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SH-3H HS-3 landing USS Saratoga (CV-60) 1986

An SH-3H Sea King landing on the USS Saratoga (CV-60).

The Sikorsky H-3 Sea King (company designation S-61) is a twin engine multipurpose amphibious helicopter manufactured by the Sikorsky Aircraft Company.

History[]

The Sea King was developed by Sikorsky in the late 1950s in response to a contract awarded to them by the US Navy to design an all-weather amphibious helicopter that specialized in anti-submarine warfare. The first prototype (XHSS-2) made its maiden

9 1 (7)

An illustration.

flight on March 11th, 1959, and completed its carrier suitability trials in 1961. The aircraft was designated HSS-2 (later changed to SH-3A), and entered service in September 1961. 

The H-3 saw use in a variety of roles during its operation. As it entered service during the Cold War, many were used to track Soviet submarines. They were also used for search-and-rescue during the Vietnam War. These variants were called the HH-3E "Jolly Green Giant", and were usually fitted with self-sealing fuel tanks and defensive armaments. The Sea King served as a recovery aircraft during a number of NASA's space programs, including the Mercury and Apollo programs, and is still used a presidential transport aircraft under the name "Marine One"; one of the only official roles it still has in the US military. However, as the H-3 became more obsolete during the 1990s, in began to be replaced by the SH-60 Sea Hawk. It was largely retired from US service by 2006.

The civilian versions of the Sea King, called S-61, are still in use, mainly for transport and fire bombing. The smaller, single engined S-62 was used by the US Coast Guard as an SAR and utility helicopter. It has been license-built by Canada (as the CH-124), Britain (as the Westland WS-61), and Japan, and still serves with a number of militaries around the world. Additionally, Sikorsky privately developed the experimental S-67 Blackhawk attack helicopter around the H-3's dynamic drive and rotor systems.

Specifications[]

  • Powerplant: two General Electric T58-GE-10 turboshaft engines
  • Top speed: 166 mph
  • Range: 621 miles
  • Ceiling: 14,700 feet
  • Crew: 4
  • Capacity
  • Empty weight: 11,865 lbs
  • Length: 54 feet 9 inches
  • Height: 16 feet 10 inches
  • Rotor diameter: 62 feet
  • Armament: SH-3: two anti-submarine torpedoes; one B57 nuclear depth charge.
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