HCS-5 Re-established

[Scoob]

Won't argue with that at all.

I know I wouldn't want to be flying in Iraq in the spring of 2007 without HIRSS

And I won't argue with that at all. Was in Afghaniland (not flying) at that time, and EVERYBODY was freaking out that the TTPs would migrate after those couple weeks.

Of course, then it was pointed out to people that WE can't even communicate effectively across theaters, so why are we expecting 3 separate enemies, who like to fight eachother as well, to start using the tactics of a fourth.

 

[Pags]

I

No poke taken - I've asked the question myself. I may ask again - but I'm guessing there's some serious anal spectrometry from NAVAIR involved with it.

I've also asked about moving the engine cowling latch back up front - it totally messes up my whole preflight gymnastic performance - particularly the dismount.

I hate preflighting romeo because the latches are in the wrong spot. And i dont know where to sit without a hirss.

 

[HeyJoe]

Serious question and not trying to poke at you, but can't they remove the HIRSS? I thought I saw a couple of Sierras in Haiti that weren't wearing them.

Trip down memory lane for you...

00322-N-4649B-216 CARIBBEAN SEA, (March 22, 2010) An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 embarked aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) transports ammunition during a vertical replenishment. Bataan is conducting operations off the coast of Haiti supporting Operation Unified Response after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake caused severe damage in and around Port-au-Prince Jan. 12. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Erin Boyce/Released)

100222-N-4047W-190 CARIBBEAN SEA (Feb. 22, 2010) An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 lands aboard the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) during an underway replenishment off the coast of Haiti. Comfort temporarily left Haiti to re-supply, but will return to continue supporting Operation Unified Response. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Shannon Warner/Released)

100204-N-6676S-009 KILLICK, Haiti (Feb. 4, 2010) Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Bradley Gnage, from Caledonia, N.Y., directs an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter , assigned to the Fleet Angels of Helicopter Sea Combat Support Squadron (HSC) 2, away from the flight deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) during a vertical replenishment with the Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Lewis and Clark (T-AKE 1). Gunston Hall was diverted from a scheduled deployment to West Africa to help Haitian relief operations as part of Operation Unified Response. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Stratton/Released)

 

[xmid]

All those birds were wearing HIRSS...

 

[Gatordev]

Trip down memory lane for you...

I went through the pics I have and I could only find a couple shots of Sierras and they had HIRSS. I still swear I saw one, but maybe it was just a Fox that was going SO FAST that the tailwheel blurred towards the back.

 

[torpedo0126]

Gau-17 is a 7.62mm multi-barreled mini-gun, the 21 is a single barreled .50 cal. The rate of fire greatly of the 17 by far surpasses that of the 21. Also, you're a little off, you can actually put two 17's on a H, only one 21 on an H. The 7.62 round is much better (at least in my opinion) in providing the anti-personnel CAS role than the .50. For larger targets that the .50 cal would be better suited for isn't really in the realm of capability of any 60, except maybe the 60 DAP's that the 160th uses.

Sorry I was confusing on this question...I was asking more or less what the advantage of having a single Gau-17 on the Hotel compared to x2 Gau-21s (and x2 240D if you wanted) mounts on the Sierra. I did not know the Hotel could mount x2 Gau-17s.

The unrefueled range of a 60H compared to a 60S with their stock internal tanks is significantly higher. When a 60S adds their internals to match the range of the 60H, it significantly reduces the floorspace available. Add to that that the 60H can throw an external on and increase range that much more without any reduction in floorspace, it's an obvious advantage.

Also, what I meant by this question, is that doesn't the H lose some cabin space because of its larger internal tanks? Thus when you mount a single internal aux tank in the Sierra, the net loss of cabin space is about the same as the Hotel?

Any chance the Sierra will support external aux tanks in the future?

 

[torpedo0126]

Oh, and does anyone have any opinions on the the new forward firing 20mm thats being implemented?

 

[wlawr005]

I never thought that adding one aux tank killed that much cabin space...it only takes up the same amount of room as the rear row of seats (which team guys rarely sit in anyway). We could always put three guys in each door and three down the middle between them with full combat loads.

Edit: Of course, if you wanted to actually close the doors, that's a different story all together.

 

[xmid]

Sorry I was confusing on this question...I was asking more or less what the advantage of having a single Gau-17 on the Hotel compared to x2 Gau-21s (and x2 240D if you wanted) mounts on the Sierra. I did not know the Hotel could mount x2 Gau-17s.

Have you been in the back of a Sierra with both Gau-21's mounted? There's zero space. Why didn't we get the mounts from the pavehawk again?...

 

[Pags]

Have you been in the back of a Sierra with both Gau-21's mounted? There's zero space. Why didn't we get the mounts from the pavehawk again?...

$$$ and differing mission sets.

 

[torpedo0126]

Have you been in the back of a Sierra with both Gau-21's mounted? There's zero space. Why didn't we get the mounts from the pavehawk again?...

No. Only 240Ds, which obviously are in the gunner windows.

 

[xmid]

$$$ and differing mission sets.

How is PR a different mission set? And for SOF how does it make sense to block off the doors with huge gau-21 mounted contraptions? Other than to give them yet another reason why they get the missions and we don't...


And what exact mission set have we used the Gau-21 in theatre?

 

[RotorHead04]

And what exact mission set have we used the Gau-21 in theatre?

ASUW and Anti Piracy? Not to mention that, depending on what exactly you are doing in the SOF arena, you could always role with one GAU and pick up fires support.

 

[Pags]

How is PR a different mission set? And for SOF how does it make sense to block off the doors with huge gau-21 mounted contraptions? Other than to give them yet another reason why they get the missions and we don't...


And what exact mission set have we used the Gau-21 in theatre?

Pavehawks are dedicated PR birds. Navy a/c need to be reconfigurable for ASU, PR, SOF, SAR, and PMC. AF mindset puts an emphasis on available cabin space, hence their gun mounts and no int aux. The Navy needs their aircraft to be able to do multipl3 missions. And, as RH04 pointed out, the gaus are primarily intended as ASU weapons. In an ASU config theres no need to worry about cabin space.

 

[hscs]

Don't lead yourselves down the road - we screwed up and did not buy the mount - what is a primary mission of every Navy helo? - SAR. And the GAU 21 in the right door blocks the access to the hoist and takes up cabin space. Genius!