Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight

Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight History

The Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight is similar in form and function to the US military's more popular CH-47 Chinook tandem rotor transport helicopter. Both use a patented tandem three-blade main rotor arrangement that makes the Chinook range easily recognizable by positioning the engine assembly high in the design for unobstructed access to the cargo space. Despite these similarities, the Chinook is the larger helicopter of the two and is the mainstay of the U.S. Army, while the Sea Knight serves the U.S.

Marine Corps and, to some extent, the U.S. Navy .

The civilian market form of CH-46 is BV 107-II Vertol.

A total of 524 CH-46 helicopters were produced from 1962 to 1971, and the USMC became the largest global operator of the type. The aircraft was subsequently built under the Vertol Aircraft Corporation and Boeing Vertol brand names. The U.S. Navy has also come to rely on this type, as has the U.S. State Department at one point.

The U.S. Marine Corps used the system during the second half of the Vietnam War (1955-1975) and it was used in a variety of roles - general transport, assault support, search and rescue (SAR), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), and special mission operations support . The U.S.

Navy discontinued the CH-46 in 2004, and the U.S. Marine Corps continued to use it until 2015.

The other operators are the Canadian Army and Air Force, which use the CH-113 Voyageur and Labrador types respectively. Japan uses the type in many variants as the KV-107II, and also conducts local licensed production of the helicopter. The Japanese have used the CH-46 in the Air Force, Army, Navy and Police.

Both the Saudi Ministry of Interior and the Royal Thai Army rely on CH-46s (both former operators).

Sweden purchased 10 UH-46Bs from U.S. inventory in 1963 and designated them for service as Hkp 4A. This was supported by an additional eight KV-107 helicopters (which became the Hkp 4B in Swedish service) under license from the Japanese company Kawasaki.

The Swedes also use the Hkp 4C and Hkp 4D brands on duty.

With the inherent power of two turboshaft engines driving the large-span main rotor blades (these effectively counteract torque and create a more stable rotor platform), the CH-46 carries a crew of three and can carry up to 25 soldiers or 15 medical stretcher and its entourage. The Sea Knight, like its Chinook counterpart, can also be arranged to carry external sling loads under the fuselage if desired.

While the U.S. Army chose to enter service with the larger C-47 Chinook helicopters, the Marine Corps accepted their CH-46 in 1961 to replace their aging UH-34 family of helicopters. Delivered at full speed until 1964. The U.S.

Marine Corps no longer relies on the CH-46 as a workhorse, and the series is primarily used by the U.S. State Department and several private civilian market companies.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes