Great discussion guys, there's too many things discussed here to address them all but I'l try to get to most of your posts.
HH-60H: Armed Helo Block III aircraft is not an upgrade to Block II's (meaning that they can't be upgraded to block III) not sure if that's what u meant, they are called Armed Helo Kits because the stub wings and support equipment come as a kit. Block III equipment is already on contract, the only thing still pending is ordenance (i.e. LOGIR) and wether or not we get a refueling probe. HC-4 in Sig, soon to move to Norfolk are currently in the process to get NVG capability, them, HM-14 and HM-15 are currently non-NVG NSW capable but HC-4 handles most missions although it's not their primary...yet, they do this because the MH-53E has such large legs and can carry everybody in one aircraft, and is much faster. The '53E and all three squadrons are on the Master Helo Plan until the 53X comes around and for the HM guys until the 60S OAMCM capability matches that of legacy AMCM, whichever happens first.
CHUCK: The combat role of HSC and HSM is not going to change, even though Blk III's are more than capable for CAS this upgrade was done exclusively to increase CSAR capability specially for the CSG which is very limited with the H's compared to a S, not for troop support, that will continue to rely on the Marines. In other words, unless there's a crew down behind the lines chances are that Sierras will just be shooting at bad guy's ships, gotta say though that the ability to support shore strikes is part of their planned capability.
Pags, Chubby: Air Ambulance currently are for Army support and under Army control, you'll be out there living on an Army camp. Sounds strange but that's why the aircraft are being reconfigured and a training program being implemented as we speak so are orders for guys to go out there.
HSC squadrons PMA (Primary Mission Area) are ASuW CSAR OAMCM, what happened with AMCM is that the original concept was for the 53's to be replaced, but after tests and development it was obvious that they couldn't match the mission capability, so about a year ago it was determined that the '53's will stay around and the Sierras would just bring limited on site CSG/ESG AMCM capability to protect them against mine threat.
WHEW!!!!! sorry, that was long but I think it's important for all helo guys specially HT guys to get this info, not rumors but the facts.
And as HH-60H is saying, I don't know if the you two even realize that we're trained to support the Cobras (or Apaches). Hell, they're used to be a tactic for it in the TACMAN (T-Bone)before we went to the joint CAS standard.
