What do the letters in helicopter designations stand for?

rockythegoat

Member since
November 2004
From: Central Illinois

What do the letters in helicopter designations stand for?

Posted by rockythegoat on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 4:57 PM

Riddle me this, please. Trying to figure out what the letters mean in front of helicopter designations? Such as:

A as in AH = Attack (yes?)

U as in UH = Utility (yes?)

S as in SH = ????

H as in HH = ????

Just wondering about this, as I sit here avoiding working.... Evil [}:)]

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Ben Franklin

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HeavyArty

Member since
December 2002
From: Valrico, FL

Posted by HeavyArty on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 5:10 PM

First two are correct, Attack helicopter, Utility helicopter.

S as in SH = ???? Seagoing, maybe. SH is a Navy designation.

H as in HH = ???? HH is for a rescue helicopter. (Don't know why it is HH and not RH.)

Hope that helps.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

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albymoore

Member since
December 2002
From: Tip O' da Mitt (Northern Michigan)

Posted by albymoore on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 5:17 PM

There is also MH, or "Multi Mission" (MH-60, MH-53, MH-6, MH-47, et al).

Cheers,

"I know what it wants now...the void has swallowed the light and the machine wants my soul"

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HeavyArty

Member since
December 2002
From: Valrico, FL

Posted by HeavyArty on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 5:25 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by albymoore

There is also MH, or "Multi Mission" (MH-60, MH-53, MH-6, MH-47, et al).

Cheers,

How could I forget that. Gotta love those Spec Ops birds.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

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dkmacin

Member since
January 2003
From: Upper left side of the lower Penninsula of Mich

Posted by dkmacin on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 5:41 PM

The first letter is the modifier, the second letter in the designator.
So AH= ATTACK (modifier) Helicopter (designator)
H was the letter assigned for the modifier Search and Rescue , so you have HU, HC, HH.
I believe S is (Anti-)Submarine or just maybe Submarine??

Don

I know it's only rock and roll, but I like it.

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Tailspinturtle

Member since
February 2004
From: Connecticut

Posted by Tailspinturtle on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 5:44 PM

S is for ASW (Antisubmarine Warfare)

H is for Search and Rescue

R used to be minesweeping, but M seems to be used now for those helicopters (MH-53E)

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Cobrahistorian

Member since
December 2002
From: Aaaaah.... Alpha Apaches... A beautiful thing!

Posted by Cobrahistorian on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 5:47 PM

You forgot OH!!!
Observation Helicopter, aka scout, but the S was already taken for Antisubmarine.

"1-6 is in hot"

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albymoore

Member since
December 2002
From: Tip O' da Mitt (Northern Michigan)

Posted by albymoore on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 6:04 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by Cobrahistorian

You forgot OH!!!
Observation Helicopter, aka scout, but the S was already taken for Antisubmarine.

DOH!, how could I forget that one!

"I know what it wants now...the void has swallowed the light and the machine wants my soul"

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Melgyver

Member since
March 2003
From: Lafayette, LA

Posted by Melgyver on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 6:44 PM

Thanks for jogging the memory on some of those.

Clear Left!

Mel

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tho9900

Member since
July 2004
From: SETX. USA

Posted by tho9900 on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 6:49 PM

then there is the CH... cargo

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!

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grandadjohn

Member since
February 2003
From: phoenix

Posted by grandadjohn on Wednesday, January 19, 2005 7:04 PM

XH-experimental
YH-prototype
X-you will only see those on new type helos or Y-those accepted for service but not yet in production. Y replaces X, when in production the Y is replaced by U, A, C or whatever will be it's primary use (UH-1 UH-60, CH-47, etc.)