Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King
CH-124 Sea King | |
---|---|
A CH-124 Sea King of Royal Canadian Air Force in 2016 | |
Role | ASW / utility helicopter |
National origin | United States / Canada |
Manufacturer | Sikorsky Aircraft |
Built by | United Aircraft of Canada
|
Introduction | 1963[1] |
Retired | 1 December 2018[2][3] |
Status | Retired from service, displayed. |
Primary users | Canadian Armed Forces Royal Canadian Navy Royal Canadian Air Force |
Number built | 41 |
Developed from | SH-3 Sea King
|
The Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King (formerly CHSS-2) is a twin-engined
Design and development
The advent of nuclear-powered submarines in the late 1950s let to the RCN assessing this new threat. While noisier than older submarines and thus detectable at longer ranges, nuclear submarines could also reach 30 knots (56 km/h) while submerged, faster than the RCN's new
The RCN's then current HO4S-3 utility helicopter could not operate safely in inclement weather with a heavy weapons and sensor load, which would be imperative for the ASW role; hence, a more capable aircraft was needed. Initial 1959 studies identified two helicopters that seemed suitable—the Sikorsky S-61 (HSS-2) and the
Despite this apparent setback for Sikorsky, several factors derailed Kaman's proposal. When the Naval Board held a follow-up meeting on 27 January 1961, it was revealed that the initial 12 units' asking price had nearly doubled to $23 million, only six weeks after approval from the Treasury Board. The Naval Board still endorsed the HU2K, but there were some misgivings over the sharp price increase and reports that Kaman's performance projections may be overly optimistic. The Naval Board decided to await upcoming USN sea trials of the HU2K ahead of a final decision.[8] These trials confirmed the calculations of RCN staff members; the HU2K was substantially heavier than promised, hampering performance and rendering it incapable of meeting RCN requirements, even using a proposed upgraded engine. The Sea King was ultimately chosen for production on 20 December 1961.[9]
The first of 41 helicopters would be delivered in 1963 carrying the designation CHSS-2 Sea King. Airframe components were made by
In the 1960s,
Operational service
The Sea Kings were assigned to the former
In order to find submarines, the Sea King's sonar uses a transducer ball at the end of a 450-foot cable. It can also be fitted with
The CH-124 has undergone numerous refits and upgrades, especially with regard to the electronics, main gearboxes and engines, surface-search radar, secure cargo and passenger carrying capabilities.
In 2013 the CH-124 fleet averaged 9–14,000 flying hours, while Sea Kings of other fleets go as high as 40,000 hours. Although the CH-124 had frequent technical issues, none are serious, and they could maintain an 87 percent serviceability rate.[12]
On 1 December 2018, the CH-124 was officially retired in a ceremony at Vancouver Island, British Columbia, concluding 55 years of service. Of the surviving 28 Canadian Sea Kings, nine are destined for museums or to be displayed as monuments, 15 are to be sold, three scrapped, and one retained as a training aid.[17]
Replacement
From 1983 onward attempts were made to
Variants
- CH-124
- United Aircraft of Canada).[11]
- CH-124A
- The Sea King Improvement Program (SKIP) added modernized avionics as well as improved safety features.[11]
- CH-124B
- Alternate version of the CH-124A without a dipping sonar but formerly with a MAD sensor and additional storage for deployable stores. In 2006, the five aircraft of this variant were converted to support the Standing Contingency Task Force (SCTF), and were modified with additional troop seats, and frequency agile radios. Plans to add fast-rope capability, EAPSNIPS (Engine Air Particle Separator / Snow & Ice Particle Separator) did not come to fruition.[11]
- CH-124B2
- Six CH-124Bs were upgraded to the CH-124B2 standard in 1991–1992. The revised CH-124B2 retained the sonobuoy processing gear to passively detect submarines but, the aircraft was now also fitted with a towed-array sonar to supplement the ship's sonar. Since anti-submarine warfare is no longer a major priority within the Canadian Forces, the CH-124B2 were refitted again to become improvised troop carriers for the newly formed Standing Contingency Task Force.[11]
- CH-124C
- One CH-124 operated by the Helicopter Operational Test and Evaluation Facility located at CFB Shearwater. Used for testing new gear, and when not testing new gear, it is deployable to any Canadian Forces ship requiring a helicopter.[11]
- CH-124U
- Unofficial designation for four CH-124s that were modified for passenger/freight transport. One crashed in 1973, and the survivors were later refitted to become CH-124As.[11]
Former operators
NOTE: Last aircraft was retired in December 2018[18][19]
Aircraft on display
- CH-124401 - Shearwater Aviation Museum.[23]
- CH-124405 - National Air Force Museum of Canada.[24]
- CH-124407 - Comox Air Force Museum.[25]
- CH-124417 - Victoria International Airport.[26]
- CH-124426 - Canada Aviation and Space Museum.[27]
- CH-124429 - Base Borden Military Museum.
- CH-124431 - Shearwater Aviation Museum.
- CH-124441 - Shearwater Aviation Park
Specifications (CH-124 Sea King)
Data from [citation needed]
General characteristics
- Crew: 4 (2 pilots, 1 navigator, 1 airborne electronic sensor operator)
- Capacity: 3 passengers
- Length: 54 ft 9 in (16.69 m)
- Height: 16 ft 10 in (5.13 m)
- Empty weight: 11,865 lb (5,382 kg)
- Gross weight: 18,626 lb (8,449 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 22,050 lb (10,002 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × General Electric T58-GE-8F / T58-GE-100 turboshaftengines, 1,500 shp (1,100 kW) each
- Main rotor diameter: 62 ft (19 m)
- Main rotor area: 3,019.5 sq ft (280.52 m2)
- Blade section: - NACA 0012[28]
Performance
- Maximum speed: 144 kn (166 mph, 267 km/h)
- Range: 539 nmi (620 mi, 998 km)
- Service ceiling: 14,700 ft (4,500 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,310–2,220 ft/min (6.7–11.3 m/s)
Armament
- 2× Mk 46 Mod V anti-submarine torpedoes
- Various sonobuoys and pyrotechnic devices
- door guns (some variants)
Replicas
The Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia is commissioning a full-sized model of the CH-124 to be submerged with the destroyer HMCS Annapolis.[29]
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon
- Kaman SH-2 Seasprite
- Kamov Ka-25
- Mil Mi-14
- Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk
- Westland Lynx
Related lists
References
Notes
- ^ Requiem for the Sea King. Retrieved on November 17, 2008.
- ^ "Going out with Style" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
- ^ Jennings, Gareth (18 December 2018). "Canada retires Sea King after 55 years". IHS Jane's 360. London. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
- ^ a b Soward 1995, pp.169–171.
- ^ Soward 1995, pp.63–65.
- ^ a b Crowsnest Magazine – Vol 17, Nos 3 and 4 March–April 1965 Archived 2014-07-27 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Soward 1995, pp.92–93.
- ^ Soward 1995, pp.244–246.
- ^ Soward 1995, pp.261–262.
- ^ Soward 1995, pg. 326.
- ^ a b c d e f g "CH-124 Sea King Variants". Canadian American Strategic Review. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2007.
- ^ a b Gordon, Lisa, The King at Sea" Vertical Magazine, 9 December 2013. Accessed: 11 December 2013.
- ^ "Haze Gray & Underway – The Canadian Navy of Yesterday & Today – Sea King".
- ^ "CBC News In Depth: Canada's Military". 1 February 2006.
- ^ "ST. LAURENT Class History". 27 October 2009. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ "Canada's Air Force – Aircraft – CH-124 Sea King – Technical Specifications". Archived from the original on 17 January 2008.
- ^ "Canada Retires Sea King After More Than 50 Years of Service". Defense Media Network. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ a b c Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King
- ^ a b Government of Canada, National Defence (1 December 2018). "News Article - Final farewell to the Sea King". www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ "No. 443 Squadron". canadianwings.com. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ^ "No. 406 Squadron". canadianwings.com. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ^ "423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron". rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- ^ "Sea King: Going out with style - News Article - Royal Canadian Air Force". 26 July 2018.
- ^ "Sea King – National Air Force Museum of Canada".
- ^ https://comoxairforcemuseum.ca/wp-content/uploads/Guide-to-the-Aircraft-of-CAFM-Heritage-Air-Park.pdf
- ^ "Sea King: Going out with style - News Article - Royal Canadian Air Force". 26 July 2018.
- ^ "Visit the New Sea King exhibit at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum". 19 March 2020.
- ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- ^ "Model of navy helicopter to be added to artificial reef in B.C." 15 September 2021.
Bibliography
- Soward, Stuart E. (1995). Hands to Flying Stations, a Recollective History of Canadian Naval Aviation, Volume II. Victoria, British Columbia: Neptune Developments. ISBN 0-9697229-1-5.
External links
- Canadian Forces official CH-124 Sea King website
- The Sea King Timeline, CBC News, July 31, 2013