Posted on 04/14/2004 12:00:05 AM PDT by SAMWolf
The only reason I've heard of this battle is the old movie "Drums Along the Mohawk." John Ford, Henry Fonda, Claudette Colbert. Definitely worth a rental.
Oh No! Say it ain't so!!
Morning CT. Thanks for the movie recommendation.
Snippy and I are about to sit down and watch "Kelly's Heroes", she had a deprived upbringing and never saw it. :-)
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Air Power |
The RH-53D is used primarily for Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM), with a secondary mission of shipboard delivery. To complete its experiments with the RH-3A, the US Navy borrowed nine CH-53Ds from the Marines, fitted with devices for the detection, sweeping and neutralization of all types of mines. This variant was designated RH-53D, and 30 were produced for the US Navy and six for the Iranian Navy. The RH-53 had 1900 liter supplementary fuel tanks, a 270kg hoist and 11340kg cargo hook.
In April 1971 HM-12, the Navy's first helicopter squadron devoted exclusively to mine countermeasures was established at NAS Norfolk. The mission of HM-12 was to remove/eliminate enemy mines from sealanes and amphibious operating areas. To accomplish this task HM-12 helicopters towed specially designed mechanical magnetic and acoustic minesweeping equipment which would activate the enemy mines, thereby eliminating them as a threat to future operations in the area. HM-12 employed CH-53A Sea Stallions until they received the Sikorsky RH-53D built specifically for mine countermeasures. At the beginning of 1973, these helicopters were used by US Navy Task Force 78 for Operation Endsweep, to free the North Vietnamese ports of mines.
The first production RH-53D Sea Stallion, especially configured for the airborne mine countermeasures mission, arrived at the Naval Air Test Center for weapons system trials in May 1973. Navy preliminary evaluation and the initial phase of the Board of Inspection and Survey trials had begun at Sikorsky Aircraft Division on 15 May 1973. HM-12 received the first RH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters in November 1973.
In May 1974 a twelve-plane detachment of RH-53D Sea Stallions from NAS Norfolk's HM-12 began minesweeping the Suez Canal as part of Project NIMBUS STAR. In April 1979 an RH-53D Sea Stallion from HM-12 set a new nonstop, transcontinental flight by flying from Norfolk, Virginia, to San Diego, California. The helicopter flew 2,077-nm in 18.5 hours, air refueling from an Air National Guard HC-130 Hercules. The flight demonstrated the long-range, quick-response capability of the RH-53D helicopter and was commanded by Lieutenant Rodney M. Davis.
The 1977 arrival of four RH-53D helicopters to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron TWO FOUR (VR-24) ushered in a new era in combat logistics support. Entitled Vertical Onboard Delivery (VOD), the "VOD Squad" of VR-24 possessed a helicopter heavy lift capability never before seen in the Mediterranean Theater.
The "VOD Squad" provided service to ships of the SIXTH FLEET until 1983 when their helicopters were transferred to the Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM)community. Foreseeing an expansion of the VOD mission, the Navy purchased the new, three engine, seven blade, Sikorsky CH-53E "Super Stallion" and on 6 May 1983, HELSUPPRON FOUR was established as the Navy's first heavy lift, helicopter combat support squadron.
As of 1996 Marine Corps Reserve RH-53D helicopters were scheduled to be replaced with CH-53D/E helicopters, identical to active component models.
Specifications:
Contractor: Sikorsky Aircraft (Prime), General Electric (Engines)
Unit cost: $25 million (1993 dollars)
Crew: Two officers (pilots); four enlisted (two flight engineers, two aerial gunners)
Date Deployed: 1981
Airframe:
Seven-blade main rotor
Four-blade canted tail rotor
Designed for land- and ship-based operations
Automatic flight control and anti-icing systems give the helicopter an all-weather flight capability.
Empty weight: 33,226 pounds
Maximum gross weight: 73,500 pounds
Fuel capacity: 15,483 pounds (2,277 gallons/JP-5)
Overall length: 99 ft 1/2 in
Height: 28 ft 4 in
Rotor diameter: 79 ft
Power Plant: Three General Electric T64-GE-416/416A turboshaft engines 4,380 shaft horsepower each
Performance :
Maximum range (unrefueled): 480 nautical miles
Ferry range: 990 nautical miles
Maximum endurance (unrefueled): 5.1 hours
Maximum allowable airspeed: 150 knots
Countermeasures:
APR-39 Radar Hazard Warning Set
ALE-39 Chaff and Flare Dispenser
ALQ-157 Infrared Jammer
AAR-47 Missile Warning System
Mission and Capabilities:
Primary mission is movement and vertical delivery of cargo and equipment.
When properly equipped, can be used for airborne mine countermeasures (AMCM)
Designed to carry 32,000 pounds of cargo at cruise speed to a range of no less than 50 nautical miles
At destination, the helicopter can discharge its cargo, equipment, or troops and return no less than 50 nautical miles
arriving with at least 20 minutes of fuel in reserve.
Designed to retrieve another CH-53E at a range of 20 nautical miles
Can be configured for wheeled or palletized cargo
Seats for 55 passengers or litters for 24 patients
External cargo of up to 36,000 pounds may be transported by using either the single- or two-point suspension system.
Can conduct air-to-air refueling and helicopter in-flight refueling (HIFR)
Has provisions for internal range extension tanks
"Crazy! I mean like so many positive waves maybe we can't lose!"
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