JA Boomer

All good points, I appreciate your responses, you've officially convinced me that the SH tanker is a very capable tanker platform.

Ya, I guess one of the reasons I have always considered the Viking a great refueling plane is that I just love the plane. A great multi role airframe, with anti-submarine, anti-surface, attack, surveillance, and tanking all on its resume. And all of that off of the decks of aircraft carriers. I will be sad to see it leave, I believe it's already gone from the Pacific fleet squadrons. It leaves the carriers with only Sea Hawks for anti-submarine protection, which I find a little sketchy. Although I believe the Viking has not performed the anti-submarine role for years.

wabpilot

Originally the SH-60B had sonobouys and MAD only. Thus, the Bravo was used for outer ring ASW. Being based on Frigates and Destroyers/ Wth towed array sonars, outer ring was the need. When it came time to replace the SH-3 aboard the carriers, a dunking sonar was needed. The Ocean Hawk, SH-60F, served that need quite well. Now, as the ASW threat has changed, so has the Sea Hawk. The Romeo versions are remanufactured Bravos. They operate with a dunking sonar as well. This is critical in seeking out the quiet diesel-electric submarines that are likely to be encountered. Only Russia and China among our potential adversaries operate a few nuke boats and those very rarely. Conversely, many nations, likley to be adversaries, operate D/E subs. Those boats tend to be short ranged and of limited speed and endurance. Thus, a relatively slow SH-60 is more than adequate to deal with them. However, a dunking sonar is a necessity. The Foxtrots, Romeos and their follow ons, the MH-60s have just that.

JA Boomer

Yes, I am familiar with the Seahawk models. The Romeo seems to be a very capable aircraft. And it make sense to have this model stationed both on the surface ships and the carriers. It would seem to be able to handle a variety of missions, with a great avoinics/sensor/weapons package. Can't wait for it to join the fleet.

I have read some sources that state that the MH-60R does not have a MAD system as was deployed on both the Bravo and Foxtrot models. I found this strange as it would seem to be an important tool in the anti-submarine business. But all of the photos I looked up on the MH-60R seem to have the MAD system installed (it IS the round disk located on the underside on the helicopter, towards the front right under the cockpit correct?) I assume the photos are correct and the Romeos have the MAD system.

I think the Navy is doing a great job with its helicopter fleet, replacing the SH-60B and SH-60F with one airframe, and the HH-60's on the carriers, the SH-3 SAR birds and the Sea Knights in the VREP role with the MH-60S. Not only reducing the number of types used but also getting everything they can from a great machine which is the Seahawk.

Isn't it the Foxtrot that has the dipping sonar, and the follow on would be be MH-60R which also has the system?

Silent Hunter

Hang on, are we talking about Russian submarines or American helicopters?

JA Boomer

Haha, I didn't even think about it like that until you metioned it. The last few posts have been discussing the United States Navy's helicopters, specifically the Seahawk. There are several different models of the Seahawk, such as the SH-60B, SH-60F, HH-60, MH-60S, and MH-60R. One easy way to refer to the different models is by the phonetic alphebet letter in their designation. Thus when refering to the SH-60F (carrier deployed anti-submarine helicopter) a short-from would be Foxtrot. When refering to the MH-60R (new anti-submarine/anti-surface helicopter) the short-form would be Romeo.

I can see the confusion with the Soviet/Russian submarine classes as they are all code-named after the same phonetic alphebet.

wabpilot

I think my post was confusing. The MH-60R is the new build aircraft, the rebuilt SH-60Bs I referred to as Romeos incorrectly. SH-60R is a very unofficial reference from around the NADEP. I think the SH-60B rebuilds are still considered SH-60Bs by officialdom. Sorry for the confusion.

JA Boomer

I see. If the information I have read is correct, then only 9 airframes will be SH-60R (2 prototypes, 4 test birds, and 3 LRIP airframes). The rest of the project is to be totally new manufactured MH-60R (243 airframes). Is this correct? If so, basically all the fleet squadrons will be using the MH-60R, and the few SH-60R's will probably be retired or given to testing squadrons?

wabpilot

There are more than 9 rebuilt B models. But, I think the plan is for the new build aircraft from Sikorsky to replace the current fleet.

JA Boomer

So, were the rebuilt SH-60B Seahawks called SH-60Bs or SH-60Rs? When they rebuilt them, was it just to operate on the surface ships as an upgrade, or did they add a dipper sonar so they could operate on either surface ships or carriers?

wabpilot

The Bravo rebuild program was progressive in nature. Some got more new gear than others. Like I said, around the NADEP, the rebuilds were called Romeos, officialdom had other ideas.