Kaman SH-2 Seasprite

Origins In 1956, the USN launched a competition for a compact, all-weather multipurpose naval helicopter, and encouraged submissions from private companies. and was awarded a contract to construct four prototypes and an initial batch of 12 production helicopters, designated as the HU2K-1. However, the purchase was disrupted by Kaman suddenly raising the price to $23 million, and concerns that the helicopter's designed weight and performance criteria were overoptimistic. The RCN delayed making a decision until after the USN sea trials which confirmed that the HU2K was overweight and underpowered for their needs. In late-1961, Canada selected the competing Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King instead. In the late-1960s, without further orders Kaman decided to terminate production after completing the USN order of 184 H-2s. However, in 1971, production was restarted for the improved SH-2F to operate from older frigates. This ability meant it stayed in service to the end of the century, as even with the introduction of the newer, larger and overall more capable Sikorsky SH-60 Sea Hawk which entered service starting in the mid-1980s, but it could not operate safety from the smaller flight decks like the smaller Seasprite. Further developments The HU2K-1 and HU2K-1U were re-designated as the UH-2A and UH-2B respectively under the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system. The Seasprite continued to receive modifications and improvements, including external stores mounts. Beginning in 1968, the USN's remaining UH-2s underwent a major conversion into a more powerful two-engine configuration. In the 1960s, the US Army commissioned a gunship version, which was called the Kaman H-2 Tomahawk, and featured multiple M-60 machine guns (7.62) and options for rocket launchers, however, it was passed over in favor of the AH-1 Cobra. In 1968 two UH-2Bs, were converted to NUH-2B. These were experimental versions for the U.S. Army, which attached a J85 turbojet to the helicopter, and achieved speeds over 220s mph, and the second prototype had wings attached. Both prototypes were returned to SH2-D after the trials. In October 1970, the UH-2 was selected as the interim Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) helicopter. Deliveries of the SH-2F began in 1973; the SH-2F included LAMPS I and other improvements, such as upgraded engines, an extended life main rotor, and an heavier take-off weight. During 1981, the USN ordered 60 SH-2Fs. From 1987, 16 SH-2Fs were upgraded with a chin-mounted forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor, chaff/flare launchers, dual rear-mounted infrared countermeasures, and missile/mine detecting equipment. All but two USN H-2s were converted into SH-2Fs. Fiscal Year 1986 was the last time SH-2F were ordered; the final six were converted into SH-2G Super Seasprites. ==Operational history==

United States The UH-2 entered operational service with the USN in 1962. During October 1966, helicopter-based SAR teams recovered 103 out of 269 downed pilots. During the 1970s, the conversion of UH-2s to the SH-2 anti-submarine configuration provided the U.S. Navy with its first dedicated ASW helicopter capable of operating from vessels other than its aircraft carriers. The compact size of the SH-2 allowed the type to be operated from flight decks that were too small for the majority of helicopters; this factor would later play a role in the U.S. Navy's decision to acquire the improved SH-2F during the early 1980s. The SH-2F fleet was utilized to enforce and support Operation Earnest Will in July 1987, Operation Praying Mantis in April 1988, and Operation Desert Storm during January 1991 in the Persian Gulf region. The countermeasures and additional equipment present upon the SH-2F allowed the type to conduct combat support and surface warfare missions within these hostile environments, which had an often-minimal submarine threat. In April 1994, the SH-2F was retired from active service with the U.S. Navy; the timing corresponded with the retirement of the last of the Vietnam-era Knox-class frigates that were unable to accommodate the new and larger SH-60 Sea Hawks, which were used to replace the aging Seasprites. In 1991, the U.S. Navy had begun to receive deliveries of the new SH-2G Super Seasprite; a total of 18 converted SH-2Fs and 6 new-built SH-2Gs were produced. These were assigned to Naval Reserve squadrons, the SH-2G entered service with HSL-84 in 1993. The SH-2 served in some 600 deployments and flew 1.5 million flight hours before the last of the type were finally retired from US Navy service in mid-2001. New Zealand The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) replaced its Westland Wasps with an initial batch of four interim SH-2F Seasprites (formerly operated by the U.S. 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(NZ) Super Seasprites were delivered. In October 2005, the Navy air element was transferred to No. 6 Squadron RNZAF at RNZAF Base Auckland in Whenuapai. RNZN Seasprites have seen service in East Timor. 10 of the 11 SH-2G(A)s rejected by the Royal Australian Navy were purchased in 2014 to replace the five RNZN SH-2G(NZ) Seasprites that had required either a MLU (Mid Life Upgrade) or replacement due to corrosion issues, maintenance problems and obsolescence. Kaman modified the ex-Australian aircraft and renamed them SH-2G(I), with the last one being delivered to New Zealand in early 2016. Eight of the aircraft are flying with the ninth and tenth aircraft being attritional aircraft used for spares etc. The 11th aircraft is held by Kaman as a prototype and test aircraft. The five SH-2G(NZ) have been sold to Peru. A 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. RNAF uses the FN Mag 58 machine gun firing 7.62 mm, and it was fielded by 2008. Exports During the late 1990s, the United States decided to offer the surplus U.S. Navy SH-2Fs as foreign aid to a number of overseas countries. Among those to be offered the type included Greece, which had been offered six, and Turkey, which had been offered 14, but they rejected the offer. Egypt opted to acquire four SH-2F under this aid program, they were mainly used for spares in to support of their existing fleet of ten SH-2Gs. 11 had been ordered in the late 1990s, but they only served from 2003 to 2008; the RAN consolidated on using the SH-60 Seahawk and was launching the MRH-90 Taipan program at the time. Poland chose to acquire the later SH-2G variant. ==Variants==

in 1967 ;YHU2K-1: Four test and evaluation prototypes powered by an 875-shp General Electric T58-GE-6 turboshaft engine. Later redesignated YUH-2A in 1962. ;NUH-2B: One aircraft (147978) fitted with Beechcraft Queen Air wings and a General Electric J85 turbojet engine in May 1968. ;UH-2C: UH-2A and UH-2B helicopters fitted with two General Electric T58-GE-8B turboshaft engines. The company designation for the SEALITE was K-820. Due to post-Vietnam cutbacks, the SH-2F was ultimately procured instead. ;SH-2F: Anti-submarine warfare helicopter, powered by two 1,350 shp (1,007 kW) General Electric T58-GE-8F turboshaft engines. Improved version. Mostly conversions from SH-2Ds and earlier models. Bureau numbers 161641 through 161652 and 161654 through 163214. A total of 59 aircraft, entered service as SH-2Fs. ;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 Force • No. 6 Squadron RNZAF ; • United States Navy ==Aircraft on display==

;New Zealand • NZ3442 – SH-2F on static display at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand in Wigram, Christchurch. ;United States • 149021 – SH-2F on static display at the USS Hornet Museum in Alameda, California. • 149022 – SH-2F on static display at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, California. • 149026 – SH-2F on static display at Naval Station Norfolk Chambers Field in Norfolk, Virginia. • 149031 – HH‑2D on static display at the American Helicopter Museum & Education Center in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It was the last HH-2D in the U.S. Navy and used the callsign "Copyright 14" (or callsign "Shaka 14"). • 150155 – SH-2F on static display at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona. • 150157 – SH-2F on static display at the USS Midway Museum in San Diego, California. It is painted in the markings of its last assignment, HSL-33. • 150175 – SH-2F on static display at the in Camden, New Jersey. It is painted as bureau number 150141. • 150181 – SH-2F on static display at Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama. It is painted in the markings of its last assignment, HSL-31. • 151312 – SH-2F on static display at the National Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Pensacola, Florida. • 151321 – SH-2F on static display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. • 152201 – SH-2F on static display at the Louisiana Military Museum in Ruston, Louisiana. • 161905 – SH-2F on static display at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. • 162583 – SH-2F on static display at the Aviation Challenge Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. It was flown by HSL-36 with the callsign "Lamplighter 342". ==Specifications (SH-2F Seasprite)==