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YUMA, Ariz. - After more than 40 years of service, the Marine Corps retired the aging CH-53D heavy lift helicopter after it completed its final combat operation in Afghanistan last month.
The CH-53D Sea Stallion supported the Marine Air Ground Task Force commander by providing assault support transport of heavy equipment, combat troops, and supplies, day or night under all weather conditions during expeditionary, joint, or combined operations.
“From Vietnam, to Iraq and now in Afghanistan, the helicopter has provided sustaining and mission critical lift in every clime and place over past 40 plus years,” said Marine Corps Col. Robert Pridgen, program manager for the CH-53 Heavy Lift Helicopters Program Office.
“I flew with this aircraft when it first came into Iraq and to be on the last flight in Afghanistan makes this a sad but good day,” said Gunnery Sgt. Michael Schram, a Marine Aircraft Group 24 maintenance controller, during an interview regarding his last flight on the CH-53D. “It brought an end to something great and I hope that we gave closure to the legacy that the Marines in Vietnam started.”
The CH-53E (Super Stallion) was the replacement for the CH-53D and began entering the military service in February of 1981; the upgrades included a third engine, a refueling probe that allows in-flight refueling, and slight larger dimensions. These upgrades allow the CH-53E (Super Stallion) to lift a larger payload and carry more troops and cargo and fly a longer range then the CH-53D.
The CH-5E is the current heavy lift platform for the Marine Corps and will be around for the next decade.
“When the CH-53D (Sea Stallion) was replaced by the CH-53E (Super Stallion) there was huge impact on what the units were able to do and perform,” said Gunnery Sgt. William McGowan, the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 assault support department chief. “It was a good change as the CH-53D was getting a bit too old.”
“There was a dramatic increase in power to the aircraft with the Super Stallion, which allowed the lifting of a much larger payload,” added McGowan. “It also brought a huge increase in the range that the aircraft could travel since it could now refuel in-flight without having to land.”
The CH-53E is a very capable aircraft with capabilities that will continue to be used today and in the future to support the MAGTF and the joint commander.
The replacement for the Super Stallion will be the CH-53K, which is currently being built and will begin flight testing in the next several years. It will have slightly larger internal dimensions to allow more capacity for troops and cargo, upgraded engines that will produce significantly more shaft horsepower than the ones currently on the CH-53E, and upgraded avionics which will improve the flight ability and stability of the aircraft. This version will begin military service sometime around year 2020. “The benefit that the CH-53E (Super Stallion) brought was a dramatic increase in power to the aircraft which allowed the lifting of a much larger payload,” added McGowan. “It also brought a huge increase in the range that the aircraft could travel since it could now refuel in-flight without having to land.”
Since it was first introduced in 1981 the CH-53E is the Marine Corps primary heavy lift helicopter to the year 2015 and beyond.
The CH-53E is a very capable aircraft with capabilities that will continue to be used today and in the future to support the MAGTF and the joint commander. The most important issue is the survivability and vulnerability of the CH-53E on the battlefield. This may present a risk that may not be acceptable, and must be addressed immediately by the Marine Corps. All effort must be put forth immediately to reduce the vulnerability of the CH-53E with improved Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE), armor, and major component protection to increase the probability of mission success in the threat environment of today. The outdated doctrine of the Marine Corps does not reflect the realities of how the CH-53E is performing mission tasks today. Aviation assault support doctrine must, therefore, be changed to reflect the realities of the capabilities of all aircraft and not limit aircraft due to traditional roles.
The battles being fought today and the future will require the CH-53E to continue in its role to meet the needs of the MAGTF and joint commanders.
| Date Taken: | 09.19.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 09.19.2012 20:16 |
| Story ID: | 94999 |
| Location: | YUMA, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 454 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Throw some CH-53Ds on it: the history of the Sea Stallion, by SSgt Laura Gauna, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
