CH-53D Stallion
CH-53E Super Stallion
Primary
function: Transportation of equipment and
supplies during the ship-to-shore movement of an
amphibious assault and subsequent operations
ashore.
Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft
Power plant: Two General Electric T64-GE-413
turbo-shaft engines producing 3925 shaft horsepower
each.
Length: 88 feet 6 inches (26.96 meters)
Height: 24 feet 11 inches (7.59 meters)
Rotor diameter: 72 feet 2.7 inches (22.01
meters)
Speed: 130 knots (149.5 miles per hour)
Maximum takeoff weight: 42,000 pounds (19,068
kilograms)
Range: 690 miles (600 nautical miles)
Armament: Two XM-218 .50 cal machineguns
Crew: 4 - pilot, copilot, crew chief, and 1st
mechanic/aerial gunner
Introduction date: 1966
Unit Replacement Cost: Out of production
Mission: The CH-53D Sea Stallion is designed
for the transportation of equipment, supplies and
personnel during the assault phase of an amphibious
operation and subsequent operations ashore. Capable
of both internal and external transport of supplies,
the CH-53D is shipboard compatible and capable of
operation in adverse weather conditions both day and
night. The CH-53D is now filling a role in the
Marine Corps' medium lift helicopter fleet.
Features: The twin-engine helicopter is
capable of lifting 7 tons (6.35 metric tons).
Improvements to the aircraft include an elastomeric
rotor head, external range extension fuel tanks,
crashworthy fuel cells, ARC-210 radios, integrated
global positioning system (GPS), and defensive
electronic countermeasure equipment. The helicopter
will carry 37 passengers in its normal configuration
and 55 passengers with centerline seats installed.
Background: The CH-53D is a more capable
version of the CH-53A introduced into the Marine
Corps in 1966. Used extensively both afloat and
ashore, the Sea Stallion was the heavy lift
helicopter for the Marine Corps until the
introduction of the CH-53E triple engine variant of
the H-53 family into the fleet in 1981. The CH-53D
has performed its multi-role mission lifting both
equipment and personnel in training and combat, most
recently in Operation Desert Storm, where the
helicopter performed with distinction.
Now primarily based in Hawaii, the CH-53D
augments the medium lift mission and is scheduled to
be replaced by MV-22 in the middle of this decade.
Inventory: 42
Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft
Power plant: Three General Electric T64-GE-416 turbo-shaft engines producing 4380 shaft horsepower each.
Length: 99 feet 5 inches (2.64 meters)
Height: 28 feet 4 inches (.81 meters)
Rotor diameter: 79 feet (24.07 meters)
Speed: 172.5 miles per hour (150 knots)
Maximum takeoff weight:
Internal load: 69,750 pounds (31,666 kilograms)
External load: 73,500 pounds (33,369 kilograms)
Range:
without refueling: 621 miles (540 nautical miles)
with aerial refueling: indefinite
Armament: Two XM-218 .50 caliber machineguns.
Crew: 4 - pilot, copilot, crew chief, and 1st mechanic/aerial gunner
Introduction date: June 1981
Unit Replacement Cost: $40,000,000
Mission: As the Marine Corps' heavy lift helicopter designed for the transportation of material and supplies, the CH-53E is compatible with most amphibious class ships and is carried routinely aboard LHA (Landing, Helicopter, Assault: an amphibious assault ship) and LHD (Landing, Helicopter, Dock: an amphibious assault ship) type ships. The helicopter is capable of lifting 16 tons (14.5 metric tons) at sea level, transporting the load 50 nautical miles (57.5 miles) and returning. A typical load would be a 16,000 pound (7264 kilogram) M198 howitzer or a 26,000 pound (11,804 kilogram) Light Armored Vehicle. The aircraft also can retrieve downed aircraft including another CH-53E. The 53E is equipped with a refueling probe and can be refueled in flight giving the helicopter indefinite range.
Features: The CH-53E is a follow-on for its predecessor, the CH-53D. Improvements include the addition of a third engine to give the aircraft the ability to lift the majority of the Fleet Marine Force's equipment, a dual point cargo hook system, improved main rotor blades, and composite tail rotor blades. A dual digital automatic flight control system and engine anti-ice system give the aircraft an all-weather capability. The helicopter seats 37 passengers in its normal configuration and has provisions to carry 55 passengers with centerline seats installed. It can carry external loads at increased airspeeds due to the stability achieved with the dual point system. Precision navigation is provided by an integrated global positioning system (GPS) and augmented by the Helicopter Night Vision System (HNVS) Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) sensor.
Background: With four and one half hours' endurance, the CH-53E Super Stallion can mass combat power at long distances over rugged terrain, day or night. The Super Stallion has established itself as the prime workhorse of the Marine Corps’ forward deployed units and has become a critical pillar in the expeditionary logistics capability for the future. Derived from an engineering change proposal to the twin-engine CH-53D helicopter, the CH-53E has consistently proven its worth to the Fleet commanders with its versatility and range. During Operation Eastern Exit two CH-53Es launched from amphibious ships and flew 463 nautical miles (532.45 miles) at night, refueling twice enroute, to rescue American and foreign allies from the American Embassy in the civil war-torn capital of Mogadishu, Somalia in January of 1990. Two CH-53Es rescued Air Force Capt. Scott O'Grady in Bosnia in June 1995, and the aircraft has been involved in multiple non-combatant evacuation operations (NEOs) in such places as Albania and Liberia, as well as humanitarian relief operations in Turkey and East Timor.
Inventory: 165