Navy Helicopter Pilots to Outnumber Fixed Wing

[46Driver]

Interesting article. It goes with the massive increase in students we are supposed to be getting at South Field and the reason why we should be getting a 3rd Helicopter Training Squadron. It is in National Defense Magazine. www.ndia.org

http://nationaldefense.ndia.org/article.cfm?ID=1244

 

[splendid_splinter]

i'm not really understanding the big increase. the need to protect the battle group from a submarine threat is lessening. i'm assuming the helo communities are going to be expanding their roles.. but to what and why so dramatically?

 

[DBLang]

littorals?

 

[vegita1220]

I would think an SH-60 armed with Penguins would be more efficient at killing some crazy Iranian patrol boat. But is this an increase in helicopters or a decrease in fixed wing or both?

 

[Fly Navy]

I'd say with the cheap and capable Kilo class and litoral waters, the sub threat isn't lessening.

 

[nittany03]

Agreed. Force protection is probably a big issue there, too. Actually, I heard somewhere that they're talking about doing away with the VERTREP mission, too, but maybe someone who actually flies Navy helos for a living might have better gouge on that than me.

 

[phrogdriver]

How else would you get stuff to the ship? I think you mean they're phaseing out the 53 in that role.

 

[Gatordev]

Originally posted by splendid_splinter
i'm not really understanding the big increase. the need to protect the battle group from a submarine threat is lessening. [/br]

This is most definately NOT the case. The skill/ability to protect the BG/ESG from a submarine threat is what is lessening.

i'm assuming the helo communities are going to be expanding their roles.. but to what and why so dramatically?

One reason is most likely the transition that is planned for the communities. Over time, there will be fewer communities, but more squadrons flying the same aircraft. Not to mention you have to stand up the new squadrons while still maintaining the old ones. And all those dept heads-to-be are getting to the fleet now as nuggets.

 

[Enishi1983]

i'm sorry that this might be off topic, but why don't helos have nfos?

 

[splendid_splinter]

they have two pilots at the controls, one being the hac(helicopter aircraft commander) that is responsible for the aircraft and is in charge of the crew of the helicopter. the other being the copilot, who is a more junior officer but is equally capable of flying the helicopter. there is no need for an nfo that doesn't have the qualification to fly.

back to the original topic... i understand the threat of rogue submarines. but, no sovereign country is going to attack one of our battle groups by submarine thinking we aren't going to find out who it was. and no terrorist organization could maintain a submarine and effectively employ a crew effectively and without our knowledge. if that were to happen you could consider the cia useless.. anyways, i tend to think the threat that used to exist from the soviet union was much greater and the need for more helo's in the anti-sub role was much higher when that threat existed. i still don't understand why the big increase. i've read more than a few articles that discuss increasing.. but none state the exact need or why the sudden realization by the command.

 

[Gatordev]

Originally posted by splendid_splinter
back to the original topic... i understand the threat of rogue submarines. but, no sovereign country is going to attack one of our battle groups by submarine thinking we aren't going to find out who it was. and no terrorist organization could maintain a submarine and effectively employ a crew effectively and without our knowledge. if that were to happen you could consider the cia useless.. anyways, i tend to think the threat that used to exist from the soviet union was much greater and the need for more helo's in the anti-sub role was much higher when that threat existed. i still don't understand why the big increase. i've read more than a few articles that discuss increasing.. but none state the exact need or why the sudden realization by the command.

That's just the thing though. The threat isn't a "rogue" submarine, it's the sovereign nations that are buying the very capable subs other nations are selling. You're right, the Cold War threat isn't the issue anymore, instead it's the new, quiet diesels that can carry SOF across a border, or a new Japanese sub that can run it's engines w/out any air (old technology, but new sub). And that's why COMPACFLT (or whatever they call themselves this week) has made ASW the new number one priority.

As for the sudden increase, I think my above post is part of the reason.

 

[nittany03]

OK, Phrogdriver, I stand corrected . . .

 

[vegita1220]

phrogdriver I thought Navy 46s were being phased out of the VERTREP role...as far as I know, 53s in the Navy are primarily minesweepers.

 

[Enishi1983]

well, i don't know most of the things that you guys are saying, but i hope the navy commission the new sonar systemed subs soon. damn tree huggers are stopping them from it b/c it's "hurting" the whales!!! i've got nothing against the naturalists, but come on, it's humans or whales, who would you pick???

 

[phrogdriver]

You are right, the 46s are rapidly going away in that role, too. Some 53s are assigned to minesweeping duties. Others, especially the ones out of Sigonella, transport huge amounts of stuff from land to the ship. They will eventually go away in favor of more 60s (bad move, in my opinion). VERTREP as a mission will never go away. Ships need resupply, simple as that.