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Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH

1963 COLD WAR VIETNAM WAR DRONE TECHNOLOGY

History of Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH

To accommodate the rapidly expanding capabilities of the Soviet submarine force in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the U.S. Navy developed the Fleet Repair and Modernization (FRAM) program, which upgraded older surface combatants (i.e. destroyers) allowed during WWII Fast and full modernization for future use as a submarine hunter. Because warships are designed for surface warfare, the program should configure existing lots to be effective anti-submarine warfare (ASW) platforms.

Veterans such as USS Laffey (DD-724) have been modified, and some of its expanded capabilities include facilities to operate the Gyrodyne QH-50 "DASH" (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter) unmanned aircraft.

A total of 755 ships of this type were built, with operators sometimes including the U.S. Navy and Army services and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Production spanned from 1962 to 1969, and the service was launched in 1963. The first flight was recorded in 1959.

The DSN-3 switched to Boeing T50-4 turboshafts, which increased power (300 hp) and allowed the aircraft to carry two Mark 43 torpedoes into combat. A total of 373 were produced by the brand.

After the reorganization of the US military in 1962, the DSN series was renamed "QH-50", which resulted in DSN-1 becoming "QH-50A", DSN-2 becoming "QH-50B", and DSN-3 becoming "QH-50C" ". The QH-50D was powered by a more powerful Boeing T50-12 turboshaft engine rated at 365 hp, and an additional 377 aircraft were produced to this standard.

The QH-50DM brand is 10 DASH UAVs with modified Boeing engines for the US Army as a reconnaissance platform. They fought in the Vietnam War (1955-1975) from September 1959 to April 1975 (the DASH program officially ended in 1969).

The YQH-50E is a collection of three DASH aircraft powered by Allison T63-A-5A engines. QH-50F was originally its operational designation, but the brand was not adopted. The QH-50H is another proposed service model designed to carry twin engines with longer span rotor blades and a larger fuselage.

But she wasn't accepted either.

The Japanese Navy used 20 DASH drones from several of its destroyer groups. These continued until 1977.