|
Posted on 05/13/2004 12:00:50 AM PDT by SAMWolf
|
|
 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
|
| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
|
|
Background In June 1775, even before the Battle of Bunker Hill only a month after his return to America and assuming the role of military governor of Massachusetts, Lt. General Thomas Gage was already considering occupying New York City. In August 1775, he was making preparations. When Maj. General William Howe replaced Gage in October 1775, he continued to make preparations for such an occupation of New York after quartering in Boston for the winter and the arrival of reinforcements from England.  However, when General George Washington occupied Dorchester Heights in March 1776, General Howe could no longer remain in Boston while making preparations for New York. The British evacuated Boston on March 17. After remaining off the coast for ten days, they set sail for Halifax, Nova Scotia where they would remain until June 1776. Meanwhile, almost immediately after the British evacuation, Washington left for New York. In January, General Washington had sent Maj. General Charles Lee to New York to make fortifications to the city for defense against the British. Lee was also to raise volunteers from Connecticut to help man those defenses. Lee saw almost immediately how difficult it would be to defend the city from bombardment from the British Navy. On April 13, 1776, Washington arrived in New York, set up his headquarters and even went so far as to issue a circular warning the citizens of New York City of the probability of a British attack on the city.  By June 25, 1776, when General Howe arrived off Sandy Hook, General Washington had 19,000 troops, though 28,500 was his authorized strength. Many of the men were inexperienced Continentals and untried militia. They were ill-equipped and Washington had little artillery, no cavalry and no naval support in the numerous waters around the city. By July 2, General Howe had 130 ships in the lower waters of New York with 9,300 men from Halifax. His brother, Admiral Richard Howe arrived on July 12 with 150 more ships and reinforcements. On August 12, Maj. General Henry Clinton returned from the failed Charleston Expedition. Howe now had 31,625 men. On August 27, Howe had 24,464 men fit for duty supported by 10,000 sailors under his brother.  General William Howe (U.S.Naval Institute) Maj. General William Howe made his first step toward taking control of New York City when he began to move from Staten Island to Long Island on August 22, 1776. On August 27, Howe defeated some of General George Washington's forces with his victory at the Battle of Long Island. However, Washington was able to evacuate many of his forces. Howe then paused in his campaign for more than two weeks while Washington attempted to shore up defenses. On September 15, 1776, General Howe landed at Kip's Bay. General Washington's troops were spread so thinly here that he had to retreat and again saved many troops from being captured. Meanwhile, Howe entered the city of New York virtually unopposed. On September 16, he failed to drive Washington from Harlem Heights just north of the city. Howe again paused his campaign, this time for a month. During Howe's first week in possession of New York, much of it burned on the evening of September 20 and Nathan Hale was captured on September 21 and later hanged as a spy.  A plaque at the Water Club near 30th Street and the East River marks Kip's Bay, the point where the British invaded Manhattan. On October 12, General Howe resumed his campaign and by October 18, had outmaneuvered General Washington. Washington was forced to abandon Harlem Heights, which left Fort Washington isolated. Brig. General Nathanael Greene convinced Washington that the fort could be held. After a British assault failed on October 27, Howe moved against Washington at the Battle of White Plains on October 28. Washington was again forced to withdraw. Washington left some forces at Forts Washington and Lee, which overlooked opposite sides of the Hudson River. General Greene had convinced General Washington that Fort Washington could be held, but Hessians easily overran it on November 16 resulting in the lost of important provisions and munitions including cannon. Maj. General Charles Lee had to hastily abandon Fort Lee only days later on November 18. He had already removed supplies and equipment, so the Continentals did not suffer another critical loss of equipments and supplies. After a brief respite, Howe then pursued General Washington across New Jersey in the closing month of 1776 before Washington secured a surprise victory at Trenton, New Jersey on December 26, 1776.  The Battle of Harlem Heights, though a minor engagement, showed the American troops they could win in battle after the loss on Long Island and the embarrassment of Kip's Bay. On Sept. 16, 1776, the Americans still controlled northern Manhattan after the British had captured the sourthern portion of the Island. American skirmishers met British troops near 106th Street and Broadway. The Americans held their position under fire, but began to retreat northward toward the main American lines as the number of British troops involved began to rise. The fighting ranged north to about 125th Street before Washington decided to send troops forward in two flanking maneuvers, one under Major Leitch and the other under Colonel Knowlton.  Steel Engraving of the Battle of Harlem Heights, September 16, 1776. The print is engraved by J.C. Armytage from an original painting by Chappel. A third force of Americans made a feint to attack the British in their front. Although the Americans attacked before the British were surrounded and Leitch and Knowlton were both mortally wounded, the British found themselves attacked on three sides and began their retreat. The number of troops grew to nearly 5,000 on each side as the British were pushed back to what is now 106th Street. Washington called off the attack after six hours because the Americans were not ready for a general engagement with the full British army. Much of the battle took place near 120th Street between Broadway and Riverside Drive, just west of Columbia University. "This little advantage has inspired our troops prodigiously," wrote Washington. "They find it only requires resolution and good officers to make an enemy give way." Some historians see Harlem Heights as a turning point in the American efforts to create an effective army.
|
Another Revolutionary War post? Boy, that's looking more and more like a quagmire. I guess General Washington effed it all up.
LOL. That's a good thing!
You looking at our weather? Looks like BBQ for dinner tonight. Come on over.
|
Air Power |
The Boeing CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter has served the US Navy and Marine Corps faithfully since the early 1960's. This venerable aircraft's primary mission areas in the Navy (as the H-46D) include Combat Logistics Support and Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP), Search and Rescue, and Special Operations. As a Marine Corps platform, the H-46E is used primarily during cargo and troop transport. The unique tandem-rotor design of the Sea Knight permits increased agility and superior handling qualities in strong relative winds from all directions, allowing, in particular, rapid direction changes during low airspeed maneuvering. This capability has resulted in the safe, efficient and graceful transfer of many millions of tons of cargo and many thousands of passengers over the years.
Readily identified among current Navy and Marine Corps helicopters are the H-46 series Sea Knights, with their tandem rotor configuration setting them apart from the single rotor design of other Navy/Marine helos. Tandem rotors have been a feature of all production helos built by Boeing/Vertol, and its original predecessor company, Piasecki.
The H-46 “Sea Knight” helicopter is one of the largest helicopters in the US Navy inventory. The “Sea Knight” is a twin-turbine powered, dual-piloted, tandem rotor helicopter designed by the Boeing Company Vertol Division. The aircraft is 16 feet 8 inches tall. There are six rotor blades on the aircraft, each measuring 25 feet 6 inches. With blades spread, the aircraft is 84 feet 4 inches long. The average weight of the H-46 is 18,000 pounds, with a maximum lift capability of 6,000 pounds. It can carry 25 combat-loaded troops, or can be outfitted to carry medical evacuation litters in case of disaster. It has the fuel endurance to stay airborne for approximately two hours, or up to three hours with an extra internal tank.
The helicopter has the ability to land and taxi in the water in case of emergency, and is able to stay afloat for up to two hours in two-foot seas. Because of its tandem rotor design, the “Sea Knight” is an extremely versatile aircraft. It is able to excel in various flight maneuvers, such as rearward and sideward flight, while other helicopters are extremely limited. This makes the helicopter ideal for its primary Navy mission of vertical replenishment.
The CH-46 Sea Knight was first procured in 1964 to meet the medium-lift requirements of the Marine Corps in Vietnam with a program buy of 600 aircraft. The aircraft has served the Marine Corps in all combat and peacetime environments. However, normal airframe operational and attrition rates have taken the assets to the point where a medium lift replacement is required. The safety and capability upgrades are interim measures to allow continued safe and effective operation of the Sea Knight fleet until a suitable replacement is fielded.
Production continued in subsequent years, along with modifications to improve some of the H-46's characteristics. With service in Southeast Asia came installation of guns and armor. Increased power requirements were met by installation of higher powered T-58-GE-10s in the CH/UH-46D models, which also featured new cambered (droop snoot) rotor blades. The final CH-46E, with further increased power, was preceded by the last production version, the CH-46F, before production was completed with delivery of the 524th H-46 in February 1971.
The early A models now serve as search and rescue HH-46As. CH-46s equip Marine Reserve squadrons, and conversion of earlier aircraft to the new CH-46E version was completed with fiberglass blades slated added to its other improvements.
The mission of the CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter in a Marine Medium Helicopter (HMM) squadron is to provide all-weather, day/night, night vision goggle (NVG) assault transport of combat troops, supplies, and equipment during amphibious and subsequent operations ashore. Troop assault is the primary function and the movement of supplies and equipment is secondary. Additional tasks are: combat and assault support for evacuation operations and other maritime special operations; over-water search and rescue augmentation; support for mobile forward refueling and rearming points; aeromedical evacuation of casualties from the field to suitable medical facilities.
The CH-60 Fleet Combat Support Helicopter will complement and eventually replace the Navy's aging fleet of H-46 helicopters. As a result of the advanced airframe life of the H-46 fleet, the Navy's logistics helicopter force is experiencing a near-term inventory shortfall.
The Navy Air Systems Command ordered the grounding of all CH-46 helicopters on 18 August 2002 as a precaution after discovery of a crack in a rotor component of a Sea Knight at the Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station in North Carolina. A similar problem was found a few days later in a CH-46 deployed aboard the amphibious assault ship Belleau Wood in the Persian Gulf area. Inspection of all 291 CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters in the Navy and Marine Corps found only one with a flaw of the kind that triggered the temporary grounding of the fleet, and the full fleet was returned to service.
Specifications:
Primary function: Medium lift assault helicopter
Manufacturer: Boeing Vertol Company
Power plant: (2) GE-T58-16 engines
Thrust: Burst: 1870 shaft horsepower (SHP) / Continuous: 1770 SHP
Dimensions:
Length: Rotors unfolded: 84 feet, 4 inches (25.69 meters) / Rotors folded: 45 feet, 7.5 inches (13.89 meters)
Width: Rotors unfolded: 51 feet (15.54 meters) / Rotors folded: 14 feet, 9 inches (4.49 meters)
Height: 16 feet, 8 inches (5.08 meters) / Maximum takeoff weight: 24,300 pounds (11,032 kilograms)
Performance:
Range: 132 nautical miles (151.8 miles) for an assault mission
Speed: 145 knots (166.75 miles per hour)
Ceiling: 10,000 feet (+)
Crew: (Normal:) 4 - pilot, copilot, crew chief, and 1st mechanic
Crew: (Combat:) 5 - pilot, copilot, crew chief, and 2 aerial gunners
Payload: Combat: maximum of 14 troops with aerial gunners
Medical evacuation: 15 litters and 2 attendants Cargo: maximum of 4,000 pound (2270 kilograms) external load
All pictures, copyright of GlobalSecurity.Org
I'm always behind!!!!!
ROTFLOL!! Yep, I imagine so!
Thanks Johnny. Good to see a helo in here!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
