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Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave

1956 COLD WAR VIETNAM WAR

Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave History

The Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave was an early heavy helicopter that served in the U.S. Army from 1956 to the late 1960s. The first flight took place in 1953, when the Korean War (1950-1953) was coming to an end, culminating in Sikorsky Aircraft building 154 aircraft.

The Mojave is also known as "Duce", "Cross-Eye" and "Cross-Eyed Monster" due to its generally accepted ugly appearance.

The experience of World War II has shown that large quantities of ready infantry and cargo need to be transported to forward combat positions, and this is accomplished during conflicts using aircraft, half-tracks and trucks. Until helicopter technology finally allows the armed forces to move people and machines across all types of terrain and land them in otherwise restricted areas. The concept sparked the idea of ??supplying rotary-wing heavy-duty trucks to military services around the world, which made the Sikorsky aircraft - once best known for its contributions to fixed-wing aircraft - eventually becoming a helicopter powerhouse.

Mojave became one of his many products in the industry.

The company developed its H-37 variant as the S-56 and sold the USMC on a large cargo ship in 1951. The helicopter has a rather unattractive shape, with its bulbous nose, but it is capable of carrying up to 26 infantrymen, 24 medical sedans or cargo (including light commercial vehicles) in a long, deep cargo compartment, providing required utility functions. Helicopter package. Cargo space is accessed through a clamshell door located below the cockpit floor, and space is maximized by mounting the engine in the cabin on either side of the fuselage. The four-blade main rotor mast is located above the main body of the fuselage, and the drive shaft extends through the tail to the four-blade tail rotor mounted on the port side.

The tail also includes a vertical tail covered by horizontal stabilizers. The landing gear was partially retractable, with the main legs retracted into the bottom of the nacelle, although the tail wheel remained fixed in flight.

Three standard operators, including two pilots and a loading supervisor. Dimensions include 64 feet, 3 inches overall length, 22 feet height, and 72 feet rotor diameter. Empty weight reaches 20,830 pounds, and maximum takeoff weight approaches 31,000 pounds.

The Mojave range is powered by 2 Pratt & Whitney R-2800-54 Double Wasp radial piston engines, 2,100 hp each. Top speed hits 130 mph, while cruising speeds are typically in the 115 mph range. The operational range is 145 miles and the listed service is capped at 8,700 feet.

The rate of climb is usefully 910 feet per minute.

The prototypes became "XHR2S-1", four of which completed USMC evaluation. They were powered by two 1,900-horsepower R-2800-54 series engines, and after completing the necessary trials, the prototype entered service with the US Marine Corps under the designation "HR2S-1". These differed from prototype form by a redesigned engine nacelle and main landing gear struts with twin wheels for increased grip.

The vertical tail has also undergone some modifications. U.S. Marine Corps acquisitions ended at 55.

One HR2S-1 was subsequently modified as "YH-37" for US Army trials and eventually accepted under the final designation "H-37". A total of 94 of these helicopters were procured, and the first model was designated "H-37A". The Army version differs from the USMC mounts on the main rotor hub and vertical tail.

Ninety of these original A models were upgraded to the "H-37B" standard with new cargo doors, reinforced fuel storage and automatic stabilization systems.

The U.S. Navy has adopted helicopters in the Airborne Early Warning (AEW) role in only two examples, naming them "HR2S-1W".

After the 1962 U.S. military aircraft name revision, the Army's H-37A became "CH-37A", the H-37B became "CH-37B", and the U.S. Marine Corps' HR2S-1 became "CH-37B" CH-37C". ".

The HR2S-1 was first delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps and Army in mid-1956, during which time the U.S. military saw commitment to operations related to the Vietnam War (1955-1975). Mojave is brought to theaters in limited quantities, primarily for equipment recycling. Crews are regularly dispatched to recover downed aircraft on enemy territory, while other tasks include transfers from artillery to fuel and personnel delivery. The CH-37 was used in conjunction with another heavy transport - the bulky looking CH-54 "Flying Crane" - to replace the CH-37 during the war.

The US Marine Corps selected the CH-53 "Sea Stallion" as its official replacement for the Mojave. The Sea Stallion was introduced in 1966.

By the end of the century, Mojaves were nearly all on the front lines. They also didn't see an exit because they proved to be limited in design - bulky, heavy, procuring and operating in large numbers and expensive.

Additionally, when the trend towards more powerful turboshaft engine designs was evident, the machine relied on a piston-driven engine arrangement.