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From: Miloch <Miloch_member@newsguy.com>
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Subject: "Marine 1" Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King (part one)
Date: 17 Oct 2016 21:28:56 -0700
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_SH-3_Sea_King
The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King (company designation S-61) is an American
twin-engined anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter designed and built by
Sikorsky Aircraft. A landmark design, it was the world's first amphibious
helicopter and one of the first ASW rotorcraft to use turboshaft engines.
Introduced in 1961, it served in the United States Navy as a key ASW and utility
asset for several decades before being replaced by the non-amphibious Sikorsky
SH-60 Seahawk in the 1990s. The type also proved popular in civil service and
with foreign military customers. As of 2015, many remain in service in nations
around the world. The Sea King has been built under license by Agusta in Italy,
Mitsubishi in Japan, and by Westland in the United Kingdom as the Westland Sea
King. The major civil versions are the S-61L and S-61N.
Role
ASW/SAR/utility helicopter
National origin
United States
Manufacturer
Sikorsky Aircraft
First flight
11 March 1959
Introduction
1961
Retired
Retired by United States Navy in 2006
Status
In service
Primary users
United States Navy (historical)
Italian Navy
Brazilian Navy
Argentine Naval Aviation
Produced
Unit cost
$6.4 million
Variants
Sikorsky S-61L/N
Sikorsky S-61R
Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King
Westland Sea King
The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King is a twin-engine medium-sized amphibious rotorcraft.
Many of the features on board the Sea King represented a considerable
advancement over preceding helicopters. In addition to being fully amphibious
and capable of operating under all weather conditions, it holds the distinction
of being the first operational American helicopter to be able to simultaneously
hunt and destroy submarines. Its twin-turboshaft powerplant layout gave the SH-3
a higher payload and greater reliability than previous anti-submarine
helicopters. In the event of a single engine failing, the Sea King could
continue flying on a single engine. The powerplant used on the Sea King was the
General Electric T58-GE-8B, which was initially capable of generating up to
1,250 shp each.
The Sea King became operational with the United States Navy in June 1961 as the
HSS-2. When the unified aircraft designation system was introduced, the
aircraft's designation changed to SH-3A. It was used primarily for
anti-submarine warfare: detecting and tracking Soviet submarines; in the event
of an outright military conflict, they would have been used to launch attacks
upon them as well. Sea Kings could also operate from offshore platforms to
extend their surveillance and strike range. Nighttime ASW operations were
possible, albeit posing considerable difficulty for the flight crew.
MARINE ONE
Marine One is sometimes the preferred alternative to motorcades, which can be
expensive and logistically difficult. The controlled environment of a helicopter
is also felt to add a safety factor. Marine One is also used to transport senior
Cabinet staff and foreign dignitaries. HMX-1 operates a total of 35 helicopters
of four different types as of 2009.
More than 800 Marines supervise the operation of the Marine One fleet, which is
based in MCAF Quantico, Virginia, with an additional operating location at Naval
Support Facility Anacostia in the District of Columbia, but is more often seen
in action on the South Lawn of the White House or at Joint Base Andrews Naval
Air Facility in Maryland. At Andrews, it is sometimes used to connect to Air
Force One for longer journeys. Marine One is met on the ground by at least one
Marine in full dress uniform (most often two with one acting as an armed guard).
According to a story told by Bruce Babbitt, President Clinton, in his final days
of office, while flying over and landing in a remote area near the Grand Canyon,
found a Marine waiting on the rock ready to salute him. Marine aviators flying
Marine One do not wear regular flight suits during flights, but rather the
Marine Blue Dress Charlie/Delta uniform.
As a security measure, Marine One always flies in a group of as many as five
identical helicopters. One helicopter carries the President, while the others
serve as decoys. Upon take-off these helicopters begin to shift in formation to
obscure the location of the President. This has been referred to as a
presidential shell game. Marine One is also equipped with standard military
anti-missile countermeasures such as flares to counter heat-seeking missiles and
chaff to counter radar-guided missiles, as well as AN/ALQ-144A infrared
countermeasures. To add to the security of Marine One, every member of HMX-1 is
required to pass a Yankee White background check before touching any of the
helicopters used for presidential travel.
Marine One is transported via C-17 Globemaster or C-5 Galaxy military transport
planes (as is the president's limousine) wherever the President travels, within
the U.S. as well as overseas. At a presidential inauguration, the Marines offer
the outgoing President a final flight from the Capitol to Joint Base Andrews
Naval Air Facility.
Specifications (SH-3)
General characteristics
Crew: four (two pilots, two ASW systems operators)
Capacity: three passengers
Length: 54 ft 9 in (16.7 m)
Rotor diameter: 62 ft (19 m)
Height: 16 ft 10 in (5.13 m)
Empty weight: 11,865 lb (5,382 kg)
Loaded weight: 18,626 lb (8,449 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 22,050 lb (10,000 kg)
Performance
Maximum speed: 166 mph (267 km/h)
Range: 621 mi (1,000 km)
Service ceiling: 14,700 ft (4,481 m)
Rate of climb: 1,310-2,220 ft/min (400-670 m/min)
Armament
Various sonobuoys and pyrotechnic devices
B-57 Nuclear depth charge
*
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