| Sh-2 Seasprite |
Website Links For Seasprite |
Information AboutSh-2 Seasprite |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT SH-2 SEASPRITE | |
| military helicopters | |
| u.s. asw aircraft 1970-1979 | |
| h-2 seasprite | |
| u.s. military utility aircraft 1960-1969 | |
The Kaman SH-2G Seasprite is a United States Navy ship-based Helicopter with Anti-submarine , Anti-surface Threat capability, including over-the-horizon targeting. This aircraft extends and increases shipboard sensor and weapon capabilities against several types of enemy threats, including Submarine s of all types, Surface Ship s, and patrol craft that may be armed with Anti-ship Missile s. The Seasprite's primary missions include anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, anti-ship missile defense, and anti-ship surveillance and targeting. Secondary missions may include medical evacuation, search and rescue, personal and cargo transfer, as well as small boat interdiction, amphibious assault air support, gun fire spotting, mine detection and battle damage assessment. The H-2 originally entered Naval service as the Kaman HU2K-1, a single-engine light utility helicopter primarily deployed aboard aircraft carriers in a Search-and-Rescue (SAR) role. When the aircraft numbering system was changed in 1962, the HU2K-1 was redesignated the '''UH-2A''' and the '''HU2K-1U''' was redesignated '''UH-2B'''. The airframe continued to undergo upgrades, most significantly the addition of a second engine and external stores stations, and the HH-2D was selected to be the airframe for the Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) when the program was stood up in 1972. LAMPS evolved in the late 60's from an urgent requirement to develop a manned helicopter that would support a non-aviation ship and serve as its tactical Anti-Submarine Warfare arm. Known as LAMPS Mk I, the advanced sensors, processors, and display capabilities aboard the helicopter enabled ships to extend their situational awareness beyond the line-of-sight limitations that hamper shipboard radars and the short distances for acoustic detection and prosecution of underwater threats associated with hull-mounted sonars. H-2s reconfigured for the LAMPS mission were redesignated '''SH-2D'''. The first operational SH-2D/LAMPS helicopter embarked on the USS Belknap (CG-26) in December 1971. Eventually all but two H-2s in the Navy inventory were remanufactured into '''SH-2Fs''', and 59 SH-2Fs were built from the ground up in the 1980s. The final production procurement of the SH-2F was in Fiscal Year 1986. The SH-2F was retired from active service in October 1993, at roughly the same time that the Navy retired and/or sold the last of its (Viet Nam era) Knox Class Frigates that could not accommodate the newly acquired (and larger) SH-60 Seahawk. Some late-production SH-2Fs were either completed as, or have been converted to the upgraded '''SH-2Gs Super Seasprite''' variant. The final variant of the SH-2(F) type took place in 1987 when several aircraft were up-fitted with chin mounted Forward Looking Infrared Sensors (FLIR), Chaff (AIRBOC)/Flares, dual rear mounted IR scramblers, Missile/Mine detecting equipment and M-60D machine guns mounted on both sides of the aircraft, these SH-2F's were not so commonly called Seawolf and/or Attack Wolf’s. They were utilized to enforce Operation Ernest Will (July, 1987) and later Operation Praying Mantis (April, 1988) and Desert Storm (Jan 1991) in the Persian Gulf region. The added countermeasures and equipment gave the SH-2F's enhanced survivability while taking on more surface related combat tasking in an environment of limited submarine threat. The SH-2F was infamous with Naval aircrew for its high accident rate and dismal 30+ maintenance-hour-per-flight-hour requirement, the highest of any aircraft in the Navy at the time this type was retired from active service. Many of the accidents and maintenance costs were attributed to the severe environment in which this aircraft was operated. This aircraft was "lovingly" referred to as the "Kaman Coffin" by enlisted Anti-Submarine Warfare System Operators. The SH-2G Super Seasprite was retired from service with the U.S Navy Reserve in May 2001 but currently remains in active service with the Royal Australian Navy , the Royal New Zealand Navy , the Polish Navy , and the Egyptian Navy. General Characteristics
DEPLOYMENT IN AUSTRALIA As Of 2005 , Australia has purchased 11 Seasprites for the Fleet Air Arm for the ''Anzac'' Class . However, an extensive range of deficiencies have been identitifed in the avionics which were only for the Australian version, and the existing helicopters have been restricted to performing simple tasks, until the validation of the avionics is complete for all weathers. {Link without Title} . DEPLOYMENT IN NEW ZEALAND New Zealand purchased 5 SH-2G at the same time as Australia, (but with different avionics, and the Kiwi aircraft were new-build airframes, not rebuilt American SH2-Fs. The SH2G purchase was brought in NZ$12 million under the $338 million, budgeted, excluding GST, when the contract was let in 1997. The first RNZAF SH2G was delivered in mid-2001, the last was delivered February 2003. The Royal New Zealand Navy operates the type from its Anzac Class Frigate . When new patrol and support vessels are delivered in 2006 and 2007 it will also operate from those. They were initially operated by No. 3 Squadron RNZAF , but now form No. 6 Squadron RNZAF . Prior to receiving SH-2Gs, the RNZN replaced Westland Wasp with SH-2Fs. RNZN Seasprites have seen service in East Timor . An SH2F is preserved in the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum . EXTERNAL LINKS
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