The Great, Constantly Changing Picture Gallery, Troisième partie: la vengeance!

[Gatordev]

I'm curious the "why" on two IRCMs up top. If you can't put one on the bottom like everyone else, is the second one doing anything more than the first up top?

And is that a MK-25 launcher under the pilot? I suppose that could come in handy for Plot Stab so the AW doesn't have sling one out the door while trying to do his thing on the console.

This was one of the highest velocity NAVAIR programs I ever witnessed. Word is it was SWOs that advocated for the program.

I'd be curious to know why, if it was such a hight-velocity, SWO advocated program, that the B didn't have the Armed Helo Kit from the beginning.

@Griz882 do you have a time-frame on the picture? I know there was overlap between the H-2 and the Block 1 Upgrade for the Bravo, so it would be interesting to know when this was taken. From the way the FFG deck is configured, it looks like it's still the early to mid 80's.

I'm wondering if this is a T700-engined bird, as well.

 

[ChuckMK23]

I'm wondering if this is a T700-engined bird, as well.

SH-2F = T58

 

[Griz882]

I'm curious the "why" on two IRCMs up top. If you can't put one on the bottom like everyone else, is the second one doing anything more than the first up top?

And is that a MK-25 launcher under the pilot? I suppose that could come in handy for Plot Stab so the AW doesn't have sling one out the door while trying to do his thing on the console.



I'd be curious to know why, if it was such a hight-velocity, SWO advocated program, that the B didn't have the Armed Helo Kit from the beginning.

@Griz882 do you have a time-frame on the picture? I know there was overlap between the H-2 and the Block 1 Upgrade for the Bravo, so it would be interesting to know when this was taken. From the way the FFG deck is configured, it looks like it's still the early to mid 80's.

I'm wondering if this is a T700-engined bird, as well.

I believe it is 1988/89 but on this particular airframe the mod was done in 1987.

 

[Gatordev]

I believe it is 1988/89 but on this particular airframe the mod was done in 1987.

So now I have even more questions... That airframe has a BUNO of 162577, which matches your date, and is after the Block 0 series of -60Bs. But why did they put a new BUNO on it? Any idea? The normal BUNO series for H-2Fs appears to be 149xxx-152xxx.

I double-checked Google for "152577" and it says that's a -46, so I think I'm reading the "6" correctly on the tail (I went to the actual Wikipedia picture to blow it up).

 

[ChuckMK23]

So now I have even more questions... That airframe has a BUNO of 162577, which matches your date, and is after the Block 0 series of -60Bs. But why did they put a new BUNO on it? Any idea? The normal BUNO series for H-2Fs appears to be 149xxx-152xxx.

I double-checked Google for "152577" and it says that's a -46, so I think I'm reading the "6" correctly on the tail (I went to the actual Wikipedia picture to blow it up).

You are correct on the BuNo of 162577. And indeed it is puzzling.

Here's a sister ship

U.S. Navy Bureau Number (BuNo) 161655 refers to a Kaman SH-2F Seasprite

Perhaps MEF MOD birds received new BuNo as part of their modification?
Riding my bike to go see the Commodore and see what their history files have to say!

 

[Griz882]

So now I have even more questions... That airframe has a BUNO of 162577, which matches your date, and is after the Block 0 series of -60Bs. But why did they put a new BUNO on it? Any idea? The normal BUNO series for H-2Fs appears to be 149xxx-152xxx.

I double-checked Google for "152577" and it says that's a -46, so I think I'm reading the "6" correctly on the tail (I went to the actual Wikipedia picture to blow it up).

There I don’t have an answer, but they are great questions. I doubt a mod would trigger a new BUNO but….

 

[ChuckMK23]

@Gatordev Here is a list of H-2 BuNo's - the timing of the actual assignments by NAVAIR would be interesting to know.

The first operational SH-2D/LAMPS helicopter embarked on the USS Belknap (CG-26) in December 1971. Eventually all but two H-2s in the Navy inventory were remanufactured into SH-2Fs, and 59 SH-2Fs were built from the ground up in the 1980s. The final production procurement of the SH-2F was in Fiscal Year 1986. The SH-2F was retired from active service in in the late 1990s. Some late-production SH-2Fs were either completed as, or have been converted to, SH-2Gs.

 

[ChuckMK23]

Here's a CNATRA PA pic published today - TW1/2 CQ Det aboard IKE for E-2 pipeline SNAs. Love the all over grey livery. T-6's are destined for this color scheme as well.

 

[Griz882]

@Gatordev Here is a list of H-2 BuNo's - the timing of the actual assignments by NAVAIR would be interesting to know.

The first operational SH-2D/LAMPS helicopter embarked on the USS Belknap (CG-26) in December 1971. Eventually all but two H-2s in the Navy inventory were remanufactured into SH-2Fs, and 59 SH-2Fs were built from the ground up in the 1980s. The final production procurement of the SH-2F was in Fiscal Year 1986. The SH-2F was retired from active service in in the late 1990s. Some late-production SH-2Fs were either completed as, or have been converted to, SH-2Gs.

View attachment 46151

I do know that the one in my photo eventually ended up with Egyptian navy.

 

[ChuckMK23]

I do know that the one in my photo eventually ended up with Egyptian navy.

Fun fact HC-6 squadron mate had a dynamic rollover mishap in a brand new SH-2G as a brand new SELRES at Willow Grove. Total 'unforced error' on his part - of course a retired out of the Reserves as an O-6. Aircraft destroyed and stricken.