CH-53D Sea Stallion

Manufacturer: Sikorsky

Service: USMC Propulsion: 2x GE T64-GE-413 turboshaft engines Airspeed: 160 knots Range: 578 nm Crew: Two pilots, one aircrewman. Armament: 3x .50 caliber machine guns Load: 37 troops or 24 litter patients plus four attendants or 8,000 pounds

The CH-53D Sea Stallion is a medium lift helicopter used by the Marines Corps. It is being replaced by the MV-22 Osprey and the heavy lift mission has been taken over by the more capable, three-engine CH-53E Super Stallion.

The CH-53D rolled off Sikorsky’s production line in 1967 with 126 aircraft deliveries made to the Marine Corps through 1971. With 36 aircraft currently still in inventory, the CH-53D is now considered a medium–lift helicopter.

The Sea Stallion incorporates GPS sensors and carries 7.62mm and 50 caliber guns (as a mission kit). Communications include UHF/VHF/HF radios, secure comm. capability, and IFF. Currently out of production, the Sea Stallion will continue to fly until 2017.

The Sea Stallion has a fuselage design similar to the Sikorsky S-61R/Jolly Green Giant series. It has a passenger door on the right side of the fuselage behind the cockpit and a power-operated rear loading ramp. The fuselage was watertight, though not intended for amphibious use, and only landed on water in emergencies.

The Stallion has mechanical flight controls which are backed by three independent hydraulic systems. Armor protects crew and vital systems. The CH-53A carries a crew of four; pilot, copilot, crew chief, and an aerial observer, a load of 38 troops, 24 litters with medical attendants, an internal cargo load of 8,000 pounds (3,600 kg) or an external load of 13,000 pounds (5,900 kg) on the single-point sling hook. The CH-53A is equipped with a pair of 7.62 mm M60 machine guns that point out to each side of the fuselage.

The CH-53A features a six-bladed main rotor and four-bladed tail rotor developed from those used on the S-64 Skycrane. To save space on board naval vessels, the tail boom and the rotors folded. Initially, the CH-53 was powered by twin General Electric T64-6 turboshaft engines providing 2,850 shaft horsepower each, each engine being located on the upper fuselage. Later engines included the T64-1 with 3,080 shp (2,300 kW) and the T64-16 with 3,485 shp (2,599 kW). The HH-53B featured T64-3 engines producing 3,080 shp (2,300 kW).

The CH-53D features uprated engines, initially T64-GE-412 with 3,695 shp (2,755 kW) then the T64-413 with 3,925 shp (2,927 kW) with an uprated transmission. Its interior added seats to allow for 55 troops. CH-53Ds are generally armed with twin .50 BMG (12.7 mm) M2/XM218 machine guns. In later years, CH-53Ds have been fitted with defensive countermeasures including an AN/ALE-39 chaff dispenser and an AN/ALQ-157 infrared countermeasure.