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Designation of armored H-3?

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  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Lafayette, LA
Posted by Melgyver on Thursday, March 18, 2004 12:53 AM
Sounds like that would make a neat coversion of the Hasegawa 1/48th Sea King. I'm pretty sure the Seasprite was converted to an armed Reucue bird too. They would make nice set!

Clear Left!

Mel

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Spartanburg, SC
Posted by subfixer on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 9:42 AM
It was the 72-73 cruise and then the 1974 cruise. The helo was an overall green (semigloss I think). I don't think it was an olive drab though. It was a unique color that I dont remember very well. I think the lettering was black but the roundel was full color. I am not sure on all this but it's the best that I can remember.

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Connecticut
Posted by Tailspinturtle on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 7:42 AM
Subfixer - Glad to be of help. What cruise was it? Do you happen to remember the paint scheme and markings?
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Spartanburg, SC
Posted by subfixer on Wednesday, March 17, 2004 5:37 AM
That's the one! Thank you for that information, it's been kinda driving me crazy. A guy I worked with here was a crewman on the aircraft I flew in but died a couple of years ago before I could really ask him a lot about the helo. Once again you have helped me out Tailspinturtle and I am grateful. It was HC-7 and we had one A/C assigned to our ship, USS Ranger. During Linebacker II they made numerous rescues that I am aware of. Again, many thanks.

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Connecticut
Posted by Tailspinturtle on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 10:22 PM
I can't be sure about any of this, but from what I can find, five SH-3As from HS-2 aboard Hornet were field modified in 1965 to take out the sonar gear and add machine and/or mini-guns, armor plate and fuel tanks in the cabin for added range/time on station - first two 55 gallon drums and then two A-4 centerline drop tanks. At some point, at least one of them got a camouflage paint scheme similar to the USAF: dark green and tan and light gray on the bottom. It was marked with a large black "70" on the nose. The others may have been marked 66 through 69, all markings in black.

Sikorsky developed and qualified the combat rescue specific HH-3A a few years later, converting one aircraft and producing kits for at least nine others, which were modified by the Navy. (Different sources cite different quantities of HH-3As, possibly including the original SH-3As.) Initially, the HH-3A had minigun barbettes mounted on the aft torpedo racks and drop tanks mounted inboard of the main landing gear. This aircraft is pictured in Squadron/Signal's H-3 Sea King In Action. However, the barbettes were heavy, possibly caused an aft CG problem, and probably not very accurate, so they were reportedly deleted before the aircraft went into combat and replaced by miniguns in the doors. At least a few of the aircraft had the aft fuselage windows associated with the RH-3A minesweeping conversion, probably for use by the gunners operating the barbettes, but they may have simply been former minesweepers, of which by coincidence there were nine. The HH-3As were operated by HC-7 beginning around 1971 and transferred to a reserve unit, HC-9, after the war in about 1975. I've seen color photos of them in painted overall dark green with black markings taken during their HC-9 years, but I can't rule out a very non-specular engine gray finish during the Vietnam war.
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Spartanburg, SC
Posted by subfixer on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 10:21 AM
Could it have been an HH-3?

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Spartanburg, SC
Designation of armored H-3?
Posted by subfixer on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 5:20 AM
In 1972 I rode in a Navy H-3 Sea King that was armed and armored for pilot rescue in the waters off North Vietnam. Can any of you guys give me any details on this bird? Thanks!

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

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