Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave

Last updated
CH-37 Mojave
HR2S-1 Deuce
H-37B Mojave US Army in flight (cropped).jpg
H-37 Mojave of the US Army in flight.
Role Cargo helicopter
National originUnited States
Manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft
First flight18 December 1953
IntroductionJuly 1956
RetiredLate 1960s
StatusRetired
Primary users United States Army
United States Marine Corps
Number built154 [1]
Developed into Sikorsky S-60
Westland Westminster

The Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave (company designation S-56) is an American large heavy-lift helicopter of the 1950s. This design was a late 20th century military heavy lift helicopter. It was the Sikorsky S-56 and entered service as the HR2S-1 Deuce with USMC in 1956, and the U.S. Army as the H-37A that same year as the H-37A Mojave. In the early 1960s the designation was standardized to CH-37 for both, with the HR2S-1 becoming the CH-37C specifically.

Contents

Developed in the early 1950s with its first flight in 1953, it filled a 1950 Navy requirement for an assault helicopter. The design had front ramp with side opening clam shell doors at the nose, and it was powered by two radial piston engines. It served well into the 1960s in active military service including in Indochina before being replaced, and many ex-military models went onto civilian service in the 1970s. This was the biggest helicopter in the world to enter service at the time, and one of the earliest twins. It was a bit noisy but earned a good reputation for reliability. The Navy also adapted it carry a naval radar, with two entering service as HR2S-1W.

The design lead to a possible production as the Westland Westminster in the United Kingdom;prototypes were produced, but it did not go into full production. The S-56 was also the basis for the S-60 Skycrane helicopter prototype.

Design and development

HR2S-1 Sikorsky HR2S-1 in flight.jpg
HR2S-1
Loading a Dodge WC Sikorsky S-56 loading jeep.jpg
Loading a Dodge WC
HR2S-1 with M422 Mighty Mite HR2S with jeep.jpg
HR2S-1 with M422 Mighty Mite

The S-56 came into being as an assault transport for the United States Marine Corps (USMC), with a capacity of 26 fully equipped Marines. An order for the aircraft was placed in 1951 using the U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Corps designation of the time of HR2S. The first prototype, the XHR2S-1 flew in 1953 and production deliveries of the HR2S-1 began in July 1956 to Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1), with a total of sixty aircraft being produced.

It was called HR2S-1 Duece in the USMC service. [2]

The United States Army evaluated the prototype in 1954 and ordered 94 examples as the CH-37A, the first being delivered in summer 1956. All Marine Corps and Army examples were delivered by mid-1960. Army examples were all upgraded to CH-37B status in the early 1960s, being given Lear auto-stabilization equipment and the ability to load and unload while hovering. In the 1962 unification of United States military aircraft designations, the USMC examples were redesignated from HR2S-1 to CH-37C.

At the time of delivery, the CH-37 was the largest helicopter in the Western world and it was Sikorsky's first twin-engine helicopter. Two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engines were mounted in outboard pods that also contained the retractable landing gear. This left the fuselage free for cargo, which could be loaded and unloaded through large clamshell doors in the nose. The early models could carry a payload of either three M422 Mighty Mites (a lightweight jeep-like vehicle) or 26 troops. For storage, the main rotor blades folded back on the fuselage and the tail rotor mast folded forward on the fuselage. [3]

The CH-37 was one of the last heavy helicopters to use piston engines, which were larger, heavier and less powerful than the turboshaft engines subsequently employed in later military helicopters. This accounted for the type's fairly short service life, all being withdrawn from service by the late 1960s, replaced in Army service by the distantly related CH-54 Tarhe and in the Marine Corps by the CH-53 Sea Stallion.

Four CH-37Bs were deployed to Vietnam in September 1965 to assist in the recovery of downed U.S. aircraft, serving in this role from Marble Mountain Air Facility until May 1967. [4] They were very successful at this role, recovering over US$7.5 million worth of equipment, some of which was retrieved from behind enemy lines. The CH-37 was also used to recover film capsules descending from space by parachute. [5]

A total of 154 were produced by the time production ended. Of those 94 were H-34A, and 90 H-34 were converted to H-34B (later CH-34A and B respectively). It was the largest piston powered helicopter. [1]

Variants

XHR2S-1 of the USMC Sikorsky XHR2S helicopter 127-gr-9-66-A49992 001-ac.jpg
XHR2S-1 of the USMC
HR2S-1W early warning helicopter HR2S-1W NAN3-57 1-57.jpg
HR2S-1W early warning helicopter
CH-37 Mojave attempting to lift a crashed Piasecki H-21 Sikorsky S-56 with downed CH-21.jpg
CH-37 Mojave attempting to lift a crashed Piasecki H-21
XHR2S-1
Prototype Assault Transport for the US Marine Corps, powered by two 1,900 hp (1,400 kW) R-2800-54 engines, four built.
HR2S-1
Production model for USMC with modified engine nacelles, twin mainwheels and dorsal fin, redesignated CH-37C in 1962, 55 built (order for additional 36 cancelled).
HR2S-1W
Airborne early warning aircraft for the US Navy, two built.
YH-37
One HR2S-1 helicopter evaluated by the US Army.
H-37A Mojave
Military transport version of the HR2S for the US Army, changes included dorsal fin and modified rotor head fairing, redesignated CH-37A in 1962, 94 built.
H-37B Mojave
All but four of the H-37As were modified with a redesigned cargo door, automatic stabilization equipment and crashproof fuel cells. Later redesignated CH-37B.
CH-37A
H-37A redesignated in 1962.
CH-37B
H-37B redesignated in 1962.
CH-37C
HR2S-1 redesignated in 1962.
S-56
Sikorsky company designation for H-37.
Sikorsky S-60
a prototype "sky-crane" with a skeletal fuselage with a crew cockpit at the front.
Westland Westminster
Unable to get government support for licence production of the civil S-56, Westland Aircraft used the S-56 control systems, rotors and gearbox as the basis for the Westminster but used their own tubular frame and twin 2,900 hp (2,200 kW) Napier Eland turboshafts for power in a flying test rig. Due to vibration they changed to a six-bladed S-64 rotor. The private venture project was ended when Westland took over three British helicopter companies and their more advanced and funded projects.

Operators

Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States

United States Army [6]

United States Marine Corps [6] [7] [8]

HMR(M)-461 1957-1966
HMR(M)-462 1957-1965
HMR(M)-463 1958-1959

Survivors

Closeup of the engine nacelle housing the Wasp radial engine at musuem Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave (6586507201) (2).jpg
Closeup of the engine nacelle housing the Wasp radial engine at musuem

Specifications (CH-37 Mojave)

3-view line drawing of the Sikorsky CH-37A Mojave Sikorsky CH-37A Mojave 3-view line drawing.png
3-view line drawing of the Sikorsky CH-37A Mojave

Data from U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947 [12]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development

Related lists

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight</span> Tandem transport helicopter designed by Vertol

The Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight is an American medium-lift tandem-rotor transport helicopter powered by twin turboshaft engines. It was designed by Vertol and manufactured by Boeing Vertol following Vertol's acquisition by Boeing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King</span> American anti-submarine helicopter

The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King is an American twin-engined anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter designed and built by Sikorsky Aircraft. A landmark design, it was one of the first ASW rotorcraft to use turboshaft engines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtiss Falcon</span> American multirole aircraft

The Curtiss Falcon was a family of military biplane aircraft built by the American aircraft manufacturer Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company during the 1920s. Most saw service as part of the United States Army Air Corps as observation aircraft with the designations O-1 and O-11, or as the attack aircraft designated the A-3 Falcon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cessna T-37 Tweet</span> Family of military training aircraft (1954–2009)

The Cessna T-37 Tweet is a small, economical twin-engined jet trainer aircraft. It was flown for decades as a primary trainer of the United States Air Force (USAF) as well as in the air forces of several other nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion</span> Transport helicopter series by Sikorsky

The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is a heavy-lift helicopter operated by the United States military. As the Sikorsky S-80, it was developed from the CH-53 Sea Stallion, mainly by adding a third engine, adding a seventh blade to the main rotor, and canting the tail rotor 20°. It was built by Sikorsky Aircraft for the United States Marine Corps. The less common MH-53E Sea Dragon fills the United States Navy's need for long-range minesweeping or airborne mine countermeasures missions, and performs heavy-lift duties for the Navy. The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion, which has new engines, new composite rotor blades, and a wider aircraft cabin, is set to replace the CH-53E and is beginning to enter service in the 2020s, but most of the Super Stallions are still in service as are the MH-53E Sea Dragons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw</span> Family of utility helicopters

The Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw is a multi-purpose piston engined helicopter that was used by the United States Army and United States Air Force. It was also license-built by Westland Aircraft as the Westland Whirlwind in the United Kingdom. United States Navy and United States Coast Guard models were designated HO4S, while those of the U.S. Marine Corps were designated HRS. In 1962, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Marine Corps versions were all redesignated as H-19s like their U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force counterparts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion</span> 1964 transport helicopter family by Sikorsky

The CH-53 Sea Stallion is an American family of heavy-lift transport helicopters designed and built by the American manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft. The Sea Stallion was originally developed in response to a request from the United States Navy's Bureau of Naval Weapons made in March 1962 for a replacement for the Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave helicopters flown by the United States Marine Corps (USMC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe</span> American twin-engine heavy-lift helicopter

The Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe is an American twin-engine heavy-lift helicopter designed by Sikorsky Aircraft for the United States Army. It is named after Tarhe, an 18th-century chief of the Wyandot Indian tribe whose nickname was "The Crane". The civilian version is the Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piasecki H-21</span> American military transport helicopter family

The Piasecki H-21 Workhorse/Shawnee is an American helicopter, the fourth of a line of tandem rotor helicopters designed and built by Piasecki Helicopter. Commonly called "the flying banana", it was a multi-mission helicopter, capable of being fitted with wheels, skis or floats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky S-92</span> Transport helicopter family by Sikorsky

The Sikorsky S-92 is an American twin-engine medium-lift helicopter built by Sikorsky Aircraft for the civil and military helicopter markets. The S-92 was developed from the Sikorsky S-70 helicopter and has similar parts such as flight control and rotor systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky H-34</span> American helicopter

The Sikorsky H-34 is an American piston-engined military helicopter originally designed by Sikorsky as an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft for the United States Navy. It has seen extended use when adapted to turbine power by the British licensee as the Westland Wessex and Sikorsky as the later S-58T. This type had a variety of names depending on the role and timing, but included the aforementioned Wessex, Seahorse, Seabat, and Choctaw. Most of the H-34 (S-58) used radial aviation engines, though other powerplants were employed, and the Wessex used predominantly twin gas turbines. Individual versions often had unique names, the type including everything from the U.S. Coast Guard HH-34F Seahorse was used for search and rescue, to the commercial Winnebago Heli-Home, to Canada's CH-126, the USMC it often went by "HUS" after its original designation in that service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne</span> Canceled US helicopter program

The Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne is an attack helicopter developed by Lockheed for the United States Army. It rose from the Army's Advanced Aerial Fire Support System (AAFSS) program to field the service's first dedicated attack helicopter. Lockheed designed the Cheyenne using a four-blade rigid-rotor system and configured the aircraft as a compound helicopter with low-mounted wings and a tail-mounted thrusting propeller driven by a General Electric T64 turboshaft engine. The Cheyenne was to have a high-speed dash capability to provide armed escort for the Army's transport helicopters, such as the Bell UH-1 Iroquois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky H-5</span> 1943 multi-role helicopter by Sikorsky

The Sikorsky H-5 is a helicopter built by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion</span> Heavy transport helicopter

The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion is a heavy transport helicopter designed and produced by Sikorsky Aircraft. The King Stallion is an evolution of the long running CH-53 series of helicopters which has been in continuous service since 1966, and features three up-rated 7,500 shp (5,590 kW) engines, new composite rotor blades, and a wider aircraft cabin than its predecessors. It is the largest and heaviest helicopter in the U.S. military.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westland Westminster</span> Type of aircraft

The Westland Westminster was a British helicopter of the 1950s from Westland Aircraft. A large cargo design, it was powered by two turboshaft engines driving a single, five-bladed rotor. Initially unclad, the all-metal airframe was later enclosed in a fabric covering. Designed and built as a private venture without government assistance, it was cancelled when Westland took over rival helicopter producers and their more advanced projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky S-61R</span> Helicopter used in transport or search and rescue

The Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine helicopter used in transport or search and rescue roles. A developed version of the S-61/SH-3 Sea King, the S-61R was also built under license by Agusta as the AS-61R. The S-61R served in the United States Air Force as the CH-3C/E Sea King and the HH-3E Jolly Green Giant, and with the United States Coast Guard as the HH-3F, nicknamed "Pelican". This article covers several different variants of this type in different roles, one major difference compared to the S-61 was a rear ramp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky S-60</span> Type of aircraft

The Sikorsky S-60 helicopter, a prototype "flying crane", was derived from the S-56 in 1958. Proving to be underpowered, the development of the S-60 led to the larger, turbine-engined Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe military transport helicopter, and its civil S-64 Skycrane variant, which were already on the drawing board by the time the sole example of the S-60 crashed on 3 April 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky S-52</span> Type of aircraft

The Sikorsky S-52 is a utility helicopter developed by Sikorsky Aircraft in the late 1940s. It was used by the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. The S-52 was the first US helicopter with all-metal rotor blades. Initially a two-seater, it was developed into the four-seat S-52-2 and S-52-3. It was designated HO5S-1 by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, HO5S-1G by the Coast Guard, and YH-18A by the U.S. Army, and was used extensively by civil operators after being retired by the military.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell Huey family</span> American family of utility helicopters

The Bell Huey family of helicopters includes a wide range of civil and military aircraft produced since 1956 by Bell Helicopter. This H-1 family of aircraft includes the utility UH-1 Iroquois and the derivative AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter series and ranges from the XH-40 prototype, first flown in October 1956, to the 21st-century UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper. Although not flown in military service in the USA, the Bell 412 served in Canada and Japan and, like the UH-1Y, is a twin engine four rotor design based on the Bell 212.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amphibious helicopter</span> Helicopter operable from both land and water

An amphibious helicopter is a helicopter that is intended to land on and take off from both land and water. Amphibious helicopters are used for a variety of specialized purposes including air-sea rescue, marine salvage and oceanography, in addition to other tasks that can be accomplished with any non-amphibious helicopter. An amphibious helicopter can be designed with a waterproof or water-resistant hull like a flying boat or it can be fitted with utility floats in the same manner as a floatplane.

References

  1. 1 2 "Sikorsky Aircraft S-56 (H-37 / CH-37 Mojave) - Specifications - Technical Data / Description". www.flugzeuginfo.net. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Vertical rewind: The original heavy lifter". Vertical Mag. 2018-09-21. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  3. "Three Jeeps Ride in the Marine Corps Biggest Helicopter". Popular Mechanics. Vol. 101, no. 6. Hearst Magazines. June 1954. p. 93. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  4. Fails, William (1978). Marines and Helicopters 1962-1973 (PDF). History and Museums Division United States Marine Corps. pp. 119–20. ISBN   978-1482313598.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  5. "S-56/HR2S-1/H-37 Helicopter". sikorskyarchives. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  6. 1 2 "Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave review". olive drab.com. Retrieved 2013-01-17.
  7. "H-37 Mojave / HR2S". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  8. "Marines and Helicopters 1946-1962" (PDF). History and Museums Division,US Marine Corp. p. 79. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  9. "Our Collection". United States Army Aviation Museum. 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  10. "Sikorsky CH-37B". Pima Air & Space. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  11. "Warbird Registry - Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave - A Warbirds Resource Group Site". www.warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  12. Harding 1990, p.239.
  13. Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  14. Swanborough and Bowers p. 437.