encountering problems of its ovrn as it ran
into an unforeseen dust cjoud. The flights lost
visual contact with one another, one flight land-
ing and spending 20 minutes on the gnound
while the other aircraft pressed on through the
dust cloud. One aircraft was forced to trun back
and return to ftte Nimitz after losing part of its
flight control system and many instruments.
The remaining helicopters struggled into De-
sert One individually, all arriving between 50
and 85 minutes late, The remaining Hercules
(at leasi one of the MC-130s having flown out
immedielely) had been at Desert One for some
two hours and had kept their engines running
for all this time to eliminate the need for ground
power units to restart. The tension ofwaiting for
the helicopters at Desert One had been re-
[eved on a couple ofoccasions. The first inci-
dent occurred soon after arrival when a bus-
load of Iranians was sighted on the road run-
ning past Desert One; the bus was stopped and
the passengers detained. Soon afterwards a
truck arrived, and this stopped only when
American troops opened fire, the driver
escaping in another car.
One helicopter unsenriceable
The helicopters were refuelled from huge
rubber balls firll of fuel, towed from helicopter
to helicopter by a jeep which had been
brought in byone of the MC-130s, One helicop-
ter was found to have a serious and potentially
hazardous fault in its hydraulic system, T\uo
conllicting reports state that this was caused by
a heavy ianding at Desert One or that it de-
veloped on the journey, By 02. 15 it was appa-
rent that this helicopter could neither be re-
paired nor used without risking the ioss of its
hydraulic system: in the latter event the flight
controls would lock and the helicopter wor:ld
crash.
The position was reported to the Boerng
E-34 communications aircraft circling at
9145m (30,000ft) over the Persian GuU, The
news was passed via the USS Nlirule and the
Pentagon to President Carter, Some reports
indicate that the commanders on the spot
pleaded to be allowed to continue with the
mission despite the fact that only five RH-S3Ds
remained and six had been assessed as the
minimum number necessary. Intelligence
soruces in Paris say that the Israelis monitored
the transmissions behveen lhe Nimitz and the
Pentagon and that these exchanges were 'he-
ated and acrimonious'. The White House re-
ported that the decision to abort the mission
was unanimous, Whichever version is true, it is
indisputable that President Carter did order
the mission to be aborted and instructed the
Nimitz to 'take any military action necessary to
extricate our forces'.
Tragedystrikes
If the decision to abort the mission was a
bitter pil| what foilowed was the stuflof which
tragedy is made, The five remaining service-
able helicopters were dispersed around the
EC-130Es, The first to arrive and refuel needed
a top-up of iuel before its return to the Ntrnfz,
and to permit this another helicopter had to
move clear, This lifted off amidst a large dust
cloud, bankingt slightly as it passed over the
wing of the EC-130. A main rotor blade sliced
into the fuselage of the EC- 130 causing a major
explosion and flre which engnrlfed both aircraft
and heiicopter. Detonatlng ammunition ham-
pered evacuation of personnel from both
machines and also damaged some of the re-
maining RH-S3Ds. The accident ciaimed the
lives of the five flightdeck crew in the EC-130
and three of those in the helicopter,
Subseguently al1 remaining personnel were
evacuated from Desert One aboard the surviv-
Assault Helicopters
Aftermath. The wreckage of the crashed RH-53 lies
in frontof one of the abandoned aircraft. The
Americans left behind the two crashed aircrafL
eight dead and the five surviving helicopters.
ing EC-130s and MC-i30s, which were ther:-
selves getting criticaily low on fuei. The re-
maining RH-S3Ds were abandoned, and there
was insufficient time to sabotage them or :c
recover the eight bodies belore the C-130s
flew back to Ramstein via Masirah and prob-
ably Bahrain, It seems likely that a refuelLing
stop was made at Bahrain, the Greeks havinj
revealed that they gave overfllght permssion
to three USAF aircraft en route from Bahrarn:c
Ramstein, carrying US servicemen with serious
burns.
Aboldventure
The operatron might have worked, but t:
would have required meticulous timing, un-
wary gnrards and a large slice of luck which d-tci
not, in the event, materialize, It had been nell
rehearsed with apparently generous margms
for error, and it was unexpectedly bold. I=
unexpectedness can be gauged by the fact iia:
the Iranian defence ministry knew nothrng c:
the attempt until one hour after the Whi:e
House announcement when the Tehran corres-
pondent of a British radio station telephoned;cr
comments. The serviceability of the RH-53s
seems to have been atrocious, but eight v,.as
the maximum number which could be f,t.:ei
into the hangar deck of Ihe Nimitz, and had
aircraft been stored on deck seryiceabili:r'
might weil have been even lower,
Operation 'Eagle Claw' was indisputabl,t'a
boid plan of considerable sca1e, but was prob-
ably doomed to fallure by the very facts -tra:::
was over-ambltious and that insuffcient pla:--
ning had been made for contingencies such a.
bad weather, unserviceabilities and Irania:: :::-
tervention, all oi which occurred.
Sil@rskgHH-53
The Sikorsky HH-53C Sea Stallion is used by the
Aerospace Res cae and Recovery Service in
combat search and rescue duties, replacing the
HH-3 Jolly GreenGiantin this role. Othervariants
are used for heavy litt of troops and equipment,
and the US Naw uses the RH-53D for
minesweeping.

710
I
l
Sikorskg H-53 in Action
Perhaps the world's most versatile heavy helicopter, the H-53 Sea Stallion was
designed to meet a US Marine Corps requirement for a heavy assault helicoitter. The In the event, all this effort proved fruitless, for
airciaft has been subj ected to rigorous development and has been pressed into
servicein alargenumber of roles; the latestvariant, theCH'53E, has threeengrines
and aseven-bkdedrotor, andis perhaps themostcapablemilitaryhelicopterever
built.
Undoubtedly one of the most impressive
heavy-lift helicopters flying anywhere in the
world today, the Sikorsky H-53 Sea Stallion has,
despite its large size, proved to be a most
versatlle machine and at present serves with
three of the four major elements of the US
armed forces, In addition, it has also achieved
some success in the export market, overseas
customers including West Germany, Israel,
Iran and Austria, and despite the fact that the
basic design dates back to the early 1960s it has
demonstrated considerable growth potential,
remaining in production in lts three-engine
H-53E form for both the US Navy and US Marine
Corps at the time of writing.
The H-53 was originally conceived in re-
sponse to a US Marlne Corps requirement llor a
new and more capable heavy-lift assaulVtrans-
port helicopter to replace the somewhat
grotesque piston-engine Sikorksy H-37 Mo-
jave, and early development of the CH-53 was
rewarded in July 1962 by a contract for a pair of
prototypes and a static test airframe, Construc-
tion of these began almost immediately, the
first prototype making a successful maiden
flight on 14 October 1964 Flight testing of the
design revealed few problems and deliveries
of production-confignrred CH-S3As got under
way less than two years later, on 9 September
1966, the first squadron to receive the Sea Stal-
iion being HMH-463 at Santa Ana, California.
Such was the need for enhanced heavy-lift
capability in South Vietnam that little time was
wasted in deployinq the CH-53A to the combat
zone, an initial batch of four HMH-463 machines
reaching Marble Mountain near Da Nang on 8
January 1967. Just over two weeks later one of
these successfi-rlly accomplished the first heli-
copter retrieval operation to be undertaken by
this type in Vietnam, a disabled Sikorsky UH-34
being recovered from the landing platform of a
US Navy hospital ship. In fact, the deployment
7r2
voived no ldss than I 16 aircraft and helicopters,
Son Tay camp had in fact been cleared of
prisoners by theprecedingJuly, although it still
housed numerous soldiers and other personnel
so that aerial reconnaissance had confirmed
that the facility was still occupied by POWs.
of this quartet of CH-S3As was basically in- Despite being unable to accomplish its objec-
tended to permit assessment of the type in tive, the mission was highly successful from the
combat conditions and it was not untillate May tactical standpoint and certainly resulted in
that the rest of the squadron reached Vietnam, boosting morale of the many American POWs
bringing with it a further 22 Sea Stallions, By this who realized that their plight was not being
time, the original four machines had succesful- forgotten.
ly recovered no less than I0l US Marlne Corps In addition to the HH-53C rescue derivative,
iielicopters as well as a brace of USAF aircraft, the US Air Force also acguired 20 examples of
and the advent of additional CH-53s significant- the CH-53C model for tactical duties. Initially
Iy enhanced airlift capability, evidence of this assigned to the 56th Special Operations Wing
being fiunished by the fact that in mid- 1967 this at Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, these lacked
type was carrying about 75 per cent of Marine speciaiized rescue eguipment and inllight re-
Aircraft Group I6's total tonnage and passen- flielling gear. They also played a major part in
gers while simultaneously being responsible the evacuations of Saigon and Phnom Penh, as
lor oniy about 16 per cent of the flying hours well as in the disastrous attempt to recover the
accumulated by this organization. crew of the SS Mayaguea in May 1975, when
At about the same time as deliveries to the 230 US Marines were landed on Koh Tang is-
US Marine Corps began, the US Air Porce land in the South China Sea. Six HH-S3Cs and
selected the Sea Stallion for use by its Aero- five CH-S3Cs took part in the whole operation,
space Rescue and Recovery Service, plaqilS although only eight were initially involved in
an order for an initial quantity of eight HH-S3Bs the assault, which had been expected to meet
in September 1966 and quickly following up only siight opposition. In point of fact, however,
with further contracts for the more powerfl:l sizable and well-armed enemy forces lay in
HH-53C. wait and these directed heavy and accurate
The hu:rt for a new rescue helicopter had small arms, rocket and mortar fire towards the
been under way for some time, largely as a helicopters as they began to offload troops,
result of combat experlence with the smaller destroying one, knocking out another and sev-
HH-3E. Although a fine heiicopter in its ovrn erely damaging a third which eventuliyhad to
right, the HH-3E was somewhat limited with ditch about 1,61cn (1 mile) offshore. Subse-
regard to combat duty, Iacking sufficient
armour to ensure suwival whilst it possessed
only marginal hover capability in hot and high
srtuations of the type frequently encountered in
South East Asia. Additionally, defensive arma-
ment was restricted to just a pair of M60 7.62-
mm (0 3-in) machine-gnrns, insufficient firepow-
er to counter enemy ground forces in what
mrqht best be described as 'hairy' rescue
att5mpts, Accordingly, the USAF opted for the
HH-53 which offered the only reaiistic prospect
of improving capability at short notice, initiaily
borrowing a pair of USMC CH-S3As to permit
aircrew training to get under waY.
Delivery of the service's own HH-S3Bs began
in June 1967 and once again little lime was
wasted in deploying these to the combat zone,
the first two examples joining Detachment Two
of the 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery
Sguadron at Udorn, Thailand, in September of
the same year. Six more HH-S3Bs followed in
due course, Deployment of the HH-53C began
in September 1969, and the advent of these
machines grreatly increased the chances of res-
cuing downed pilots whilst they also later piay-
ed a part in the evacuations of Phnom Penh
(Operation'Eagle Pull') and Saigon (Operation
'Frequent Wind').
By far the most ambitious rescue attempt by
the HH-53C must surely have been that made
to Son Tay prison, just 45 km (28 miles) from
Hanoi, on the night of 20/21 November 1970.
Code-named'Ivory Coast'and intended to re-
sult in the recovery of almost 100 prisoners of
war, this bold and imaginative operation in-
A CH-53A Sea Stallion litts a 576 1 -kg ( I 2,700Jb)
I 55-mm howitzer during operations in Vietnam.
Sea Stalfonssaw extensive service there in thg
combat search and rescue, assa ult and heavy lift
roles. @ Pilot Press Limited
Rotor blade tipvortices neaily form
HH-53 played amajorroleinVietnam, beingequippedwitharmour,
probe, as well as comprehensive assault gear.
Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion cutaway
1 Retractable inflight
refuelling boom
2 Refuellinq boomfairing
3lnstrumentcompanment ll Radioandelectronicsbav,
accessdoor
4 Glideslopeaerial
5 Freshairintakes
6 Yawcontrol rudderpedals
7 Landing lamp
8 Downwrd vision
windows
a ring as aUSAFHH-53C hovers over theVietnamese jungle.The
'16
drawing key
9 Nose undercarriage leg
strut
10 Twin nosewheels
oortandstarboard
12 Cockpitfloorlevel
13 Collectivepitchcontrol
lever
'14 Cvclrcpitchcontrolcolumn
15 Co-prlor's armoured seat
amamentandaninflight-refuelling
lnstrumentpanelshroud 43
17 Windscreenwipers
18 Windscreen panels
19Rescuehoist/winch
20 Pitottube
21 UHcaerial
22 Overheadcontrolpanel
23 Pilot'sarmouredseat
24 Cockpiteyebrowwtndow
25 Flight leader's foldingjump
seat
26 Cockpitbulkhead
27 Jettisonable sidewindow
panel
28 Starboard side crewentry
door
29 Fuselageandstringer
construction
30 Emergencyexitwindow
31 Engineairintakeparticle
separator
32 Beveldrivegearbox
98
33 Enoineoilcooler
34 Auiiliary power unit (APU)
35 Cabin heaterunit
36 Starboard engineintake
particle separator
37 Engine cowlings,
armoured on lowersuTlace
38 Auxiliarygearbox
39 Hydraulic reseruoirs
40 Gearboxdriveshaft
41 Portenginetransmission
shaft
42 Foldingtroopseats,
maximum 37 troops
Cargoloadingfloor
44 Rollerconveyor
45 Cargo hooksupportlinks
46 General ElectricT64-cE-
41 5 turboshaft engine
47 Gearboxmounting
fuselaqe main f rame
48 Engineexhaustduct
49 Centreengineintake
50 lvlain transmission gearbox
51 Blade pitch control rotating
swashplate
52 fiotorheadmechanism
53 Bladepitchcontrollinks
54 Bladefolding hingepoints
55 Rotorheadfairing
56 Seven-blademain rotor.
24.08 m (79 ft)diameter
57 Centreengineoilcooler
58 Maintenancehandrail
59 Enginecompartment
firewall
'60 CentreGeneral Electric
T64-GE41 5 turboshaft
engine
61 Cabinwallsoundproofing
trim panel
62 Reartroopseats
63 Fuselage/main
undercarriage main f rame
64 Cargommp hydraulic jack
65 Production breakdouble
frame
66 Centreengineexhaust
duct
67 Oilcoolerexhaust
68 Rotor blade cross-section
'-".:A
69 D-sectiontitanium spar
70 Honeycombtrailingedge
panel
71 Glass+ibre blade skin
72 Leadingedgeanti-erosion
strip
73 Dorsalspinefairing
74 rolortransmission
Tail
shaft
75 TACANaerial
76 Tail pylon foldedposition
77 Pylonhingepoint
78 Transmissionshaft
coupling
79 Glassfibreleadingedge
80 Tailfin consiruction, canted
20"10 port
81 Stabilizerbracing strut
82 Gulf-wing horizontal
stabilizer
83 Anticollision light
84
85
Tail navigation light
Four-bladetail rotor.6-1 m
(20ft)diameter
86 Tail rotorpitchcontrol
mechanism
87 Tailrotorgearbox
88 Final rotorgearicox
89 Bevelgearbox
90 Retractabletailbumper
91 Bumperhydraulicjack
92 Foldingtailpylonlatche
93 Tail boom construction
94 VOR/localizeraerial
95 UppercargodoorhydR.lic
jack
96 Uppercargodoor, open
position
97 DooMayside st€ks
98 Cargo loading ramp.ddryn
position
99 Ramp hydraulic jack
100 Formation keepinglbht
101 Fueliettisonpipe
102 i/ain under€rriage leg
strut
103 Twin mainwheels
'104 Mainwheelbay
1 05 Hydraulic retraction iac*
106 Maintenanceplatfom
walkway
I07 Fuselagesponson mn
frame
'108 Fuelfillerep
109 Portnavigation light
110 Fueltankaccesspand
111 Fuelsystempiping
'l'l 2 Port main fueltanktotd
internal capacity 3850 trtrs
{1.017 USgal)
1 13 Secondaryfueltank
1 14 Sponsonnosefairing
1 15 Twcpointsuspereion
cargo hooks
1 16 Singlepoint€rg0hook
maximum exterolslung
load 14606 kq (32,2mt
1 17 Auxiliaryfueltankpybn
1 1 I Pylon navigation ligln
1 19 Auxiliaryfueltank (ptY
2461 litres(650USg6tl
713
Sikorsky H-53 in Action
The capacious RH-53 played a maior role in
Operation'FrequentWind', America's final
humiliating withdrawal from Vietnam' Helicopters
ved both Americans and South
lrJce flris one sa
Vietnamese, all of whom were desperate to escape
before the Communists arrived.

guently, the next 14 hours witnessed desperate

attempts to extract the luckless US Marines, an
objeciive which was eventually achieved with--
oui further loss of helicopters although most of
those which took part sustained damage.
Ironically, just three hours alter the first US
Marines landed, the crew of the Mayaguez was
discovered aboard a Thai fishinq boat inter-
cepted by a US Navy destroYer.
The next major variant to appear was the
CH-53D for the US Marine Corps, and this dif-
fered from the earlier CH-53A in being fitted
with more powerful engines as well as an inter-
nal cargo handling system operabje byjust one
man. Capable of airlifting up to 55 firlly equip-
ped troops, the CH-53D began to enter service
during March 1969 and remained in production
until early inI972, being followed by 30 exam-
ples of the specialist RH-53D for mine coun-
iermeasures duties, and it was this latter variant
which formed the principal element of the ill-
fated attempt to rescue the American hostages
rrom the US Embassy in Tehran dwing April
1980.
Deiivery of the RH-53D to US Navy Sguadron
HM-iz got under way in Iate 1973, helicopters
of this type subseguently taking part in mine
ciearance operations in Haiphonq and the Suez
Canal during the mid-1970s, Ironically, six ex-
amples of this model were also exported to Iran
before the Shah's fall from Power.
Further versions of the original twin-engine
Sea Stallion include the CH-53G which was
acquired by the West German army during the
i970s (mostof the I 12 machinesobtained being
manufactured by VFW-Fokker at Speyer),
whilst the HH-53H is essentialiy an updated
HH-53C with forward{ooking infra-red, ter-
rain-following radar and other equipment in-
tended to bestow genuine night/all-weather
capability, a shortcoming of the original rescue
delivatives. Eight HH-S3Hs are at present in
use, these all being conversions of HH-S3Bs
and HH-53Cs.
More recentiy, the three-engine H-53E Su-
per Stallion variant has begun to join US Navy worthy features of this model include a seven- rotor pyion, whilst the greatly increased power
bladed main rotor and an unusual canted tail permits operations at maximum weights of the
and US Marine Corps units ln quantity, Note-
order of 3U52 kg (70 0001b),
Go-ahead for the H-53E was given in May
1973 in the form of a contract to construct two
prototype specimens, and the first of these
made its maiden flight at the beginning of
March 1974, only to be lost in a ground accident
soon afterwards. Much of the following test
programme was accomplished by two pJe-
production examples during the latter half of
the 1970s, and it was not until l98l that the new
model began to enter operational sewice in its
CH-53E flrrm.
Present planning anticipates the procwe-
ment of up to 160 examples of the H-53E Super
Stallion for US Navy and US Marrne Corps units,
this total including a number of MH-S3Es for
mine clearance duties.

Two of the RH-13Ds usedrh Opera tion lEagle

Claw', still in their Navy colours to avoid
compromking the purpose of their presence on
board USS Nimitz. Assault helicopters in desert
camouflage might have attracted unwelcome
attention.
 ry= Hitorrt y CH-b4 Tarhe
. -;,' Largely relegated to second-[ne
.=: -:e with the US Army, the Sikorsky
3.i-54 Tarhe evolved in response to a
:
. -950s requirement for a hearry-lift
:.:-:cpter, Althouqh the use of cargo
::.<s to lift heaqr and bulky loads was
. -:aiure of the design, the Tarhe was
.-- .ntended to straddle interchange-
=
. - -: pods in much the same way as the
l.' Mi-10 does, and the resulting heli-
..::er was particularly brzarre jn
:: -Oealance.
lrst
flown in prototype form tn May
- 132 the type was evaluated by the US
-::my at Fort Benninq in Georgia and
:::ved sufficrently promising to war-
r::i the placing of a production order
::r what was, by US Army standards a
::ratrvely small quantrty. Against this
:ackground, the parent company
''.-:nt ahead with the design of external
::ntarners for troop transport, field
hospitai support, anti-submarrne war-
fare, mine-sweeping and heaqrJift op-
eratrons, but these ambttious concepts
met with little success, the only such
pod being built taking the form of a
universal type which could be em-
ployed in some of the aforementioned
functrons,
Almost rnevitably, the type was de-
ployed to Vietnam and it did perform
well there, being rnstrumental in the
recovery of no less than 380 aircraft
and he[copters as well as facilitating
raprd movement of bulldozers grad-
ers and, on occasion, armoured
fiqhting vehicles
The evolutionary process eventually
resulted in the appearance of the CH-
548 derivative this being fitted with
mote powerful engtines, an uprated
gearbox, a hiqh-lift rotor blade, twin
mainwheel landing gear members
Assault Helicopters
and an improved flight-control system, i:::
I : :-. :
Performance: maxrnJl:. -r:--,_.
whilst the opportuntty was also taken to ievel203 kmh'126 mph
strengthen the basic structure. Once -: -_
crursingspeed 169 lc-r r,_ :-_: :.
aqain, the quantity acquired was small, servrcecerhng24T5m 9..- . :,. :.
dehveries begrnnrng rn 1969, most oi with maximum fu el and rese:.
those produced being deployed to 370 km (230 miles) =s
Europe Weights: empty 8724 kq ( 19 :2ii
_ As faras isknown no example of the maximum take-off 19050 kc (12 - - _ :
CH-54 remains rn front-line service Dimensions: marn rotor dr#e .:t
with the US Army today those that 2L95m(72 ft0 in); lenerlh rotc:s
were operaled having given way to turnrng 26.98 m (BB fl 6 Ln ie:;:.'
the Chrnook several yea-rs ago, 7.75 m (25 ft 5 rn)
Specification
Sikorsky CH-54A Tarhe The Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe has now
Type: healry-JiIt flyrng crane been largely replaced in sewice b;
heltconter the CH-47 Chinook. I t was des ignec
Armament:none as a flying crane and to carry large,
Powerplant: two Pratt & Whitney TZ3- special-purpose pods under its
P- I turboshafts each rated at 4 500 shp fuselage, but these were never
(3357 kw) widelyused.

* USA

-: r sikorsky uH-60 Black Hawk $;s'fr"?J:y:T5'3i13':;,?t'"forchaff

ordered as the USAF
generation rescue helicopre:
s :.:_'.

Other proposals for the US Army

-:-lthough the Bell UH-] Iroquois was been widely deployed with US Army have included the EH-60A electronic
-:id stlll is a fine helicopter, US Army combat formations in both the USA countermeasures variant and the EH-
:equirements for the 1980s and and; morerecently,_Europe,.Aithough 608SOTAS(Stand-Off TargetAcquisi-
:eyond were such that it became clear originally conceived under the gener- tron System) model, both oiwhich have
:r the start of the I97Os that the 'Huey' ic title UTTAS (Utrlity Tactrcal Trans- flown-in prototype
-doubt-is form although there
-replacement, port Aircraft System) the UH-60A is in is some
r,'ould e_ventually^need to whether tlhey will
Sc, in August 1972, after studying fact seen priniarily as an assault heli- be proceeded wrth, tir" latter
:.,veral proposals from industry the copter.and i,q therefore an extremely appaiently betng plagued by numer-
Army chose the Boeing Vertol and rugged machine, berng able to with- oui problems,
--S
S*orsky candidates for a competitive stand direct hits of armour-piercingT Somewhat more successful is the
:'raluation, a prqect which was under- rcunds up to 7,p mm (0,3 in) calibre in SH-60B Seahawk for the US Navy, this
:lken dwing 1976 and which resulted the fuselage, With accommodation for arising from that service s LAMPS
: the Sikorsky UH-604 Black Hawk a crew of three and 11 fully-equrpped (l:ight Airborne Multi-Purpose Sys-
:elng adjudged the winner, An troops,theBlackHawkisflttedwithan tem) Mk III requirement ior a sea-
:rnouncement to thts effect was made external cargo hook wrth a capacity of going hehcopter to serve aboard sur-
::'i23December19T6,productionofan 3629k9 (8,000 Ib), whilst it can also face combaiant vessels in the anti-
:rtial batch of 15 getting under way rn operate in the casualty evacuation submarine warfare/anti-ship missile
.a:e 1977, and it is expected that these role, removal of cabin seats permitting defence roles. Testing of this model
.',-:ll prove to be the forerunners of well up to four stretchers to be carried, began in December 1979, productron
. ,'er 1,000 similar machrnes. Armament capability is at present li- examples havrng recently begLtn to
Dehveries to the US Army began mited to a pair of 7,62-mm (0.3-rn) reach fleet units for crew trarning pur-
.::e in l97B and the type has since machine-gmns firing from opened side poses, The HH-60D has been
Ass ltdn
Grenoda
The IJS invaiion ol Grenadaih Oetober I 983 was M&l",,
spearlreade d by airbofne troops;. US Marines
were ]anded from a uariety',af assauft helicopters
to'secure the international ailport; while Arny
andwere '
Rangers dropped by parachute
landed from helicopters t6 secure the
incompleite new airport. Further use of
helicapters was made during operations toflush
outand' neutralize Cu:ban troops in the hills' A
number oI American h.elicopters, includinS UH-
60 B lack,H awks and CH' 47 Chinooks, were lost
during the operation.
The most recent major miJitary endeavour call. events on the island prcvided firm evidence of U SiUottW Urt80 on'Grenada, UH-60s are thought
ftb! th. ;it"nslvri use oi ireiicopters wasthe the presence of the_ Boei4g Vertol CH14€ 'Qea to have b4en heavily usled in the inuasion,of the .:
island, anda small numberare known to have
fi;Jio; of Grenada by a predominanlly US Knight,helicopter,which ls the.prinqipal US Marine been lost-
iliae-o" AO October 1963. As iS usual, thli op-- assault and it is known that several
was spearheaded by the US Marines US lvlarile Corps Bell UH-lNs were a-lso in the
--ih
"iatr"
tne initlil stages of the invasioR, near vicinity. It seems that the llS Marines did their which took them to Charleston, South Catolina.
rsubsequentty; many Cubans succeeded in
simultineous landkibs were accomplished on job we1l, securlng the airport quickly and thus
the east coast near to-Pearls airport ahd at Point permitting it to be usq{ qs a stagring point for a evadinq capture and to-okto the nearby hills, it
Sailnei (tne site of the contentious new airpor| further 1,000 troops airlifted in aboard a num- then being necessary for the US forces to
anout SOO US Marines and 300 Caribbean berof LockheedC-l30sfromBarbadoslateron undertake what mighl best be described as
troopsseizingtheforrnerwhi1sti,000USArmythesameday. 'search and destroy' operatiqns to'rguell the
ninierJ oeait with the latter.
-:Tfie:fJOiner remainlng resistance, This phase of the''inva-
adjacent to Pearls airport were dropped by parachute or flown tn by sion and occupation seems'to'havqr'taken
uppeir"- to iiaie ni,en tackled in typicai US helicopter, these uqits-being tasked with sejz- several days to cornplete and, once again, rnay
tvt":ntie tasiii"n, essentially involvingrihe use'of ing ihe qs-yet incomplete new airport, Unltkq well have relied heavily on the use oihelicop-
irrnpnrnio* crift and vehicies opeiating lrom the US.Marines,. the Rangers met with stiff ters. both to enhance mobiiittt'and to flush out
tftj'u*pitiUo* assault shiF USS Guam and opposition,therebeingasubstantialnumberoi enemy soldlets. Again,-contgmporary TV-tt]ry1
depositingasizableconti.qgentof troopsonthe Cubqn sojdiers and manual workers in the show6d several US Army Sikorskv UH-604
Ueictr. H5wev6r,'it is almdst certain ihat heli- vicinity of lhe new airport, and these very Black Hawk'helicopters whilst aU'this was
6opteiu atro played'a major part in the overall quickly-surrounded one of the nearby campus going on, and it ls known that a srnall nurno-er of
iiiirltt ptan'pt6nanry d6poiiting small com- sites where ?elglal. hunarerl American stu- lhese were lost before the situation finally sta-
pant*ieO"rmbersoftro6psaloiclosetokey dents resided,.This in tutn necessitated what b11i2ed.
was essentially a sgcond qeaborne invasion by lBy the end olOctober no less than 6'000 US
boitits. Ceftainly,' TV coveiage of subsequent
troops wefe present on Grenada'but with
fiqhtlnqr atlan end the process ofrwithdrawaL
cessfi:f it was not uatil the afterno6n ol the
assaulthelicoptersonthe second had begun in,a sraall'way, someof the Rangers
Thismixedgrgupof day that the students were finally res' and U$Marines involved in the initial assau-1t
deckoftrssGuam lyingoff Grenadaincludesan from Grenada by Military having already been refurned to their original
cued and evacuated
UH-rs, '
----:-'-':--
RH.SSSeaStaltion,aC?-4iiiaKightandtwoBell
Airhft Command Irockheed C-141 Star]:ifters bases in the USA,I
 iiLlUH-t rroquois
-
:::bably best known for its
:::hg
exploits
the Vietnam War, the Bell Mod-
e'- 204/205 serieS earned a justifiable
::putation as a true workhorse rn that
::dict, being employed in a multr-
:-:ity of mrssions ranging from troop
ll:spofi through casualty evacuation
--j liaison to more offensive applica-
:-::s as a gunship in search-and-
:,=stroy and riverine operations. As a
:-.'-product of its extensive use by a1l
=-3ments 6f the US armed forces, it
::carne the most successful turbine-
;:wered helicopter of its day and, in-
::ed, subsequent derivatives based
:: the orrginal XH-40 prototype and
llH-l Iroquois production model are
. ,11 in quantity production today,
=,:rost 30 years after it flrst flew in pro-
::lpe form,
ln service with approximately 60 air
=Tns throughout the world, variants of
-:-e
'Huey' have been produced by the
;arent company at Fort Worth, by
-:-3usta in ltaly, by Fuji in Japan, by
llDC in Taiwan, by Dornier in West
3=rmany and, most recently, by the
!:cple's Repubhc of China. Over the
same period, the gross operating
r.ight has urtually trebled although
:',-erall size and appearance has
r:anged relatively little,
Major production variants for the US
.:ned forces include the tIH-lB, UH-
-D and UH-IH of the US Army; the
Assault Helicopters
UH-IF, HH-IH and UH-IN for the US
Air Force; and the UH-IE, HH-IK, TfV
IIH-IL and IJH-IN for the US Narry and
US Marine Corps, Examples of most of
these models were also produced in
substantial amounts for export mar-
kets.
Armament and payload capabrlity
varied considerably behveen early-
and late-production machines, but the
UH-1H model of the US Army usually
carries a couple of 7,62-mm (0,3-in)
machine-gn:ns adjacent to and fired
from the marn cabrn. In addition to the
pilot, up to 14 troops could also be
accommodated, alternatlve conflgnrra-
tions permitting carriage of up to sx
stretchers or 1814 kg (4,000 lb) of car-
go, In later variants this fign:re is almost
doubled,
Although now beinq supplanted in
US Army service by the Sikorsky UH- A B ell UH - 1 over Vietnam. This one is field of fire for its two 7. 6 2 -mm (0.3 -
60A, there is little doubt that the UH-] armedwith rocket pods andhas had in) machine-gruns.
will contine to form an important part of its doors removed to allow a greater
the US Army's aviation components for Weishts:empty 2362 ks (5,210]b)
many years to come, whilst wlth later Powerplant: one Avco Lycoming T53- maximum take-ofi 4309 kq (9, 500 1b)
variants still in quanttty production it rs L-13 turboshaft rared ar [,400 shp Dimensions: main rotor diameter
clear that the saga ofthe 'Huey' still has (1044 kW) 14,63 m(48 ft0 in); lenqlh, rotorstor";ei
a long time to run. Performance: maximum and crursing fore and aft. 17.61 m (57 figvz n).
speeds 204 km/h (127 mph); range height 4,42 in (14 ft 6 in): main rotor
Specification wrth maximum fuel 5 12 km (3 18 miles) dnc area 168, I m'Z(l,BO9 6 sq ft)
BellUH-IH
Type: utrlity helicopter Ameiican infantrymen leapfrom a won its spurs inVietnam, giving
Armament: usually two 7.62-mm (0.3- hovering B ell UH - I during the ordinary s old ier s a previou s Iy
in) machine-giLrrs Vietnam war. The assault helicopter u ndr eam e d - of degree of mo b ility.
s-+!
* I *r.
{t
F '?;l;,;
L
I
€ iLrroH-ssKiowa
1962 requirement for a
fuisinq foom a
new US Army LOH (l,ight Observation
He[copter), the type which eventually
became the Bell OH-58 Kiowa in fact
enjoyed a rather chequered early de-
velopment history, losing out in the
competition to the Hughes OH-64
Cayuse in a quite intense evaluation
programme which also involved a Hill-
er submission.
Although the Model 206 was not
selected by the US ArmY, comPanY
confidence in the machrne was parti-
cularly high and the design was qutck-
ly evolved into the Model206AJetRan-
ger, a type whrch went on to achieve
considerable success in the civilian
and export military markets and which
is still being built today, albeit in much
improved form.
The failure by Hughes in the mtd-
1960s to contain OH-6 costs and
achieve the desired production rate
€ toeingVertol Cl-AlChinook
ACH-47 Chinook of No. 18 Sqn, RAF.
T he one RAF C hinook not d e s troYed
in the sinking of l}e Atlantic Conveyor
pr oved to be of immen s e v aiue
dur ing the F alklands w ar.
Evolution of the Boeing Vertol CH-47
Chinook can be traced back to the late
1950s, when the US ArmY beqan to
search for a twbine-powered medium
transport helicopter capable of all-
weather operation in virtually all types
of climatic conditions, Of the several
proposals submitted in response, the
Boeing Vertol Model Il4 was ad-
judged most suitable, and this led to a
contract for five prototype specimens
in mid-1959,
7iB
eventually led to the LOH contest
being re-opened during 1967, and it
was a case of second trme luckY for
Bell, whose Model 206A emerged as
the winner dwinq March 1968, The re-
ward was a contract for no less than
which had been
2,200 examples, all of
delivered by 1973,
Differing from its civilian counter-
part by virtue of a larger-diameter
marn rotor, military avionics and a few
detail changes, the OH-SBA Kiowa, as
the type became known, beqan to en-
ter service wrth US Army units ln May
1969 and was quickly deployed oper-
ationally, reaching combat units in
South Vietnam withtn four months.
Since then, it has seen seruice wlth US
Army elemenls throughout the world
and it is still a most important asset,
normally operatinq in conjunction with
AH-l HueyCobra gnrnships as a scout
hehcopter,
First flown in prototYPe form on 2l
September 196I, the Chinook beganto
enier sewice with the US ArmY just
over a year later and qurckly began to
compile an impressive record, being
deplbyed to Vietnam soon after US in-
volvement in that conflict began to
escalate, Capable of airlifting up to 40
troops, the CH-47 also proved of great
value in airliftinq supplies to the
numerous garrisons which lay dotted
around South Vietnam, whilst it was
also frequently used to recover
downed arrcraft and heiicopters and
for the evacuation of casualties and re-
fuqees.
The initial CH-47A model was soon
Although not normally armed, the
Kiowa has been tested with a variety of
weapons and US fumy examples can
carry the XM27 Minignrn, More recent-
ly, a substantial number have been re-
" engined and brought to OH-58C stan-
dard, other more visible indications of
this change being the provisron of infra
red-suppressed exhaust nozzles, flat
qlass canopies to cut down reflection
and wire cutters above and below the
cockpit canopy.
In addition to those examples oper-
ated by the US fumy, variants of the
basic Bell 2OO also serve with the US
Nalry, Austraha, Austria, Brazil, Cana-
da, Chile, Iran, Italy, Spain, Sweden,
Thailand, Tt-ukey, United Arab Emi-
rates and Venezuela amongst other
countries,
Specification
BellOH-58AKiowa
replaced in production by the rather
more powerful CH-478, but rt was the
CH-47C which was the definitive Chi-
nook, this flying for the first time in
October 1967 and entertng servlce
early in the followrng year, Once
again, considerably more powerful
engines were fitted, this model also
having a strengthened transmission
system and additional fuel capacity,
Funher studies aimed at rnprovtng
the Chinook's already impressive
capabilrtres still further led evenhrally
to the CH-47D, this incorporatinq re-
vised electrical systems, glassfibre
rotor blades, modular hydraulic sys-
tems, triple cargo hook, advanced
flight-control systems, single-point
The Bell Kiowa is used by the US
Army as anunarmedlight
observation and scout helicoPter,
although it does have an assault role
in some smaller air forces.
Type: light observation/scout
helicopter
Armament:noneusually
Powerplant: one Allison T63-A-700
turboshaft rated at 317 shp (237 kW)
Performance: maximum speed at sea
level222 }<rnlh ( 138 mph); crutsing
speed lBB l<m/h(117 mph); maximum
range at sea levelwith l0 Per cent
reserves 48l km (299 miles)
Weights: empty 664 kg ( 1,464 1b);
maximumtake-off 1361 kg (3,000 lb)
Dimensions: maln rotor dlameter
10.7 mm (35 ft4 in); lenerth, rotors
turnlng 12,47 m (40 ft I I in); height
2.91 m (9 ft 6'l2 in); main rotor drsc area
91,I m'z (980,5 sq f0
pressure refuelling, auxillary p6wer
unit and revsed anomcs. However,
this version rs being produced by the
simple expedrent of a modernization
prosramme involvinq surviving CH-
qZAs, CH-+Zes and CH-47Cs a Prog-
ramme wluch began in 1979'wlth the
conversron of three YCH-4?D Pro-
totypes for trials work. Production-
coi:riign:red CH-47Ds began to join the
US Armv durinq 1983
Variants of the Chinook have also
met wrth some success on the export
market, other operators rncluding
Aroentina, Australia, Canada, Iran' Ita-
ty, iibya, Spain, Thailand and the Un-
iied Krngdom, whilst it shouid also be
noted that the type is produced under
liience by EliCotteri Meridionali in
Ita1y,
}:eurg Vertol CH-47 Chinook (continued)
Spe,cification Performance: maximum speed
lceing Vertol CH-47C Chinook 304 kri/h (1Bg mph); service ceiling
T-"ipe : medrum transporVassault 4570 m (15,000 ft); missronradiuswith
3294-ks (7,262-lb) payload 1BS kn
,F;rnarnent: none miles)
F:rrerplant: two Avco Lycoming T55- Weishts: empty 9351 kg (20,616 1b);
-- - -A turboshafts each rated at loaded 14.969 kg (33,000 lb); maxrmum
: --'- shp (2796 kW) take-off 20,866 ks (46,000 lb)
Dimensions: rotor diameter, each
18,29 m (60 ft 0 in); lengrth, rotors
turning 30, 18 m (99 ft 0 in); fi.rselage
( I 15 length 15.54 m (50 ft 0 in); heiqht 5,66 m
(lB ftZ in); rotordiscarea, total
525,34 m'z (5,654,9 sq f0
Assault Helicopters
One of I 2 B oeing Vertol C hincr.*s o!
the Spanish army. The Chinak hx
beenwidelyexported and is built
under licence in ltaly. It also saw
service invietnam-

USSB
thy drferences, the Mi-10 having a (4r01kw)
Mil Mi-6'Hook' and Mi- I0'Harke' massive quadricycle landing gear
which enables it to straddle and lift
Performance: maximum speed
-
::st flovrn during September 1957, the copters, it can also carry external car- bulky loads of the order of 15000 kq
300 }cn/h (186 mph); cruisngspec
250 lan/h (155 mph); serrrrce cerJ:r-qra:
Mil Mi-6'Hook'was the first Souet heli- go although in such instances the limit (33,069 ]b) while the Mi-lOK has a maximum take-off weight 4400 m
r.pter to rely on turbine power and is imposed rs about 9000 kg (i9,840 1b). much shorter and more conventional (14,435 ff); rangewith 12000-kg
Jl one of the largest flying machines Alternatively, approximately 70 troops landrng gear with an aft-facing crew (26,455tb) payload 200 kn ( I 24 rles
a
:: thrs type in the world, Arising ftom
-:rrt civrVmilitary need for a healry
can be carried, but it s unlikely that station beneath the nose, from whrch a range with 4000-kq (8,818-lb) paylca:
hft the type would be employed near the member of the crew monitors loading 1000 lcn (621miles)
:eJrcopter, the Mi-6 possesses the forward battle zones, its larqe sue and and unloading operations, Both the Mi- Weishts: empty 27240 kq (60.055 lb,
=-c:lity to carry liqht armoured vehicles limited manoeuwability belng iikely to 10 and Mi-10K can calry up to 28 pas- normal take-off 40500 kg (89, 286 lbl
:- its capacious cabin (duect access make it an attractive and vulnerable sengers internally. maximum vertical take-off 4250C k:
:ehg provrded by means of clam- target. (93,700 rb)
3:ell-type loading doors at the rear) In addition to the basic Mi-6, two Specification Dimensions: main rotor drameter
;';hIst it also employs large fixed stub flying crane derivatles are known to MiIMi-6'Hook' 35,00 m (114 ft l0 in); tuselaqe le:r;:-
,';i:rgs to alleviate loads on the rotor to a have appeared, these beinq the Mi- 10 Type: heavy transport helicopter 33, 1B m ( 108 ft I)Yz n), wrng spa:
Trte substantial degrree when crurs- andtheMi-I0K. Bothareknownbythe Armament:none I5,30 m (50 ft 272 in); height 9. ,7
:-g. A further benefit bestowed by NATO reporting name 'Harke' al- Powerplant: two Soloviev D-25V (30 ft I in); main rotor disc area =
:ese wings is the fact that the M1-6 thoughthereareanumberofnotewor- twboshafts each rated at 5,500 shp 962,I m'z(10,356,4 sq ft)
::ay employ STOL techniques, permrt-
:-g it to get airborne wrth a gneater a
payload than it can lft vertically. As far
- payload is concerned, the normal AMilMi-6'Hook'of theEwptianairforce.TheMi-6wastheSovietUnion'sfirst
kq
-:ad is limited to around 12000 turbine-enginedhelicopter,andisoneoftheworld'slargestmilitaryhelicopters.
.25,455 ]b) but, like most modern heli-
I ifihnni-e'Hip'
A Mil Mi-9'Hip' oI No. I 2 I Sqn, Indian
l{ir Force.Indian Mi-8s are
keguently armed with rocket pods
and have largely replaced the fixed-
wing C-47 Dakota in Indian seruice,
as well as being used for offshore oil
support mr'ssrbns.
Widely used by the Soviet air force
and its Warsaw Pact allies, the Mil Mi-8
TIip' began life as a logical turbine-
powered adaptation of the earlier Mi-4
Hound' although the deerree of com-
monality which exists between the
prociuction configured 'Hip' and its
predecessors rs virtually non-existent.
Ffust flovm in prototype form during
1961, the Mi-B initially appeared vnth a
four-bladed rotor driven by a single
Soloviev turboshalt engine, this betng
superseded on the second prototype
by the now-standard twin-engnne in-
stallation. About two years later, the
original rotor assembly was suP-
planted by a five-bladed type and it
was in this guise that the 'Hip' eventual-
Iy entered production in about 1967,
Since then, well over 7,000 exam-
ples have been burlt and, in addition to
Warsaw Pact nations, the 'Hip' also
serves with the ar arms of Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Egrypt, Ethiopia, Finland,
Iraq, North Korea, Pakistan, Peru,
Somalia, South Yemen, Syria and Vret-
nam. In Soviet service the type is
thougtrt to be mainiy assigmed to tactic-
al helicopter formations, and it can be
assumed that it would therefore be
mainly employed in assault-type op-
erations,
Including the prototypes, at least six
variants are knolm to have been brult,
those intended for assault and utility
operations being the 'Hip-C', 'Hip-E'
and 'Hip-F'. AII featwe rearJoading
doors which permit carriage of 32
troops or 4000 kq (B,B1B lb) ofbuiky or
awkward rtems of cargo in the cabin,
and all possess the ability to carry
armament, the 'Hip-E' belnq particu-
larly noteworthy rn that it can operate
with a 12,7-mm (0,S-in) nose-mounted
gnrn, up to I92 rockets carried in no less
than 12 external pods and four AT-2
'Swatte/ anti-tank mrssiles, The latest
assault version to be idenhfied is the
'Hip-F', which appears to be atmed
mainly at export markets and incorpo-
rates different armament in the shape
of sx AT-3 'Sagger'missiles, The'Hip-
D' is yet another model in the famlly,
this being optimized for electronic
warfare tasks with extra aerials and
large rectangular contarners on exter-
nal pyions. The 'Hip-G', 'Hip-J' and
'Hip-K' are communication-relay, ECM
and advanced ECM versiors respec-
tively,
A Mil Mi-9in the markings of the
Afghan air force. Afghan Mi-9s are
usually flown by Soviet 'advisers' ,
and Afghan markings may often be
carried by SovietMi-9s operating in
Afghanistan.
Specification
MilMi-8'Hip-C'
Type: medium transporVassault
helicopter
Armament: up to four rocket pods each
with 32 57-mm (2.24 in) rockets and
four AT-2'Swatter' anti-tank missiles,
plus one I2.7-mm (0,5-in) machine-gnrn
Powerplant: hvo Isotov TV-2-l l7A
twboshafts each rated at l,700 shp
(1267 kW)
Performance: maximum speed
260 kn/h (16l mph); crursingspeed
200 Wn/h (124 mph); hover ceiling
4500 lsn ( 14,765 ft); ranse with 2950-kg
(6,504tb) payload 425 lan (264 miles)
Weights: empty 7 160 kq (15, 7BS 1b);
maximum take-off (VTO mode)
l2O2O kg (26,499 lb)
Dimensions: main rotor diarneter
21.29 m (69 ft l0lz in); tuselage lengfth
18,31 m (60 ft I in); height 5.60 m (18 ft
472 in): main rotordisc area 356,000 mz
(3,832 sq ft)
.::rned Forces of the World
USNcwgPar3
Srbmarine forces
-, -o.rnteT the growing threat posed by cruise
:''.--:r aunched from submerged Soviet nuclear
, nes, it rs customary to attach one or more
-: .. io an attack group, With sensors and speed
. ."ected byweatherconditions, thesearefarand
, : . rne best ASW platforms; despite the target
--: of TOO hulls, there will never be enough of
' :"- ic meet lrkely demand.
-- ',, atrio of rather elderly diesel-electric boats
. . r and, when these are shortly stricken, the
",
"r, I be all-nuclear. As with other major f leets,
' -":= ire two main groups of boats, those deploying
i : :r c missiles (SSBN) and those designed for
: ':,.: ourposes (SSN). The latter a ready carry the
.- ,.:srlated Harpoon SSM and will be getting
- : -- rawk in the second half of the 1 9B0s so, more
..:::
=
y, they will need Io be recategorized SSGN.
..
:. the 10 original SSBNs of the'George Wash-
-',-- and 'Ethan Allen'classes being strpped of
. strategic missile-launching capacity, the
: s A3 (still deployed by the Brltish) has been
'- out. Backbone of the current force are the
..:C
-:'ayette' class boats, some with Poseldon C3
r :lme converted toTrrdent C4. Entenng serv ce
, . --: considerably delayed 'Ohio' c ass boats, a so
- :re Trident C4, 24 Io a hul
.
-. .re Poseidons have arange of'only'about
- : . - <m (2,800 miles), they are best used to target
=. peripheral areas as, to reach the heartland,
- ,'ould have to be launched from the deep
='-s, eavingthesubmarinesopento increasingly
, : -: ve Soviet anti-submarine forces. To avo d
. .':nsits, and thus increase availability, forward
.-:: cnal bases for SSBNs still exist in Guam and
, 'rd, that in Spain having been closed. The
=-i C4 was delrberately configured to the same
: :o-a as that of the Poseidon to allow an updat-
:':qramme to be undertaken: wrth an 8000-km
: - --mi e) range they allow SSBNs to work from
'.- .'",aters.
-,:=ed, when it is remembered that a circle of
:.
,-rrr {5,000-mile) radius has over three times
- ,':e of one of 4500-km (2,800-mile) radius it w ll
. ,:!'ous how much more difficult anti-SSBN
--i: cr.s will prove to be.
Later 'Ohio' class boats will get the Trdent D5,
the earlier boats of the class then being retrofitted
There will be no question of uprating the
'Lafayettes' as the Trident D5 is too long to be
accommodated in their hulls. As the Trident D5 will
have an estimated 10500-km (6,525-mile) range, the
SSBNs will be able to remain virtually in home
waters, in areas where they can more easily be
safeguarded from Soviet counteTmeasures. What
proportion of the existing fleet is involved in SSBN
direct support is not known, but this will obv ously
be reduced, releasing more units for other
pu rposes.
In order to accommodate these large missiles,
the 'Ohio' class boats have statistics that are both
impressive and alarming. They can hardly be dived
safely in a great proportion of continental shelf
waters and, no matter how quiet, offer other
signatures by virtue of their bulk. With a length of
the same order as that of a nuclear cruiser, they
must surely represent the ultimate on the grounds
of prudence alone. lt will be interesting to watch
development of the submarine-launched Toma-
hawk, for if it can achieve its hoped for accuracies at
over 2000 km (1 ,245 miles), each SSN will be
equ pped w th the beginnings of a new generation
of slrategic weapon.
Attack submarines (SSNs) like the SSBNs are
'not-vr'ar' vesse s, lacking much ability to scale their
response to meet a particular threat. Their de{ence
is based on concealment; their threat is latent, and
to make a del berate appearance so as to threaten
overt y is to cast aside their main advantage.
Amer can submarne design reserves the space
ngnt forrn;ard for primary sonars. As a result, the
tubes are tn a rather constricted site amidships,
restrlct ng thelr number to six or, more commonly,
f ou r. ln s pite of this a wide range of weapons can be
cari-led and launched f rom the same tubes: against
snorter-range submarine targets the Mk 37 torpedo,
and for ongerrange submarines or surface ship
targets the Mk 48 torpedo, reputedly good out to
about 50 km (31 miles) with a combination of wire-
gu dance and terminal homing, combined with a
hrgh degree of onboard electronic intelligence. The
SL.,BROC is a submarine-launched ball stic weapon
as rmportant as an enen'y SS3\ '.-.. ----
elder'y. L s dLe Io be 1-;.ec
newASWSOW (ASW Stand o" u',::::- .,
in an adva^ced oe,e op^ c-'. :'.:_i - : - '-. .
can be tarqeted at nearly 100 <r-r 62 ^- =.
encapsulated Harpoon and, as n 3-::-::
submarine-launched Tomaha,rr -- i r:' -:
rnent. Finally, the same tubes can :::--::.
minelaying
Oldest of current front-lrne SSNs :-:
.-=
jack' class boats of 1959-6,1, wh ch m:" =: -
propulsion to the high-speed huli res- . -: '--
Albacore experiments. Tne so- '
ated form inhibits their sensoT anC ar-.-
and the follow-on'Permit' and'Siurg::^ : ...-,
had easier lines. Running to sorne 5l -,. '-,
group forms the bulk of the t-.tS f..:. . : j
strength. Desp te exper -errs - i :.. .-
machinery, including cooling by ic- : -=.. -
natural convecl on, conlra-rota1 rg p'. -: :
tJrbo-electric dr'ves, all still 'ear--e . ' .' : -:
combination of pressurized-water-cc: : r l
reactors upstream of a convent ona siai^- --: :
plant driving a single centreline scre,,",
Much controversy surrounds the cuir:-. -:,
ing 'Los Angeles' (SSN 688) class, wh:s: -. . . ,
power has doubled to meet the cna =-:- '--
recent Sov:et equivalents, reputeo ro c: '
fastest. This power,ncrease has oee- - - -- :-
the expense of length, nearly '1 10 n- 36' '.
pared with the 'Sturgeon' c ass c::::
(292fil. ln comparison, the Sov et '\;'rir'
'Victor lll' classes are about 100 m 32:'
British 'Swiftsure' class 83 m 1272 i-. :
French'Rubis'class only 12rn 1236'-. .,-
'Los Angeles' class boats are h ghly ca::: : :
are getting vulnerably large and, ai a::, ::,
miilion per boat, very expensive
Latest in the line of US strategic missile
submarines, the 'Ohio' class will eventually be
armed with 24 long-range TridenlD5mrssjies
This will enable the submarines to ope r a t e c :. : e : :
homewaters, where their bulk and detectab:.::'.'
would be no handicap.
 ln time of war, one of the SSNs' rnain tasks would
be to penetrate Soviet 'citadel' areas, where the
Soviet SSBNs would be deployed as a bargaining
elemeirt. They would endeavour to prevent older
enemy SSBNs breaking out into the open oceans,
needing to attack not only these but also the sub-
marine and surface forces supporting them. They
would be needed to supplement the escort screens
of carrier battle groups, and a{ss to cover the vital
resupply convoys on the transatlantic route, which
would be fierceiy contested by Soviet submarine
forces. Such merchant traffic still operated by the
enemy would need to be stopped, but most Soviet
highquality mercantile tonnage would be operating
as naval auxiliaries, and the currently rapidly in-
creasing Soviet capacity for amphibious warfare
promises further targets for interdiction. The US
Navy's target is 100 SSNs: even if realized, this total
will be none too many.
Speciatized fields
While having less anti-submarine bias than
European navies, the US Navy has very consider-
able potential in the field. General surveillance is still
based on the well established SOSUS lines, strings
of sensors spaced at strategic points, usually in
continental-shelf waters. Each vessel crossing such
a line has its acoustic signature monitored, analysed
and compared with references stored in a library.
This process is automatic and very rapid and, should
a signal look interesting, an aircralt such as a Lock-
heed P-3 Orion will be brought in to pinpoint the
contact. lts 17-hour endurance enables the Orion to
linger, dropping active and passive sonobuoys, in-
terrogating and processing the data on board or
exchanging it with surface ships. Further aids to
detection are the magnetic anomaly detector (MAD)
equipment, which responds to the large metallic
mass of a submerged submarine, and forward-
looking.infra-red (FLIR) gear, which can detect the
warm plume of air exhausted by a snorting 'conven-
tional' boat. Carrierborne Lockheed S-3 Vikings have
a similar. if more basic, fit. Both carry a range of
anti-submarine ordnance, including nuclear depth
bombs if appropriate.
SOSUS itself, though essentially a passive
sYstem, can bd 'armed' with advanced weapons
ai
such as CAPTOR, an encapsulated anti-submarine
homing torpedo release by the correct signature.
Being geared to shallow-water applications, SOSUS
needs supplementing in the deep oceans and this,
initially, will take the form of simple 'Stalwart'class
trawlertype ships (AGOS) which willoperate slowly
with long towed arrays known as TACTAS (Tactical
Towed Array Sonar). As these are deployed at some
considerable distance behind the ship and at chosen
depths, their potential for detection is very high.
Specialist ships are required because of the size of
the winch assemblies, though smallerversions with
shorter tows can be deployed by frigates. These
seem likely to replace the earlier variable-depth
sonar (VDS) installations, which were introduced to
counter the 'ducting' effects of the layers of water
of varying temperature and salinity, which refract
and distort acoustic propagation in unpredictable
ways.
American hull-borne sonars are much larger than
their British equivalents as they work at much lower
frequencies; this confers a theoretically greater
range, but only at the expense of size and com-
plexity. The bulky transducer assemblies are
housed in very large bulbs at the forefoot. These are
partly flooded, reducing both water noise and pitch
acceleration in the ship herself but, in head seas,
they can emerge and slam abominably if the ship is
driven too hard. Indeed, in northern water in winter it
is unlikely that a frigate can even use a hull sonar for
more than 50 per cent of the time, whereas a towed
array, once streamed, can operate in quite severe
conditions.
As in submarine practice, surface ships normally
use sonar in the passive mode, necessarily at low
speed to reduce self-induced noise. Passive sets
will indicate bearing but not range, which requires
either a bearing from another ship to give a 'fix' or, if
this is not available, a quick burst of energy from an
active set.
Other specialist sonars in the American inventory
include upward-looking sets for submarines navigat-
ing beneath ice, and side/oblique-scanning sets for
the detection and classification of submerged ob-
jects, such as mines.
Mine countermeasures is one field where the
Americans have been inactive for far too long in
Sonar technicians man their underwaywatch
stations at the sonar ansole aboard the 'Los
Angeles' cJass nuclear-powered attack submarine
ta Jolla (SSIV 70 I ). These submarines are highly
capable, but crttics consider them too large and
thereforevulnerable to detection by opposing
ASWforces.
view of the vulnerability of their shallow approaches
and the known mine warfare expertise of the
Soviets. Only a handful of the obsolete 53-m (174-ft)
MSOs remain in service; built as a result of the
Korean War, these ocean minesweepers incorpo-
rate the means of countering mine technology of
the 1950s and, even though modernized, have
nothing of the capabilities of current European
MCMVs, built from glass-reinforced plastic (GRP).
Modern mines have considerable inbuilt electronic
intelligence, so that they can be made to react to
various types and combinations of signature, to
count stimuli and ignore a set number, and even to
discriminate between genuine targets and sweep-
ing gear. The only sure way to deal with them is to
detect by sonar, to identify and then to destroy by
countermining with a charge dropped either by a
miniature remotely-controlled submersible or by
divers.
A range of floating sleds, supporting counter-
measures gear, has been developed by the
Americans for towing behind Sikorsky RH-53D heli-
copters. Considerable success was claimed for
them at both Haiphong and Suez, but it is difficult to
see how they can deal with any remotely intelligent
mine.
At long last, a new class of MCM is bei.ng built
with the USS Avenger(MCM 1)as lead ship. The
programme was delayed by the need to trim a pre-
viously over-ambitious design.
.As far as mine technology is concerned, the US
Navy has a wide range of types available, including
the already-mentioned CAPTOR and an advanced
weapon, named Ouickstrike, under development.
Most laying would be undertaken by submarines or
aircraft but, acknowledging that the former would
be in extremely short supply and the latter can lay
notoriously inaccurately, the infrequent exercises in
surface ship laying might well be stepped up with
advantage.