SH-3 Sea King
American amphibious helicopter, enlisted for anti-submarine warfare during the Cold War, renowned for Apollo space missions recovery.
| Crew | 3 |
| Length | 16.7 m (54.8 ft) |
| Wingspan | 19 m (62.3 ft) |
| Height | 5.1 m (16.8 ft) |
| Empty weight | 5,382 kg (11,865 lbs) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 10,002 kg (22,051 lbs) |
| Powerplant | 2 × turboshafts General Electric T58-GE-10 1,044 kW each |
| Maximum speed | 267 km/h (166 mph) |
| Operational range | 1,005 km (624 mi) |
| Service ceiling | 4,481 m (14,701 ft) |
| Climb rate | 11.1 m/s (36.4 ft/s) |
1 loss recorded here in the Russia-Ukraine War.
Description
The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King is an American twin-engine amphibious anti-submarine warfare helicopter designed by Sikorsky Aircraft. Entering United States Navy service in 1961, it was among the first ASW rotorcraft powered by turboshaft engines. It integrated sonar detection and weapon delivery into a single platform.
Development
Development began in the late 1950s under a US Navy specification for an all-weather ASW helicopter capable of carrying 380 kg of weapons with four hours endurance. Sikorsky received the contract in 1957, producing ten HSS-2 prototypes. First flight occurred on 11 March 1959, followed by carrier trials on USS Lake Champlain in mid-1961 and Navy acceptance in September 1961. Sikorsky ended production in the 1970s, but the type was manufactured under license by Westland Helicopters in the United Kingdom (330 produced), Agusta in Italy, Mitsubishi in Japan, and United Aircraft of Canada.
Design
The SH-3 features a watertight amphibious hull with sponson-mounted wheels and deployable flotation airbags for water landings. Main rotor blades and tail sections fold automatically for shipboard stowage. Power is supplied by two General Electric T58 turboshaft engines, allowing flight to continue on a single engine if one fails. Sensors and electronics include the AQS-13 dipping sonar, ASQ-81 magnetic anomaly detector, ARR-75 sonobuoy receivers, AKT-22 data link, and TACNAV digital navigation system.
Armament
The helicopter carries up to 380 kg (840 lb) of ordnance across external hardpoints. For anti-submarine operations, payload options include four torpedoes, four depth charges, or a B57 nuclear depth charge. Select anti-shipping configurations carry one or two Exocet or Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles.
Operational History
The type entered US Navy service in June 1961 and was redesignated SH-3A in 1962. It operated from aircraft carriers, surface ships, and shore bases for anti-submarine surveillance, plane guard duty, and logistics. During the Vietnam War, SH-3s equipped with armor and machine guns conducted combat search-and-rescue. The type recovered space capsules for Mercury-Atlas 7 and Apollo missions 8 through 14. Marine Helicopter Squadron One operated VH-3 variants for presidential transport until 2024. The US Navy replaced the SH-3 with the SH-60 Sea Hawk during the 1990s, fully retiring the type in January 2006.
Variants
- SH-3A: Initial anti-submarine warfare production version built for the US Navy, with 245 units produced.
- SH-3D: Anti-submarine warfare variant featuring General Electric T58-GE-10 engines and upgraded sensors.
- SH-3H: Anti-submarine warfare upgrade incorporating improved sensors and airframe modifications, converted from earlier models.
- VH-3D: Executive transport variant built for the US Marine Corps to conduct presidential transport missions.
- CH-124: Anti-submarine warfare variant assembled by United Aircraft of Canada for the Royal Canadian Navy.