SH-2 Seasprite
Encyclopedia
The Kaman
SH-2 Seasprite is a 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. It was developed for the United States Navy
beginning in the late 1950s.
To meet its requirements for a fast, all-weather utility helicopter the US Navy held a competition in 1956. Kaman's K-20 model was selected as the winner. Kaman was awarded a contract for four prototype and 12 production HU2K-1 helicopters in late 1957. The Kaman design featured four blades on the main rotor and three blades on the tail rotor with a single General Electric T58
-8F turboshaft engine.
In 1960, the HU2K was designated as the frontrunner for a large Royal Canadian Navy
anti-submarine helicopter contract, and the Canadian
Treasury Board
approved an initial procurement of 12 units for $14.5 million. However, Kaman abruptly raised the asking price to $23 million, and RCN staff became concerned that Kaman's performance projections might be too optimistic. These developments prompted the Naval Board to await upcoming 1961 USN sea trials before approving the purchase. The USN trials revealed that the HU2K was substantially heavier than promised, was underpowered, and was incapable of meeting RCN requirements. In late 1961, the RCN chose the Sikorsky Sea King instead.
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 UH-2 was used from aircraft carriers for search and rescue. The airframe continued to undergo upgrades, such as the addition of external stores stations. Beginning in 1968, remaining UH-2s were upgraded to use two T58 engines.
The UH-2 was selected to be the airframe for the interim Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System
(LAMPS) helicopter in October 1970. LAMPS evolved in the late 1960s 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 Mark 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.
The full LAMPS I system was equipped on the SH-2F. The SH-2F was delivered to the Navy beginning in 1973. This variant had upgraded engines, longer life rotor, and higher take-off weight. In 1981, the Navy ordered 60 production SH-2Fs. Beginning in 1987, 16 SH-2Fs were upgraded with chin mounted Forward Looking Infrared Sensors (FLIR), Chaff (AIRBOC)/Flares, dual rear mounted IR scramblers, and Missile/Mine detecting equipment.
Eventually all but two H-2s then in Navy inventory were remanufactured into SH-2Fs. The final production procurement of the SH-2F was in Fiscal Year 1986. The last six orders for production SH-2Fs were switched to the SH-2G Super Seasprite variant.
SH-2Fs were utilized to enforce Operation Earnest Will
(July 1987) and later Operation Praying Mantis
(April 1988) and Desert Storm (January 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 retired from active service in October 1993, at roughly the same time that the Navy retired and/or sold the last of its (Vietnam era) Knox Class Frigates that could not accommodate the newly acquired (and larger) SH-60 Sea Hawk.
(RNZN) replaced its Westland Wasp
s with two interim SH-2F Seasprites (ex-US Navy), operated and maintained by a mix of Navy and Air Force personnel known as No. 3 Squadron RNZAF
Naval Support Flight, to operate with ANZAC class frigates until the fleet of five new SH-2G Super Seasprite
s were delivered. The Navy air element was transferred to No. 6 Squadron RNZAF
at RNZAF Base Auckland in Whenuapai in October 2005. RNZN Seasprites have seen service in East Timor
. Six additional SH-2Fs were purchased and are now stationed at the RNZAF Ground Training Wing (GTW) at Woodbourne near Blenheim as training helicopters. An SH-2F (ex-RNZN, NZ3442) is preserved in the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum
, donated to the museum by Kaman Aircraft Corporation after an accident while in service with the RNZN.
HU2K-1 : Utility transport helicopter, powered by a 1,250-shp (932-kW) General Electric T58-GE-8B turboshaft engine. Initial production version. Later redesignated UH-2A in 1962. 88 built.
UH-2B : Utility transport helicopter. 102 built.
H-2 "Tomahawk" : A gunship version based on UH-2A. One prototype was built and tested for the U.S. Army in 1963. The Army selected it in November 1963, but the planned order for 220 H-2s was forsaken for additional UH-1 orders.
UH-2C : UH-2A and UH-2B helicopters fitted with two General Electric T58-GE-8B turboshaft engines. One former UH-2A acted as a prototype and was followed by 40 conversions from UH-2A and UH-2B.
NUH-2C : One test and evaluation helicopter. One UH-2C helicopter was equipped to carry and fire, AIM-9 Sidewinder
and AIM-7 Sparrow
III air-to-air missiles.
NUH-2D : Redesignation of the NUH-1C test and evaluation helicopter.
HH-2C : Search and rescue helicopter, armed with a single Minigun
in a chin-mounted turret. Six conversions.
HH-2D : Search and rescue helicopter, without any armament or armor. 67 conversions from UH-2A and UH-2Bs.
SH-2D : Anti-submarine warfare helicopter, 20 conversions from earlier models.
YSH-2E : Two test and evaluation helicopters, fitted with an advanced radar and LAMPS equipment.
SH-2F : Anti-submarine warfare helicopter, powered by two 1,350 shp (1,007 kW) General Electric T58
-GE-8F turboshaft engines. Improved version. Conversions from SH-2Ds and earlier models.
YSH-2G : 1 SH-2G prototype converted from an SH-2F.
Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite
An SH-2F is on display in mobile, Al Battleship Museum, HSL-31 Sqd.markings. Supposed to be first SH-2F del to Navy in 1973
Kaman Aircraft
Kaman Aircraft is a U.S. aerospace company, with headquarters in Bloomfield, Connecticut. It was founded in 1945 by Charles Kaman. During the first ten years the company operated exclusively as a designer and manufacturer of several helicopters that set world records and achieved many aviation...
SH-2 Seasprite is a ship-based helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
with anti-submarine
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
, anti-surface threat
Anti-Surface Warfare
Anti-surface warfare is a type of naval warfare directed against surface combatants. More generally, it is any weapons, sensors, or operations intended to attack or limit the effectiveness of an adversary's surface ships....
capability, including over-the-horizon targeting. This aircraft extends and increases shipboard sensor and weapon capabilities against several types of enemy threats, including submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s of all types, surface ship
Surface ship
A surface ship is any type of naval ship that is confined to the surface of the sea. The term is primarily used to mean any modern vessel type that is not a submarine; although a "surface ship" may range in size from a cutter to an aircraft carrier, the weapons and tactics have some commonality,...
s and patrol craft that may be armed with anti-ship missile
Anti-ship missile
Anti-ship missiles are guided missiles that are designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming type, many use a combination of inertial guidance and radar homing...
s. It was developed for the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
beginning in the late 1950s.
Design and development
General Electric T58
|-See also:-References:* and...
-8F turboshaft engine.
In 1960, the HU2K was designated as the frontrunner for a large Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
anti-submarine helicopter contract, and the Canadian
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
Treasury Board
Treasury Board
The Treasury Board is the Government of Canada's only statutory Cabinet committee and is responsible for the federal civil service much of the operation of the Canadian government. Among its specific duties are negotiating labour agreements with the public service unions and serving as Comptroller...
approved an initial procurement of 12 units for $14.5 million. However, Kaman abruptly raised the asking price to $23 million, and RCN staff became concerned that Kaman's performance projections might be too optimistic. These developments prompted the Naval Board to await upcoming 1961 USN sea trials before approving the purchase. The USN trials revealed that the HU2K was substantially heavier than promised, was underpowered, and was incapable of meeting RCN requirements. In late 1961, the RCN chose the Sikorsky Sea King instead.
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 UH-2 was used from aircraft carriers for search and rescue. The airframe continued to undergo upgrades, such as the addition of external stores stations. Beginning in 1968, remaining UH-2s were upgraded to use two T58 engines.
The UH-2 was selected to be the airframe for the interim Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System
Light airborne multi-purpose system
Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System is the United States Navy's program that developed manned helicopters that assist the surface fleet in anti-submarine warfare.*SH-2 Seasprite *SH-60 Seahawk...
(LAMPS) helicopter in October 1970. LAMPS evolved in the late 1960s 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 Mark 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.
The full LAMPS I system was equipped on the SH-2F. The SH-2F was delivered to the Navy beginning in 1973. This variant had upgraded engines, longer life rotor, and higher take-off weight. In 1981, the Navy ordered 60 production SH-2Fs. Beginning in 1987, 16 SH-2Fs were upgraded with chin mounted Forward Looking Infrared Sensors (FLIR), Chaff (AIRBOC)/Flares, dual rear mounted IR scramblers, and Missile/Mine detecting equipment.
Eventually all but two H-2s then in Navy inventory were remanufactured into SH-2Fs. The final production procurement of the SH-2F was in Fiscal Year 1986. The last six orders for production SH-2Fs were switched to the SH-2G Super Seasprite variant.
Operational history
Following a few years of trials the UH-2 entered service in late 1962. The UH-2 was primarily deployed aboard aircraft carriers in a Search-and-Rescue (SAR) role.SH-2Fs were utilized to enforce Operation Earnest Will
Operation Earnest Will
Operation Earnest Will was the U.S. military protection of Kuwaiti owned tankers from Iranian attacks in 1987 and 1988, three years into the Tanker War phase of the Iran–Iraq War. It was the largest naval convoy operation since World War II.The U.S. Navy warships that escorted the tankers, part of...
(July 1987) and later Operation Praying Mantis
Operation Praying Mantis
Operation Praying Mantis was an attack on April 18, 1988, by U.S. naval forces within Iranian territorial waters in retaliation for the Iranian mining of the Persian Gulf during the Iran Iraq war and the subsequent damage to an American warship....
(April 1988) and Desert Storm (January 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 retired from active service in October 1993, at roughly the same time that the Navy retired and/or sold the last of its (Vietnam era) Knox Class Frigates that could not accommodate the newly acquired (and larger) SH-60 Sea Hawk.
New Zealand
The Royal New Zealand NavyRoyal New Zealand Navy
The Royal New Zealand Navy is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
(RNZN) replaced its Westland Wasp
Westland Wasp
The Westland Wasp was a British small first-generation, gas-turbine powered, shipboard anti-submarine helicopter. Produced by Westland Helicopters, it came from the same P.531 programme as the British Army Westland Scout, and was based on the earlier piston-engined Saunders-Roe Skeeter...
s with two interim SH-2F Seasprites (ex-US Navy), operated and maintained by a mix of Navy and Air Force personnel known as No. 3 Squadron RNZAF
No. 3 Squadron RNZAF
3 Squadron is a unit of the RNZAF. It remains on active duty.-History:No. 3 Squadron RNZAF formed as a Territorial unit of the New Zealand Permanent Air Force based at Christchurch in 1930....
Naval Support Flight, to operate with ANZAC class frigates until the fleet of five new SH-2G Super Seasprite
SH-2G Super Seasprite
The Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite is a 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 submarines of all...
s were delivered. The Navy air element was transferred to No. 6 Squadron RNZAF
No. 6 Squadron RNZAF
No. 6 Squadron Royal New Zealand Air Force is the squadron operating New Zealand's navy's air arm. While historically having been disbanded several times through changes in the country's military structure, it has a history going back to before World War II, when it operated flying boats. The...
at RNZAF Base Auckland in Whenuapai in October 2005. RNZN Seasprites have seen service in East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
. Six additional SH-2Fs were purchased and are now stationed at the RNZAF Ground Training Wing (GTW) at Woodbourne near Blenheim as training helicopters. An SH-2F (ex-RNZN, NZ3442) is preserved in the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum
Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum
The Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum or Air Force Museum of New Zealand as it is now known, is an air force museum located located at Wigram, the RNZAF's first operational base, in Christchurch, in the South Island of New Zealand...
, donated to the museum by Kaman Aircraft Corporation after an accident while in service with the RNZN.
Variants
YHU2K-1: Four test and evaluation prototypes. Later redesignated YUH-2A in 1962.HU2K-1 : Utility transport helicopter, powered by a 1,250-shp (932-kW) General Electric T58-GE-8B turboshaft engine. Initial production version. Later redesignated UH-2A in 1962. 88 built.
UH-2B : Utility transport helicopter. 102 built.
H-2 "Tomahawk" : A gunship version based on UH-2A. One prototype was built and tested for the U.S. Army in 1963. The Army selected it in November 1963, but the planned order for 220 H-2s was forsaken for additional UH-1 orders.
UH-2C : UH-2A and UH-2B helicopters fitted with two General Electric T58-GE-8B turboshaft engines. One former UH-2A acted as a prototype and was followed by 40 conversions from UH-2A and UH-2B.
NUH-2C : One test and evaluation helicopter. One UH-2C helicopter was equipped to carry and fire, AIM-9 Sidewinder
AIM-9 Sidewinder
The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried mostly by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters. The missile entered service with United States Air Force in the early 1950s, and variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces...
and AIM-7 Sparrow
AIM-7 Sparrow
The AIM-7 Sparrow is an American, medium-range semi-active radar homing air-to-air missile operated by the United States Air Force, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps, as well as various allied air forces and navies. Sparrow and its derivatives were the West's principal beyond visual...
III air-to-air missiles.
NUH-2D : Redesignation of the NUH-1C test and evaluation helicopter.
HH-2C : Search and rescue helicopter, armed with a single Minigun
Minigun
The Minigun is a 7.62 mm, multi-barrel heavy machine gun with a high rate of fire , employing Gatling-style rotating barrels with an external power source...
in a chin-mounted turret. Six conversions.
HH-2D : Search and rescue helicopter, without any armament or armor. 67 conversions from UH-2A and UH-2Bs.
SH-2D : Anti-submarine warfare helicopter, 20 conversions from earlier models.
YSH-2E : Two test and evaluation helicopters, fitted with an advanced radar and LAMPS equipment.
SH-2F : Anti-submarine warfare helicopter, powered by two 1,350 shp (1,007 kW) General Electric T58
General Electric T58
|-See also:-References:* and...
-GE-8F turboshaft engines. Improved version. Conversions from SH-2Ds and earlier models.
YSH-2G : 1 SH-2G prototype converted from an SH-2F.
Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite
- Anti-submarine warfare helicopter, powered by two 1,723 shp (1,285 kW) General Electric T700-GE-401 turboshaft engines.
Operators
- Royal New Zealand Air ForceRoyal New Zealand Air ForceThe Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
- No. 6 Squadron RNZAFNo. 6 Squadron RNZAFNo. 6 Squadron Royal New Zealand Air Force is the squadron operating New Zealand's navy's air arm. While historically having been disbanded several times through changes in the country's military structure, it has a history going back to before World War II, when it operated flying boats. The...
(Naval Support Flight)
- No. 6 Squadron RNZAF
- United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
(SH-2F retired in 1993)
Aircraft on display
- The only remaining U.S. Navy HH-2D, bureau number 149031 / callsign "Copyright 14", is currently on display outside at the American Helicopter Museum & Education Center in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
An SH-2F is on display in mobile, Al Battleship Museum, HSL-31 Sqd.markings. Supposed to be first SH-2F del to Navy in 1973
- An SH-2F, bureau number unknown, is on outside display at the National Museum of Naval AviationNational Museum of Naval AviationThe National Museum of Naval Aviation is a military and aerospace museum located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. The museum opened in 1962....
on board Naval Air Station PensacolaNaval Air Station PensacolaNaval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola , "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United States Navy base located next to Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits...
, Florida. - An SH-2F is on outside display at the intersection of Tow Way Road and Quentin Roosevelt Blvd aboard Naval Air Station North IslandNaval Air Station North IslandNaval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island is located at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay and is the home port of several aircraft carriers of the United States Navy...
, Coronado, CaliforniaCoronado, CaliforniaCoronado, also known as Coronado Island, is an affluent resort city located in San Diego County, California, 5.2 miles from downtown San Diego. Its population was 24,697 at the 2010 census, up from 24,100 at the 2000 census. U.S. News and World Report lists Coronado as one of the most expensive...
. - An SH-2F is preserved in the Royal New Zealand Air Force MuseumRoyal New Zealand Air Force MuseumThe Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum or Air Force Museum of New Zealand as it is now known, is an air force museum located located at Wigram, the RNZAF's first operational base, in Christchurch, in the South Island of New Zealand...
. - SH-2F, bureau number 151321 is currently on display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.
- SH-2F, bureau number 149021 is currently on display onboard the USS Hornet MuseumUSS Hornet MuseumThe USS Hornet Museum is a museum ship in Alameda, California, USA.It is composed of the aircraft carrier, exhibits from the NASA Apollo moon exploration missions, and several retired aircraft from the Second World War and the transonic and early supersonic jet propulsion period...
at Alameda Point, California. - SH-2G, bureau number 162576 is currently on display at the Wings of Freedom Aviation MuseumWings of Freedom Aviation MuseumThe Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum is a non-profit museum in Horsham, Pennsylvania. It is adjacent to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove...
, NASJRB Willow Grove, Pa.