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    Naval helicopters

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    War Machine №011

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    Naval helicopters

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
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    Download as pdf
    143 views25 pages

    War Machine 011

    Uploaded by

    Gene Green
    Naval helicopters

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    iz Lynx in Action ASW Helicopters Helicopters in the i SouthAtlantic 2 | EN. Armed Forces ofthe World: PAGS esis Gee a Naval Helicopters ‘Rérosptiale Dauphin Super Freon Acgusta-Bell AB.204, AB 206 and AB.212 ExInduties EH 161 Wesland Wasp Wesiand Wessex Hebooptersin the South Antic The Atackon he Santee WestandSealing Westandlyax Ijin Acton Boeing Verol 10? Lae eae a Pape ‘Australia: Gack narbers are oblainable 215 QAerospace Fable dor'& Gotch ual ic. 14 Wilam Sire Sina ey i Eeretm creel Beeman Sikorsky SHB Seabavc 216 Rad ete te aa Sikorsky$-691-53 Fy SF sty rt othe secs your ‘nt Subranne Wale eloptrs ap sciney oie Ol eerraceee cl KanovKe 28 Homone ai9 ses Seals Rises tor Wan KanovKai? Heir 2 Dat ol obi ou ne S sori se nate : it i rematncoof 5. Armed Forces of the World: Peer rarohsahngts, tg fA ACHR Baers pe Bierce recs Maite: Snir arcbanble trough your Picture aclnowledgements “oat vane eccaa ie ve Peete tee ss ecole KP ‘Sty ROS Nay GA RE RE Mae ever tts ie ee non Bi Eta lene mga ere eensertsin ent sauee or wits ine Binders, Fst Sot cove ptosis Te tempera decnatd Sor CMGESSE AMCs Pitan Groat Brits by The Aris Press te and’ Binders ate avalebe = Iau yout onal Newsagent fom WAR MACRINE Binge, Gorn Got 2 Distbution and marketing offees: 10 Box Test, Welmgton ‘Gros Patining Orbs House 2022 Besioabuny Topdon WC2N AB JTeleghone: 01-379 6711 CGresiaion Director: Di Breed rant Cental hgany ese ‘te fo WAR MACHINE B= nema POBox 8730, S HaratingBrector Vics Joyce Not: Binds and Bac, Numbers a0 WAR MACHINE Whsst every stomp tae fo kaxp th Pree Ui sop Ik £1. Aus $195, NZ.225. pre ofthe aus ond ines conta SRA195:Singapers $280 USAend Cano fhe ablahors osorvethe ng toinorenes aes 96 the stated pcos ot ay tina when How to obtain your copies of WAR Sumsianced dicta MACHINE Cope, Se os Shar dosed je'ypoe the pul Iga roger atyeurNewsazont roy UK market only ard mey nt ecasauly teerg gute siecerpton Sect to Bay grosond forsale Subseiption Rates Suxae ho UK Snders anders ay be Forsumortts 26iesues| £2520; tor one Subject to impor auty ana for bea akes, | ‘ont eave) £47.80 and your onder when are not ded nthe Sov pies Sd remitencs to Purch Suoscpice Ser’ Unless saad vices, Wating Stow, Bote, Witon Keynée, Bucs M2 3607 bound eure (0 The WAR MACHINE gubishes ty Oris elgthonumborel notitisouefequred Pubscirg Lid has no Grmecton sath the Beck Numbers WAR MACHINE pubished by Ey. The GRATER numbers ae obit Ie maguire dey Yo compat MACHINE back Numbers, GrbisPublshing and subsefbton toes con be obtained Lied 2025setorbury LonconiCON fom Egy. 17 Leng Avene, Ase SBT ot Gover pree Pare Noting NG BDU, Engon, Naval Helicopters Inthe past few years naval helicopters have proved themselves major weapon assets. They have seen active service in Iran, Lebanon, Sweden, Norway and the South Atlantic, and they will rapidly become a dominant factorin future naval operations. "The great advantage of the helicopter isis ability to take off and land vertically. This is valuable on land in that it enables helicopters to ly where there are no airfields, and (for example) let troops abseil down rope into dense tropical rain forest. But how much more valuable isthe \VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) capability in a naval machine! It means that such a machine can go to sea aboard any kind of ship big enough fo support it and with a deck area sufficient for landing. From the earliest post-war days naval helicopters have been used for uly tasks, ison, reconnaissance, vertrep (the vertical replenishment of warships under way at sea) and commando-style assault on enemy beaches Others bring out casualties on stretchers (liters) or carry out the wital mission called SAR (search and rescue), which demands a reliable personnel hoist with atypical liting distance of 76 m (280 fy and 2 rating of 272 kg (600 Ib) so that it can bring up both the rescuee (who may be unconscious) plus a crewman, Today the two chief naval missions for helicopters are ASW (ant submarine warfare) and ASV (anti-surface vessel) attack Early helicop- ters could not fy these missions because they could not carry the sensors and weapons needed, Today such machines as the Sikorsky/ ‘Westland Sea King, Westland Lynx, Sikorsky Seahawk and Kamov Ka-25 can fly such missions even in very bad weather, while in Operation ‘Corporate’ (the retaking of the Falkland Islands in 1982) British naval helicopters lew around the clock, often in appalling weather, and were ‘The Westland Sea King, ofwhich this example serves with Australie “among the world eaders in ASW ‘capability ‘absolutely crucial to the entire operation (One has only o study the statistics of the sorties Nown (and ofthe tasks accomplished) by the Sea King, Lynx, Westland Wessex and Westland ‘Wasp helicopters ofthe Task Force fo see that without them the Royal Navy's ships would have been torpedoed. hostile submarines would. have escaped destruction, hostile surface vessels would have been able: to operate (at least by nigh!) with some measure of impunity, vital reconnaissance information would not have been forthcoming, and (most important ofall) the entire operation would have ground to a halt from a total lack of transport, except fora single surviving RAF Boeing Vertol Chinook! Moreover, despite the fact that virtually the entire Argentine navy stayed away (notably excepting its aircraft) British naval helicopters knocked outa submarine and several smal surace ships, as well as a land HO for good measure, The machines described in the following pages are often special versions of helicopters also used in land-based roles. Invariably the naval mssions are more challenging, and call for extra capabilities, ‘The Falklands war was a campaign won bythe navalhelicopter. Amongst ‘the heroes was this Westland Wessex, XP142. Humphrey. as twas known, depih-charged an Argentine submarine, rescued arecennaissance arty {rom occupied South Georgia, got hitin he San Carlosiandings and enerallygavesterling service. ELE Aérospatiale Dauphin eR ER ‘The Aérospatiale Dauphin was origig§ nally planned as a medamn tapioca monk forthe mass-produved Alouette Ti, but st quickly diversited into a large family win diferent ftselages, Tending gears (ized tairhee! type ‘mith forward spatted mainvieets or Tetiactabe tricycle gear, for example) ‘andvarioussingloor tn encines The Original SA S60 Dauphin ttocuced the four-blade, Starew’ main rotor of 160m @7n 8% in) diameter dnven by 9 Turboméca Asta VILA tr Doct rated st 788 EW (1,080 sh). ‘hoist ew on 2 June 1912 anc:t was followed on 4 January 1978 the st 'SK95C powered by two 4e2 FW (550 shp) Turbomeca Ariel engines ‘Theve curler versions were super (ieded bythe SA 368N Dauphin 2 anc iis derivatives, which have 2 new Structure making extensive use of composite materials such a gla fibre, Nomex Kevlar ana Robacell, ‘andwith carbone compostenthe ‘Spars ofthe tor Hades, The SA SSN ‘op features fly rerecane meycle landing gear andisone ofthe astoxrot all current helicopters, having set many orld pow orpant space ora inci Pars London 368 mic ules atan erage ofjust over 22 km! ZOD meh) In 1572 Aercepstiae pest ‘tong US competiion wih a derived ode, the $A S686. powered by two veo Lycoming LTSI01 engines of Sr kW (690 ship) each, anita order f 80 as placed by the US Coast Guard which cals is very fully exp ped oshore pattol mosel the HEESSA Botphin an even bigger contract gained in 1860 by France was he vast ‘Sawar! order fr multary equipment for Saudi Arabia Parl of hiscomprised 24 SA S86F Dauphin 2 helcoptors ofa ew type Ha 20 ing erp ‘with our ASIST antship misses ‘Thg ant-ahp Dauphin. which isin fended to compete, with the already fisting Lyx wih Sea Stu missles Was dovelopod with Saudi funds and has a Tromenn-CSP Agrion radar ‘hich provides guidance for the ‘ASISTT, which olf was financed by this contract The mise is expected ‘pboellocive over rangesup to ska (Gmailes) Aérospatalealsointends to ‘ell Dauphin 2 helcoplers for ASW, ‘SARand other naval des, the ormet mmission being flow with sonobuys Gath ater provision for sonar), MAD and two homing torpedoes, SResopail S268 Dauphin 2 ‘Type: anti-ship attack helicopter Powerplant: oro 110 sip (6250) ‘Tsbornsea Amel oss ‘Amament our Aérospaalo ASIST? ‘Bone gurded malas Performance: maximum cruising Speed (coun) 2 am (155th) st SEs level and 288lewh (ol ep) = ‘ech hoxg range mse el soe level) 888m (058 miles) enc ‘ha (ni mesma fl) bouts 25 frmaten ce owe mina) 3 Sours nutes or ur misses) 2 Bows $3 Weights: empsy 2141 ks (4.12016) Tamu fakeo 200 eg (48882) Bimenstons main zotce diam! Ten (29 89st foie ln Talim (98 Oe i), Beige Sas Gan'Linye main rotor & in (idea oe ‘The newly proposed Dauphin 2 displays ttefour AS 1ST antiship ‘missiles and bulbousrademe ‘housing the Agron 1s radar system. ‘This highly effective at enables tne airraf to detect ationg ranges and trace 10 surface targets Above: The US Coast Guard have ‘Scquired $0 HH-654 Dolphins or Shortrange recovery tasks which, though not requiring offensive capabilites, means the aircraft must have te latest maritime search anc surveillance equipment. t I Aérospatiale Super Frelon ‘Tho ast algerie prodiced i quantty in Western Burope, the soap Super Felon, wes blk ‘namiyrairfores, at and Sona ‘Gal clstomars is roger lap finding gear ‘The Are production ‘model, however was the SA 2216, of ‘Which 2¢ were supplied io the French ‘Reronavale in 9270. Tay are used bby Flotile 22F booed at Lanvaoc- Poulmic in Britany. whe other duties they have the wa supporting the French national deter Tent by shadowing each Radoutabie Glas crates misule submarine a3 ‘Separis from ts base atthe le Longue n combat patil The whole pint of the submarine Based caterer is that potental enemy, and anne be flowed by another sub. ‘marine belonging oa potentially hos lle power its fture: positon would lontyalvays be known ‘Thus the SA. £216 heliopters of Sr mpake certain that there ig no other submarine any: ‘wherein the vicinity as each French ‘mislle submarine goes on patol To ‘Be elfocive tho ienaly vestol should ‘Be accompanied for the greatest ‘Resse distance, and here the large Saeand long rangeotthe Super Frelon {fan advanlage Al Supor Frolons hve a abr biade main oor in order to _hsorb the power ofthe threo enone ‘within the same diameter as te much Tighter win-engined §-61 Sex King ‘The cockpit & occupied by the pilot {and co-pilot who have te services of ‘comprehensive navaids and com ‘munleshons systema inchaing Dap let, while in tbe main tactoal com. ‘Barfment isthe mizion crew of tos who manage the detection, tracking and attack equipment. When del tered the 3A 321G heliopters mere Sted with ORB 3) Heracles Iregar in fhe nose, but ince 1861 they have Deen! converted to take the ORB 22 One useful atiribute ofthe Super Frelon'sits ability o putcown ase. ‘The sealed hullisateature borrowed ‘Aérospatiale Super Frelon (continued) Héraciés I wiich has 980” alloune coverage and twice the operating power There isamain tactical display fn which the rolums Rem a dipping Sonar cat also be presented and atet equipment inclodas tovang and MM tein eutemestcs) #er ao 3 rescue hit of 278 kg (06) capac fy, Frequently thase lege machines ‘erate in groups of hres or even out, {o make certan no submarine coud escape detection Specification ‘Type: ASW and ASV shore-based hl copter Powerplant: three 1,870-shp (1171 KW) urboméca Turmo'HCS tur hate irmament: up to four homing ant Submarine orpedoes or two AS 9 Be ‘cot antship missles Naval Helicopters Performance: cruising spec 248 km/h (1e4mph), range wan $009 (2716 1b) mission aa 1020 km (633 mil) endurance in ASW Tole 4 hours ‘Weights: empty, 6853 kg (13,120) ‘amu falke-of 13000 Ke (28680 1D) Dimensions: main roror dismeter 180m (eit Gin); length overall 2.0m (16 N64 in), eit 6 16 m ef 2% main soter cise ea 2808 mt (@oisoea | AB.212 The Italian company Costruzion Aoronautiche Giovanni Agusta has Dut Bell beicopters under hence Since 1e82 Large nunborsol te Mad. 21204, the first and smallest member of the Huey famaly. mere ball under the ‘esignstion Agusta AB204 for many fusimers, some of them (ching the Swedish navy version) Being po- ered by a Rolle Royoe Gnome fr Rocha in place ofthe ussal 183 Pro lution Sertched in 1366 fo the lager ‘multizele AB.208, and went anim 1971 tb inelude the nn-engined ABAL2 In lta o Bell Heleopler Texton, hich haa concentrated on ‘tieey od a a elec cus ers, Agusta as laced much emphasis Sha special ABZIZASW version, ex lensively redesigned and fall equip ed for anvsubmarine warfare with Secondary roles which inetude ant ip missle attack and) SAR (search fand rescue). The basic ASW role equipment includes a search radar specially dened for good disex ‘inatom in rough seas wih he Yl ig scanner above the cockpit The Tadar is automatcally ned to he ‘ABZ12ASW navigation system (lacan, Doppler radar UMP homer and hvigation computer) to give a on {nous updated picture ot he over all tacteal stustion There is an ad TED Agusta-Bell AB.204, AB.205 and vanced flight-control and auto ‘Stabilization Systm, one of lis modes being auto-approach to hover at a ‘chosan spot and at height set by the Tadar alumeter_ An IPPISIP twanspon: ey tod and eas adrancad {CM systems can be insalled. The basic ASW oensor isa low frequency ‘ee dpi spa uae down depth of 131m (460) The auta fight sone caneldtbe heme ston ary over any chosen, dip point ina Complex sonay search parm. ASW weapons are listed soparately tn the ‘ntrship mission guided missiles ve ‘ous kits may bo carried. thaugh the ‘sual pattern on most existing machines Is the AS 12. ‘These wite ‘Guided woapons are steared by the co-pilot using the XM-58 gyro- Siabllzed sight system. Cloaty'the ‘bsolesoent misale wil soon bo re- placed by ABZT2ASW) operators wath more modern wespan This helo. ter-can also sarvein tho role of stand ‘off guidance platform fran tip ma Ses red by other mendly lunehers in paticlay tae shipfved Otomat 2 ‘rue msl. fn the vole the hlioop itis fited with he search radar anc TG realtime target data ane son system. ‘Specification ABaL2ASW ‘Type: mul Doatd dperation Powerplant: cos 1675p (1998-40) helicopter for ship: ‘The Marinavi (italian naval air arr) deploys 8 AB 212 ASWs aboardits: surface warshins for both ant Submarine andantship work Pratt Whitnay Canada T40 (PTET-6) Turbo Twin Pac wath two gasturbine povier sections Armament tw Mk 46 AS torpedoes, fr te depth charges oF two antes isles (ipically AS 12) Performance: maximum speed 186 kaw/n (122 mphy, cruising speed 185kawh (118 mph); search endur ance $ hours 12 minutes, maximire ‘age with suiay tak (uo roserva) fram (414 mies) Weights: empty 3420 ka (7,540 i tarimum SOT kg (11,1761) Dimensions: main yolor diameter [63m Cas te'O in), length overall 140m (87 Lin height 488m (Lat Oven mam rotor de atea 172m (leradeq ‘The most powerful helicopter ever de: ‘Sgned in Western Europe the BH 10) has is Genesis n an SKR (Ses King Replacoment) study by the Bris Mob (Navy) in 1877, Westland re- ‘sponded vit a proposal designated Wig & but meanwhile te alan navy had come up wih a srular require ‘ment though obe with fhe accent on shore basing vaio than operations from warships. Westland and Agusta decided to collaborale, formed EH Gicotien Helicopter Industries Ltd) ‘snc mh extreme care and underpin: fed by much vegaarch. drew up he Sesian for the BH 101 as the next ‘generation helicopter for the Brits snd Halan navies. The same basic Machine s also being developed as a Sill pasenger an uly cargo wane port whoee engines, ror systems ai framne and main systems ate common EH Industries EH 101 with thoe of the naval variant The Inter i very ie « scaled-down GH S3E in configuration, though the three engines are arranged symmetrically ‘round the main rotor. The an cabin 8m Gin tin) long. 25m Gt vein) wide and lowing for talent soundproofing, 182m Gf [1ain) jdmensions exec talored to the missions as are the folded cimen- Sons for easy tipboard stowage, The faniime roles for which the EH 101 basbeen designed ate ASW, ent-ship Survellanca antsurlace vessel siike amphibious operations, SAR. AE and verttep (verical replenstrven!) ‘Ro ums feature tbat despite the ling diferenoes between tase ie between caroo wemtep, ASW and AEW win a gant {eda alirola changes can be caried Guten Board ship The rain ie-blade Totor has composite Blades with ex- {ended-chord tpsef the SERP type as fed t the latest Lynx and Weald SD. whe the tal carries = ourblade Yotor and can be power-olded. ke tha main rotor Bladen for reduced ‘overall cimersicns. Use of thes en ines confers oustanding safety (or bat mascmam weicht in all eth erm and General Hectic expect he ‘Sebiasenainetorsace atpowers sores 0 per cent grantor tan at Biren ths spentcaton Pet okt ‘been se or carly 1688, with pro ductan machines following in 1968 ‘The EH 10) has been specied a ‘equipment fr the Royal Navy Type 23 {itgates, and itis expected fo replace the Sea King all over the world Specification EB IOI Naval ‘Type: mult-roe maritima halicopter Powerplant taree1.600-shp (ioe EW) General Blectnc 70040) tur Boshais ‘Remament enclosed weapons bay Bie actommodse wie ange cE terpedoes (varcont Sunny fr RN emon and oer ores Be tadeatls Can erformanes: uximum crulsing Speed its endurance ‘assent gn wih fl weapon ead Wenge tain tke 12000 Geen Bimensions: main rotor diameter 15m GL Gin: lonats overall 290m (i Wein) and folded ‘Beem (28 Oi) bade ssdm 28 Aine man toto die tea 22 Tot (.925.08q ft) ‘Thoughts development canbe traced back io tho Saro PSI, flown (7 1958 the Westland Wasp HAS.MX 1 ‘emerged in October 1562 as @lughly Speculized machite for fying weful missions ftom smal ships, such 2s f- ‘atesand destroyers wih imited deck Faden Te mao Were ASM fant-submanne warlare) and generat Ublty, but the Wasp was not sufficient 1y power to carry a hl kt of ASW sonvorsas wolas weapons, and thus in {his role reise on the senoors of 1 rent vessel and other inendly naval reas, wich fll where to drop ts Damn torpedoes. tn the antsurlace vasoel rola the Wasp is autonomous, apd hough it has no radar itcan steer fhe ASIE wze-gulded missle under ‘igual conditions aver ranges Up 19 Siam (& miles) Ober dates SAR (Gearch and rescue}, laiaon, VIP frying casualty evacuation with 19 Internaly carved. Suetchers ico 70. Connaissance and phoiosrephyisur 3ey. The cockpit is qute well qup- ed Gr bed-weather operation wh Aulo-stebilzation, radar allimeter, ‘bencon receivers, UH rac and UE omer. and i RN service bmted EW provisions, The stalky quadnicycle Tanding gear has whol that caso 95 that while the machine ean be rolled fon deck, t cannot olin any erection ‘even in rough sea, Sprag (locking) % Westland Wasp brakes are fited to arrct all move- ‘ant Proviion was made for various Fauldown systems such as Beata 10 ‘aliats aughing on small pads nse Fes weather Serena fhe Royal ‘Navy began in 1868 and a [ow wore active in Operation Corporat i the South Allanie nght atthe end of thelr active ives when most had been re- laced in RN sorvice by the Lyme ‘Wasp HAS Mk Is operated from eight ship in that campaiga, all assigned to RN No. 629 Squadron. They flew falmos® 1,000 ous i S12 combat sor {hos during which thy mae no fewar than S627 deck landings. Most were ted in reconnaissance and uy ma conning tower with AS.12 missiles ‘which passed clean through before exploding, Other Wasps serve with ‘he Royal Australian, Brazilian and ‘South Alscan navies Spe ht mato ship-baed Pt ope Powerplant: ono 710-shp (528-KW) Rollvreyee Nimbus £08 turboshatt ‘Ramament to Meds AS orpecoes or fo ASI2 antrship missles evtomanes, mcm spond wih weapons, ‘lap mph), erasing Speed 177 km/h 10mph), range 45 an G70 males) ‘Weights: empty. 1568 ka (8.452 by ‘aut take of 2485 eg (660015) Dimensions: main rotor diameter 880m (32it Sin) length overall 122m GOA Ain} hoight 866m (11 Bin main rotor disc area 7590.* (rea eee oan caiman os race arenas ieee ‘The Westland Wossax is an excelent helicopter very quickly derived by ‘Westland tram the American Sikorsky S88 to replace the al: Batsh BYstol Tazasthe Royal Navy's fst dedicated ASW helicopter. The orignal version ‘vas the Wessex HAS 1. powered bya Napier (ioday Rolls-Royce) Gazelle af 1450hp (1081 2). and {his was supplanted by the Wessex HAS Mic version popularly called the Camel because of fs humpbacked replaced by Sea Kings atthe start of ‘Operation ‘Corporate in April 1982 Just to being sent fo the war zone, 2XMBS? aboard, HMS Glasgow and XBL aboard Antrim, both assigned {to No 737 Squadron. The latter caught the Argentine submarine Santa Fe anc a4 Westland Wessex crippled it with deph charges and ‘machine-gun fe; the helicopter te {ued tothe UK peppered with spin {er toles and was veired to the FAR ‘Musou Is eter Was the lat axa Jostto enemy action When, on 12 une, {was destoyed by a shore‘ired Ex (eet which passed through ts hanga. ‘Much more import numerically 1s the Wessex HUME 8 version, the Royal Marine Coramando assault vor fbn, to whch the specification refers ‘These twin-engine. maclunes once ‘pumbered almost 100. Virtually all ‘ae n theactve inventory accompe. ‘ed the Tas Frog, No 849 Squacton board REA (Royal Floot Aualaris) 4nd other shipe being backed up by {bro new squacons (aos 64 and 848) ‘util formed frm second ine un ‘sand sored Wescoxee Tholator ost half aierat aboard Atlant Can- oye, at ol heaton al No, if Squadvon one of whose Wosbox HUME Se ince aut the Argentine HO in the Pont Sanley police sation sing a pewiy installed AS 12 mile ‘Another important qperator of the fariime Wasser i the Royal Austra {ian Navy, which sll has [0 Wessex HASMic S1B (basically similar ‘0 the ‘Wessex HAS Mic3) helicopters, usu 1y based at Nowra having prevously ‘Been embarked aboard HMAS Mel bBoume Ancther nine are storage "They operate Chie in the SAR rola and like tet BiishCountorparis fave fare used by Brunei, Ghana sod ag, ‘ouah not in marine roles. (GlooT EW), bat mith combined output Timed to 1 880 sap (188 kW) ‘Armament role etcan include two ‘Team (0S) GPMGe fring abead, ‘ne or two 2-mam cannon, two or faut SII wite-gaided males, or rockot Fettormance: maximum speed Zliks (isSmphy enusing seed {ag mai mp) range Tan 8 Weights: omply $027 kg (957) ‘Weigh: ‘sum tke 8120 (1880018) Bimensions: main zolor ciameter Tete ge Dan) nats vera Bhddm (on in) height 43m Ziny main rior ec aren 200 @itsbea ; } itt aeatemeaineen ieee eee Helicopters in ‘The Falklands war saw navalhelicopters ‘operating in virtually al heir Iissions. Under the stress ofbattle, and fiying insome of the most hostile environments on Earth, the RoyalNavy ‘machines flew well beyond the callof duty. In the recovery ofthe Falkland Islands during May and June 1862 the United Kingdom relied ‘heavily upon helicopters for ASW, anti-ship allack and, in a small degree, artned close ‘support on land against local point targets, In ‘addition, helicopters did virally all the basic ‘trucking! between ships, the beach-headsand the forces on the islands, including front-line supply of all necessities and the evacuation of Casualties. Helicopters were also imporiant 0 the Argentine army and other forces, but only ima transport role, Right at the very stat of the conflict Argen- tina lost an Aérospatiale SA 890 Puma and an Aérospatiale Alouette Ill on 3 April during the invasion ofthe Falklands dependency of South Georgia. This sizable island, some 800 miles (1280 }an) tothe south east, was defended by a ‘mall unit of Royal Marines, who managed to ‘bnng down both helicopters with small-arms fire. Tt was at the same place that the next! hhelicopter action took place, in late April The first British forces to reach the war 2one had ‘come from Gibraltar, and on21 April two West- land Wesvex HU Mics and an anti-submarine ‘Wessex HAS Mk 3 landed on Fortuna Glacier ‘on South Gsorgia, but both Wessex HU Mic 65 ‘crashed during a blind take-off na bhzzardion the following day. Fortunately the ‘camel jumped Wessex HASMk 3 made i, and it Teturned to rescue the crews of the other ‘achines ‘Two days later, on 28 Apri the same Wessex HAS Mk 3 was launched fom the ‘cruiser Antrim to follow up a plot of a sub- CConaitions inthe South Aanticwere treacherous fartheships, but hey were almost soiidalfor the ‘elcopters. Nonetheless they soldieredian, ‘operating way beyond allihe prescribed limits. ASeaKing HCl rescues an Army Gazelle ‘AHA Seaikings wore he workhorses inal ‘pects the Falkiandis war shiting stores from Ship teship offoading men, kitand supplies tothe batletelds providing casvaly evacuation and ‘giving their sualants submarine protection. ‘merged submarine off Grytviken Harbour this ‘submarine was the first ever to be destroyed by helicopter action. Details of the encounter are given elsewhere in this feature Pitch-black battle ‘The next major helicopter action was on the night of 23 May. The UK had declared a TEZ (Total Exclusion Zone) around the Falkland Is Jands, and few Argentinian ships dared te en- ter it Two which did were the patrol ships Alferez Sobral and Comodoro Somellera, 800- tonners transferred from the US Navy in 1972 Atabout 0400 on 3 May both opened fire on a Sea King on ASW barrier patrol. Itwas a pitch lack night, and had they kept qulet the ships might never have been detected. The Sea King Called up two Lyme HASMk 2s of No. 818 San Each was armed with two of the brand-new Bhe Sea Skia missiles, which technically had not yet completed their acceptance trials Lymges can carry four of these missiles, But in the South Atlantic it was common to carry only two in order to extend combat radius and en durance. Each helicopter engaged one ship, having litle difficulty in detecting the larget on the South Atlantic "eae ar ‘The British forces captured a number of Argentine elicoplers during ihe assault one most notable ‘example being this Agusta-Bell212, bearing Rod Gross ambulance markings. Having painted out the markings the British forces prompt Used the helicopter themselves. the Lymy’s Seaspray radar and then releasing its two rounels with a brief separation in time so that each could incividually home on the radar ‘waves reflected from the target. Alfour rounds were direct hits, Somellera immediately Vanished, while Sobral had its bridge and most of the other superstructure blown away and coated 10 be a threat. Eclipsed by Exocet, Later in the campaign three other Sea Seuas were fired, all these likewise scoring direct his, All seven warheads exploded, and the perlotmance ofthis new missile throughout the Campaign was flawless. It is curious that it gained virtually no publicity, in the media Whereas the Aérospatiale AM.39 Exocet ‘gained tremendous worldwide notonety for ts ‘accomplishments in the Falklands notwitn- ‘Standing the fact that ofthe two Exocets which suck Botish warships nether exploded I strange that the average man is convinced thatthe Exocet was the fist sea-stamaming is- sie to be used in wat, whoxeas in fact the first ‘was the Sea Skaa. Iti also worth noting that all the ships engaged by the seven Sea Skuas Helicopters in the South Atlantic ‘were in generalless than 28 (8 m) o the top of their superstructure, and the feeboard over ‘substantial parle of their length was no more than 8 24m), which confirms the ow height al which Sea Skua can reliably cruise even in heavy seas Sea King patrols Lite has been said about the often boring but nevertheless vital task of ASW patrol flown by the Royal Navy Sea Kings, The chief units involved were No. 820 Sqn, with Sea King HAS Mk 5s (distinguished by the enlarged fat. topped radome) of which nine were embarked In HMS lavinaile, and No. 828 Sqn, again with the Sea King HAS Mi, with nne embarked in Hermes, the Task Force flagship. The older Sea King HASMk 2 was used by No. 824 San, (operating from Royal Fleet Auaharies Olmeds hd For! Grange, and by No. #28 Sqn whose machines were based on Allantic Causeway ‘and Queen Elizabeth 2 Other ASW machines ‘Were the ‘camel Wessexes of No. 737 Sqn Aboard the eruisers HMS Antrim and Glamor- ‘gan, the Lynxes of No B15 Of No. 829 Sqn, which were ships ‘Aigentinian submarines were clearly a ‘potentially serious menace, especially the two Guile new German-bull Type 2088 which are ‘Stall fast and quiet, and thus could have oper ated in shallow waier and proved extremely Ihard to detect From the ime it left Ascension ‘on 16 April the Task Force maintained a cease less ASW patrol, and this was maintained for three months until well ater the Argentinian sunender There were nothing like enough Ships or aircraft for a tight and total blockade, and it was expected that submannes would make effective attacks and cause losses to the "Task Force. In fact, no ships were struck by torpedoes, though there is evidence that as mand the Wasps sed on various RoyalNary Sea Kings approach dangerously close {othe burting essa ship Galan receding ‘menin thesea and using downwash rom their {Fotors to drive llerafts sway from the stricken, ‘many as four were fired and possibly deter ated against decoys There were certainly numerous possible contacts, though the consensus is that the majority were probably not submarines but ‘whales, Incidentally, four of the Sea King HAS Mk 85 of No, 826 Sc were already Site for evaluation with the ASQ-81(V) MAD ‘bird sumlar to that carried by the US Navy Sikorsky SHH Sea King. and id an an almost identical fairing to the rear of the right-hand main-gear float, This was for an evaluation ‘Which began before the invasion ofthe islands, and it i understood that the MAD operated reliably (though there was not much for ito detect) ‘Land-based units ‘The chief British land-based armed helicop ‘er unit was No, 3 Commando Brigade (Royal Marines) Air Squadron, normally based at Bickleigh, Both ils Aézospatiala Gazelles and iis Westland Scouts carried rocket pods, and many bad GPMGs and other weapons. Alitie later the Army Air Corps got into action with the same two types deployed by No. 698 San, from Netheravon, Before leaving the UKcall the Gazolles were modified by REME No, 70 Aur- craft Workshop at Midale Wallop (AAC HO) ‘mth folding blades, JFP transponders, armour, radio altimeters, ares, pods for 68mm (2.68- In) SNEB ground-attack rockets, and smoke The Attack on the Santa Fe Acrewman’s first-hand account oftheattack ‘on the Argentine submarine ARA Santa Fe. nthe afternoon of 24 Apri 1982 during the Falk landlsionds war, neligonca was reosved on toad iis anim, ho ship commanding the South Geo {ia Teak Grip, wine noted tothe rgentnan Stimanine AMA lArmada Republics Argento] Sor {aFomaht oon the South Googe area Th cor ‘ana othe Task Group, Captain 86. Yong ADC FN subseauenty O80). ordered al ships ~ except MS Endurance which wes conducting seperate perations in lound Bay to retro theron east 3° 200 nautical miles n oder fo reassess sive Bon, Perego dean tat he Sana right tempt to enor Gryviean duting the night 2495 lpn were received soi was deaded to dose the sland again toa ange of So rm and to launch ‘ant > Vieasex AAS hie 3 olcoptor on acurface Searen a frst ight on 25 Apri Also, 9 Lyx from HM Brians, wth hod joined the Task Group on 12 Apel suppioment Gopisted a seseta as 3 resull of the les of two Wessex HU Mic Bs which Were lost on special operations on Fortuna Glacier, Was askodt Conducta gurace soarchcoverngihe Coast towards Br lslond othe north waa armed ‘vith a Mic torpedo, HS Pymout’s Wasp hel Copter was placed on sanglay armed with AS 12 'At 08,10 on 25 Api Antrin’s Wessex, crowed by Lisutonant Commandor lan Stanley (sit Su Usutenant Stewart Coope (2nd pot, Lewténant Chis Pary (Observer! and Petty Officer Aeron ‘The wreck ofthe Argentine submarine lies ot the Joti atGrytviken, having hats war career ended By attack roma combination ofRoyalNavy helicopters. 206 ‘man David tagerald [Sonar Operstr launches ang ‘Mansited 50 nm towards the mouth of Cumberland Bay, Visbity wos loss than OS, the wind was S10" at 15 Rts. and cloud cover consisted of ful ‘cover at 400 and broken status at 1000. A totaly radiostent vansit was made and the aica ‘around Cumberand Bay was searched visual. One Single sweep on the Wessex radar shoved a try ‘omtact consistent with that of a submarine per ‘Sonpe at 08.65 bearing 380" from Barf Pont ot the mauth ofthe bay. The Wessex closed toinvestigate ‘and at 0.8 nm ihe contact wes vsualy ident fied as ‘an Argentinian Guppy i class submmetine. The sub marine was headed into sea, with noone Im medatey visible on thefin, and obviously preparing to dive. k was immodiately stacked by. Antrim’ ‘Wessex using aitfaunched dapth ehorges which ‘exploded very clase to the after port casing, Aer ome volontcareering the submarne tured hard to por and headed towards Grytvikon, with ol and Smoke streaming fom the after casing ull, Ph mouth was requested to launch her Wasp and 2 fan¢s Lynx wa called nto delver her torpedo the submarine showed any sign of ving But the Santa Fe showed ite abity to dive. Beilant's Lynx however, came under machine-gun fie frm the Submarine. The ‘orpedo was released, with nil ro Sult and tne machine-gun fre was eturpeduntl the anival of Phymout’s Wasp, which was meanwhile Speeding nffom 40 miles, Onatival the Wasp roo {Wo AS/12 missiles to prevent further gunfire attacks, or worse, fom the submanne, Endurance ‘announced that her Wagps two] would at Shon to dalver an AS 12 atteck. Endurance’s ‘Wasps subsequently acheved hits on the sub marin fn eanning town which ile dareoue ‘they punenad tough te GAP (Glass Reinforced Paste fin before exploding The submarine was Subsequently abandoned slangside the British ‘Antarctic Survey fetty in Grytvken harbour. South Georgia assault ‘Altera hurried conference, the Task Group Com- monger decised to o9 ahead withthe assault on South Georgia, At 14-45 Anmim's Wessex HAS Mk 3\ed Britanes two Lynas to land troops on the Shore opposite Grvicen, Shore bombardment was how eared gut on the ground around Grytwken Dy Antaim and Plymouth, fe took an hour to land the {eaopsusing the thas helos Later that day Antrim Wasex low wo more tips in supporto the oper ton, one as an avborne eommuneations link and nother to take Antri’s Medical Officer ashore 10 ‘tena to an Argentinian casualty the only one of the {peration so a},saior whoradboen raring ‘rachine-gun nthe submarines fin. He had t0 have Fis leg amputatedas.aresultofan AS 12 missile ht oe ee eee eee the nine Agusta A 109As were fitled with es cee een ethers Se During the next day the submarine was moved tom tear atthe BAS, jay ond was secured ‘slongside the pot at to od whaling station at Gryt- ven part of engineers boarded the vessel be- fore finaly sank. in order to assess the damage, ‘The pot shat had sheared andthe port engine had broken trom its mountings from the blast of the Performence: maximum speed 230m (484in; neigh Blam (6h Clade fang giasiibre Totor blades dated to an improved maritime SAR 287k (isemphy cruising speed Bein): rotor disc area 364 ‘The best 213 Sea KnightsinUS Marine Standard mith exten fuel, weather 168krwh (Ia mph range 000s (aarO aR) a Kaman SH-2 Seasprite "he oil ours Karan HUB (ter syled WHER Soasprite) utlty Febcopier lew on 2 uly 16s, and fom 19e2 Kaman delivered 190'of these very attractive mactines each pow. fred by @ TSB ancino and wih Rly tetracttble forward-mounted tain landing gears The URC and UH ‘ould each carry a 18149 (40000) Sung oad or 11 passengers and did z = Sterling workin planeguard, SAK oot 3 sien reconnaissance, vertop (Varticl re lenishment) and uility transport Sues, operating from many sur Wwalshipe as well ay at shore bases. From 1067 all available Seagprites have been converted ofa: 186 bel SSpters wih hllengine out salety and Wiha crew comprising pilot co-pilot Ant-submarine warareisjustoneof observation, missle defence and Grhetlly improved perormance plus and sensor opersior he sii2r cm theSeasprie’s tasks The Ypeira general wilify work. Batter weight carrying capabilites. eamy fill ASW gear including Cana- multepurpose machine, taking Among many other models the mosi dian Marcon. LNCS6HP surveillance ituportat cultent variant ithe SHL2P radar, towed oc fr the ALVASQ-18 mains and a €00-b (Z[2-kg) rescve isto be supplemented bythe Sikorsky (ie LAMPS for ight Aiborne Mil- MAD, AWWALR-4 passive detoction hoistisstandard Prom 1873 Karpannot SH.60B LAMPS Mk Ili the 1$605 but {purpose System) forshipbassd ASW Yecelver, Dir passive and Dicass ac- only dolivered conversions of earher wil remain in service toughout the {id antvship misale delence wih lve sonobuoya and cempretonsive models but also 86 new SH-2Fs, fol. 19905 nthe US Navys older surface Secondary SAR obeervationanduliily awoom and display systems "The lowed in 1988-4 by 18 additional vessels apabiity, mall weather conditions. 0001p (Ibl4-kg) cargo ability re- machines. The Seaspite LAMPS Mik a ES erry {wo 1350shp (1007) ner ecineT8-4 boats ferformance: maximum spect 285 kav (les mph. ange wth max — ‘mum internal foe! 67k (422 rales) os ‘Weights: ompty 3193%y (7040 Iby eae maximum take-of 6033 ky (18000) fi Dimensions: main rotor diameter Igai'm amt Cin), upslage To 123m Om Sin) bewht A Tam COR Giny main rotor disc area 41 25m (105q 8) é Anti-Ship Helicopters ‘Te antiship helcopteris as a species relatively young, Tiss mainly because iisprinipal weapon, the sea-skimming msi, cig notexistunt ate 1960, and didnot Become effectve and commen untl the ate 19703. Now thatthe Wo have been brought together the result 's «singular potent combination whien 'Sespecaly effective against smal but mporiant naval vessels such as mise. rived FPBe ast patrol dosts), Heleoptors are aiteady wisely used or coastal Batol (catering biockadeunners, drug smugglrs ano the Hee), and larger ‘machines can carry missiles powsrlul enough ta disable major warships. Heltcopters could have played a significant ant shi role 30 years aga armed with noming torpedoes, The range of such torpedoes varies great but the Betfection ofthe homing head (niall avacted towards the sound ofa ship's Dropellers) anc advanced forms of propulsion (notably electric ana high-energy ‘onofvel rots) combined to produce torpedoes with a practical range UB (0 {ive times the 8 ries (km) of typical Word War a-dropped torpedoes. Ths couldhave boon ample to enable helicopters to make standoff torpedo attacks Beyond the range af ship delences, but the tocnnique wes naver pursued Instead the ant-ship heleopter had to wat forthe anteshipmissi, which fies Ist above tha ocean surface ‘Antiship.missiles for launch from aeroplanes date from the immediate post- war paricd but helcopterlaunched versions slmost all date from after 1967, when the destruction af an lraol destroyer by missles sired naval stats rom lethargy: hal's sistel Marto (Sea Kiler 2, France's AM39 Exoost, te USA's Harpoon, Japan's ASM-1 and Germany's Kormoran date from this period, tha last two havent boen adapted for helicopters. Much more reoeety ine Bish Sea Sua and FrencnAS. Ibhave viggeredotf anew familvot smaller antishp missles specticaly designed for launch from helcoptars Swot wav ined ge Sor " In vitually every case the halicopter or a co-operating aircraft has to use survellance radar to detect and iderty the hostile ships). Ths fs one of the ‘weak links inthe procedure, In thatthe helcapter nas to be well above tNe hhoraon as seen from the ship, and then iluminate the ship wit rar signals wich tigger the Ship's own ESI (electronic support measures) warning y= tems. The missile is thon raleased towards ihe fatgel. and under ts Tocket turbojet or ramjet propulaion accelerates to high subsonic speed and crops to 3 vary low alttude fypealy 33 10 m). Mesto! is fight += made under set. Contained autopiot or Inereal udance; when Its within a Tew mies of the target the missile activates its Gem seeker naming head). Aga, ns almost ‘always a rode, which aga alerts te snp sluminting twithradar signals SO thatthe missi@.can home onthe refectans Th shia wil probably turn stern-on toreduce its spparont azo and fie clouds of cha ang decays toy tease the ‘missie's radar to ‘break lock and instead aim forthe enatf or dteoys, Requirements of any shibased halcopter elude small overall 2, con plete alweather and right capabiy,sdvanced fight-contol and autostbion fond the ability to land ona small tea! deok thats teng and raling to the fextent that most people could not stand uprght on i. Varous haul down Systems haye baeh developed in which ihe holoapter lowers grapnel on & fable tocatenagridon the deck, thus ena nga wineh (usualy n te helsopte] to pull the machine dewn wth mproved secunty unt the whaes touch, Special landing ges 's ned, with sprasipawiiatche locking brakes and wees that tan be lockod n offset (castored postions so tat the helicopter cannot ol off the deck into the se, \yoncanpermeasm overt enzon Seep ‘revomipeont 3 Sea Stusiganal wentor eons Sits guides waspon Tae yn wou {iucinebnger tho rar Therein tao equeriytretgyono wie S03 Shue esemeacnsradarhamangheas Sikorsky $-61/H-3 Sea King (One of the moat important halicopter ‘amilesyet developed. andamainsiay lhe Western worlds supbome an Submarina lorena, the sa Sea King series began he asthe HSS-2 ant-silmerine beloopter for the US ‘Navy, The protolype ofthis helicopter fre flew on 11 Nach 1958, and te Ralicopter, which bas he company de Sgnation Skorsky 618, was the Ast ‘hich could cary al the, gensors and ‘respons needed for ASW missions et erteral help ious the US ivy policy n to ead frcraf a an extension of the ASW Strsee vessel fom which operates, that helicopter carried sensors de fect the Restle ibmarine belo the warship sealed infor tho a). New features included an amphibious host ‘ull with retractable ‘awh! landing (goa, twin urboshaft engines (or pow r, lighmess, ebay and. angle engine flight capability) above the Sabin and an unebetructed tactical partner wo sonar operators ‘whose sensors inchiea dipping sone ‘Buoy lowered through a keel batch ‘Above the extensiveavionic systems is an aude auioplot and a sonar ‘Coupler which maintains exact bought and station in conjunction with a adar ‘The reliability andversatliy ofthe ‘SH-Stamily haveputitat the forefront ofnaval helicopters sinceit centered service ith the USNavyin 1561 ‘Sikorsky $-61/H-3 Sea King (continued) ‘limeter and Doppler radar, Over 1,100 #5 type helicopters have been ‘balk the ASW models being Sas in ‘our basic models The SHIA was the ‘Original model wit 1280-shp (@33- AW) General Electric TS6-88 tur. Dost, the uty version: and the SH-SHis the mult-ole model ited mith cippingso- farand MAD gear or ASWand search Yadar for the detection of incoming developed into the radar-equipped LHILSF Pelean acvanced scarch-and- escue helicopter for the US Coast Goard, Export models tave incaded {be SSA uly wangport based onthe SIR and the Selb antisubmarine ‘model based on the SH-3D_ SH are {i Canadian service Under the Go- Signation GiiI24, and American ‘nants are RH mincewoeping and Vit executive transport helicopters Sitar sie saa ng Jyper Bel elcorer Armament: ett ardpolns fro Dimensions: main rotor diameter 188m (2ft Oin), fuselage length 1669 m (49) height 518m Ce Oiny main rotor dise area, 2208 ois tsa) A derivative ofthe US Army's UH-0 Black: Ha now entero Wide- Pe mecumes i ihe vewnble ball ‘UH seriea the Sikorsky SH-00B Sea- Tare (edu under he company ‘esugnation 70) won the US Navy LAMPS Til (Cight ‘Airborne Mult Purpose System) competition in September 1977, and wile deployed aboard all the newest USN destoyers autos Alatce, complex and ‘tomely expensive machine, the SH- 8 has two main missions: ASW and ASST he later meaning ant-ship su- ‘vellince and targeting (the aerial de- tection incoming sea-skimming ant ship missles, and the provision of radar-derived data for similar ‘Weapons launched from US warships Socondary missions include SAR, ‘modovac (casualty evacuation) and vrtrep (vertical replenishment, ie [Engng supplies 1 warships at sea) ships arching and reli is heavy Seas Under te fone athe ge APS 216 124 radar, onthe loft side ofthe fel age 6 large vertcal panel with 25 {bes far launching sonobuays, low on the Tight of the rear fuselaos Is the Dylon fom wich the MAD bur can be Tenea ia theres exenave EV gbamion Gneucing Dorrie) an. ‘equipment The fst [rololype flew on 12 December 1878 Briowlaelveneewerebesinnota 14 tal of 204 or the US Navy, tinich hopes fo have the type oper tonal in 1984 and foreizn sales are Specification 18 38m ($8.8 8in: funelage length ‘Stkoraky SH-0B Sechawk 18.28m (60it O¥ in) height Sesm ‘Type: mult-role shipboard helicopter (11fUI1 in}, main rotor disc area 21005 mt esa 9) Incommon with most USNavy Powerplant (wo 1ee0-

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