Kaman SH-2F Seasprite - Pima ASM, Tucson, AZ - Static Aircraft Displays on Waymarking.com

The Kaman SH-2 Seasprite is a ship-based helicopter, originally developed in the late 1950s as a fast utility helicopter for the US Navy. In the 1970s, anti-submarine, anti-surface threat capabilities were added to the design, including over-the-horizon targeting, resulting in modifying most existing UH-2 models to the SH-2 Seasprite. This aircraft extends and increases shipboard sensor and weapon capabilities against several types of enemy threats, including submarines of all types, surface ships and patrol craft that may be armed with anti-ship missiles. It served with the US Navy from the 1960s until the last SH-2G helicopters were retired in 2001.

To meet its requirements for a fast, all-weather utility helicopter the US Navy held a competition in 1956. Kaman's K-20 model was selected as the winner. Kaman was awarded a contract for four prototype and 12 production HU2K-1 helicopters in late 1957. The Kaman design featured four blades on the main rotor and three blades on the tail rotor with a single GE T58-8F turboshaft engine.

In 1960, the HU2K was designated as the frontrunner for a large Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) anti-submarine helicopter contract, and the Canadian Treasury Board approved an initial procurement of 12 units for $14.5 million. However, Kaman abruptly raised the asking price to $23 million, and RCN staff became concerned that Kaman's performance projections might be too optimistic. These developments prompted the Naval Board to await upcoming 1961 USN sea trials before approving the purchase. The USN trials revealed that the HU2K was substantially heavier than promised, was underpowered, and was incapable of meeting RCN requirements. In late 1961, the RCN chose the Sikorsky Sea King instead.

Upon enactment of the 1962 US Tri-Service aircraft designation system, the HU2K-1 was redesignated UH-2A and the HU2K-1U was redesignated UH-2B. The UH-2 was used from aircraft carriers for search and rescue. The airframe continued to undergo upgrades, such as the addition of external stores stations. Beginning in 1968, remaining UH-2s were upgraded to use two T58 engines.

The UH-2 was selected to be the airframe for the interim Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) helicopter in October 1970. LAMPS evolved in the late 1960s from an urgent requirement to develop a manned helicopter that would support a non-aviation ship and serve as its tactical Anti-Submarine Warfare arm. Known as LAMPS Mark I, the advanced sensors, processors, and display capabilities aboard the helicopter enabled ships to extend their situational awareness beyond the line-of-sight limitations that hamper shipboard radars and the short distances for acoustic detection and prosecution of underwater threats associated with hull-mounted sonars. H-2s reconfigured for the LAMPS mission were redesignated SH-2D. The first operational SH-2D LAMPS helicopter embarked on the USS Belknap (CG-26) in December 1971.

The full LAMPS I system was equipped on the SH-2F. The SH-2F was delivered to the Navy beginning in 1973. This variant had upgraded engines, longer life rotor and higher take-off weight. In 1981, the Navy ordered 60 production SH-2Fs. Beginning in 1987, 16 SH-2Fs were upgraded with chin mounted Forward Looking Infrared Sensors (FLIR), Chaff (AIRBOC)/Flares, dual rear mounted IR scramblers, and Missile/Mine detecting equipment.

Eventually all but two H-2s then in Navy inventory were remanufactured into SH-2Fs. The final production procurement of the SH-2F was in Fiscal Year 1986. The last six orders for production SH-2Fs were switched to the SH-2G Super Seasprite variant.

Following a few years of trials the UH-2 entered service in late 1962. The UH-2 was primarily deployed aboard aircraft carriers in a Search-and-Rescue (SAR) role.

SH-2Fs were utilized to enforce Operation Earnest Will (July 1987) and later Operation Praying Mantis (April 1988) and Desert Storm (January 1991) in the Persian Gulf region. The added countermeasures and equipment gave the SH-2F's enhanced survivability while taking on more surface related combat tasking in an environment of limited submarine threat. The SH-2F was retired from active service in October 1993, at roughly the same time that the Navy retired and/or sold the last of its Vietnam era Knox Class Frigates that could not accommodate the newly acquired and larger SH-60 Sea Hawk.

Source: Wikipedia

Type of Aircraft: (make/model): Kaman SH-2F Seasprite Tail Number: (S/N): BuNo 150155 Construction:: original aircraft Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): Located in hangar 1S at Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, AZ inside / outside: inside Other Information:: Pima Air & Space Museum 6000 E Valencia Rd Tucson, Arizona 85756 Phone 520-574-0462 Open 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Daily Last admittance at 4:00 PM $15.50-Adults $12.50-Pima Co Residents $12.75-Seniors $ 9.00-Children FREE---Children 6 & under $ 7.00-AMARG $13.50-Group Rate Access restrictions: None

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