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Aviation History
1972
1972 - 0060.PDF
44-45 FLIGHT" International, 6 January 1972 Kaman's Lamps Seasprite Text and photographs by HOWARD LEVY KAMAN'S helicopter business is carried out at the corporate in stallation at Bloomfield, Conn, with R&D work undertaken there and at Bradley Field, where the organisation is updating UH-2As and -2Bs to HH-2D configuration under the Navy's Parmod (Progressive aircraft rework- modification) programme. Some 20 of the Seasprites are also being con verted to SH-2D Lamps during Parmod. Lamps, or Light airborne multi-purpose system, are reconfigured to include equipment for ASW and ASMD (Anti-Ship-Missile Defence)— prime missions of these new heli copters. The "D" versions—both HH-2D and SH-2D—are twin-turbine powered (two 1,250 s.h.p. GE T58-8Bs) with new avionics, uprated transmission, dual main wheels and improved perform ance. A total of 117 Seasprites of all categories are in the US Fleet, and as of December 9 nine SH-2Ds had been delivered, with the remainder scheduled for delivery by March 1972. The first SH-2D has been deployed with the 6th Fleet in the Mediter ranean, and the second was due to be with the Pacific Fleet by January 1. The reconfigured SH-2D has a 40in diameter Kaman-made glass-fibre radome under its nose, housing a Canada-Marconi LN-66 search-radar antenna. A pylon on the right side of the fuselage contains a winch to de ploy and retrieve the MAD "bird," and dual-purpose racks on each side of the fuselage can carry either 60 gal fuel tanks or ASW Mk 46 torpedoes. A 15-place rack has been installed in the left side of the aft cabin to accommodate passive or active sono- buoys (AN/SSQ-41 or -47) which are ejected by a small explosive charge. Four marine smoke fire-markers with flotation fairings are launched from each side of the nose, just forward of the retractable landing gear. Antennae and sensors are installed along and under the fuselage. The SH-2D carries a crew of three— pilot; co-pilot, who serves as tactical officer responsible for navigation, communications, electric - support measures and the launching of all stores; and the sensor operator who monitors and interprets signals re ceived from sensors. The SH-2Ds will initially operate from the nuclear ZYua;£MnDLGN35and DLG26-class guided-missile frigates. They can also be deployed on other frigates, ocean escorts and destroyers. Kaman is also undertaking a num ber of projects involving advanced helicopter technology — specifically in the fields of avionics and dynamic systems. Above, a Kaman SH-2D armed with the new Mk 46 torpedo, of the type to be bought by Britain. Below, a number of HH-2C and -2Ds being converted to the SH-2D Lamps configuration at Kaman's Bloomfield, Conn, factory, and below right, the 40in Kaman-made glass-fibre radome seen under the nose of this SH-2D PMI' •ij V r-.IKji KI SLi'fiL^r iilBC
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