This definitive mcm mine countermeasures version has enormously enlarged side sponsons for an extra 3785 liters of fuel, for extended sweeping missions with the engines at sustained high power. The japanese maritime self defense force retired the sikorsky mh53e sea dragon. Aviation collectibles, military patches and insignia from. Academy 148 scale model kit 148 mh53e sea dragon 12703. A crew member on board an mh53e sea dragon helicopter straps down pallets of bottled water before departing the aircraft carrier uss carl vinson cvn 70 in the caribbean sea jan. Two years after academy released their excellent 148th scale kit of the ch53e, they finally came out with the mh53e.
The mh53e can operate from carriers and other warships, and is capable of towing a variety of mine huntingsweeping countermeasures systems, including the mk 105 minesweeping sled, the asq14 sidescan sonar, and the mk 103 mechanical minesweeping. Italeri mh53e sea dragon ita551065 mh53e sea dragon assemble the mh53e sea dragon with this 1. Hh60 seahawk uss enterprise cvn65 sh60f seahawk hs5 sh60h seahawk delivers seal team to uss hampton ssn767 sh60b seahawk hsl47 uss antietam cg54 photo po2 swartz usn. The sea dragon was a potent addition to the navys mine countermeasures arsenal. The ch53e super stallion and mh53e sea dragon can carry 16 tons of supplies, cargo, vehicles, artillery, and troops for 50 nautical miles. Sea dragons are used primarily for airborne mine countermeasures amcm, with secondary missions of vertical shipboard delivery and assault support. A variant of the ch53 sea stallion, the mh53e is heavier and has a greater fuel capacity than its. Watch this giant mh53e sea dragon execute a quick stop. Ch53 sea stallion mh53e sea dragon mh53j pave low iii. Used extensively both afloat and ashore, the sea stallion was the heavy lift helicopter for the marine corps until the introduction of the ch53e. The mh53e is used primarity for airborne mine countermeasures amcm,with a secondary job of shipboard delivery. Media in category mh 53e sea dragon interiors the following 55 files are in this category, out of 55 total.
Nicknamed the vanguard and flying the mh53e sea dragon, it comprises both active duty and reserve personnel. Theres still a lot of stuff in a very large box, but the only difference is one sprue and the two cartograf decal sheets. The newest militaly version of sikorskys h53es80 series,the mh53e sea dragon,is the western worlds largest helicopter. Page 5 of 7 naval air squadrons rotary h helicopter squadrons posted in garth thompson navy, coast guard and other sea services patches. The navys mh53e sea dragon, along with their marine ch53e super stallion cousins, are the largest and most powerful helicopters in the pentagons inventory. Hm12 took delivery of its first mh53e sea dragon helicopter on may 28, 1987. Cpi aerostructures announces mh53e sea dragon component mro contract from sikorsky aircraft. The mh53e sea dragon is heavier and has a greater fuel capacity than its ancestor, the ch53e super stallion. This photo on the wall in the familys home shows wes flying a sea dragon.
Captain todd flannery says the mh53e sea dragon helicopter is safe and that its mission is vital. Burdick said the parts included two mh53e sea dragon airframes, two sets of tow booms and ramp boxes, and 12 engines, all to be supplied by japans maritime selfdefense force. And, with airtoair refueling, h53e series helicopters have unlimited range. The newest military version of sikorskys h53es80 series, the mh53e sea dragon, is the western worlds largest helicopter. Mh53s can operate from carriers and other warships. Corresponding descriptions appear below from top to bottom. Technologically superior to its predecessor, the mh53e represented a quantum leap forward for the amcm community. The sea dragon is capable of carrying up to 55 troops or a 16ton payload 50 nautical miles or a 10ton payload 500 nautical miles. Militarys most powerful helicopters keep killing troops in. Navy mh53e sea dragon helicopter from helicopter mine countermeasures squadron hm 15, detachment 2 refuels during humanitarian relief efforts in khyberpakhtunkhwa province, pakistan, aug. New unused 4 patch for the sikorsky mh53e super sea stallion. Mh53e patch sea dragon large quantity discounts available, please call.
Sikorsky s80 mh53 sea dragon minesweeping helicopter. Discontinued sikorsky mh53e super sea stallion patches appear from left to right above. Helicopter mine countermeasures squadron 14 hm14 is a united states navy helicopter squadron based at naval station norfolk, virginia. Lot of 34 us military sew on patches army usaf patch lot. Navy rotary wing aircraft images united states sea. I bought this book as a resource for superdetailing a plastic model assembly kit of the sea dragon helicopter. An mh53e sea dragon helicopter assigned to helicopter mine countermeasures squadron 15, maneuvers in position during a training mission in the u. Some really terrific and rarely seen helo patches for all see and covet for their own collections. Details about mh53e h53 sea dragon stallion us navy usmc sikorsky helicopter squadron patch. Hm12 sea dragons helicopter mine countermeasures squadron.
The less common mh53e sea dragon fills the united states navys need for long range minesweeping or airborne mine countermeasures amcm missions. But, they can also pick up the slack for seahawks when it comes to other roles such as assault support. It is equipped with the 8,000 pound analq166 minesweeping sled, the. Mh53e sea dragon hm15 during aerial refueling by an usmc kcj hercules of vmgr252 june 2017 mh53e sea dragon hm15 manama, bahrain may 2017 mh53e sea dragon hm15.
J wesley van dorn, was killed in a mh53e sea dragon helicopter crash in january of 2014. Sea dragons can deliver up to 55 personnel to a landing zone or carry. Identifiable by their extra large composite construction sponsons which house extra fuel, the mh53es tow a hydrofoil sledge carrying mechanical, acoustic and magnetic sensors for mine detection. Helicopter sikorsky mh53e sea dragon serial 65555 register 163057 used by us navy united states naval aviation. In addition to the base wedo set 158 pieces, there are designs that use the wedo resource set 325 additional pieces. Hm14 mh53e sea dragon briefing stick ch53 helicopter. Fly with the sea dragons of mh53e in this hand crafted mh53 model. In addition, new amcm equipment is currently in various stages of development.
The sikorsky mh53 is a variant of the ch53 except for a few particulars such as fuels and. This is the desert version of the sea dragon mh53e helicopter patch. Italeri mh53e sea dragon plastic model helicopter kit 1. The first prototype mh53e made its initial flight on 23 december 1981 and around 44 remained in service. Navys primary aerial mine countermeasures aircraft. Academy 12703 148 sikorsky mh53e sea dragon kit first look. The sikorsky ch53e super stallion is a heavylift helicopter operated by the united states military. Navy sikorsky helicopter mh53e sea dragon military clothback patch this usn u. Navy sikorsky helicopter mh53e sea dragon military clothback patch is a very rare detailed historic military reference item. The navy defends the mh53e sea dragon helicopter 02. Each piece is carefully carved from wood and hand painted.
As the sikorsky s80 it was developed from the ch53 sea stallion, mainly by adding a third engine, adding a seventh blade to the main rotor and canting the tail rotor 20 degrees. Hm12 sea dragon mh53e model squadron nostalgia llc. Hm15 blackhawks helicopter mine countermeasures squadron. Sea dragons are used primarily for airborne mine countermeasures amcm, with secondary missions of vertical shipboard delivery and. Navys mh53e sea dragon is very similar to the ch53e but comes with additional capabilities for airborne mine countermeasures amcm, vertical onboard delivery, and special missions which require longer range and more precise navigation than that of the ch53e. The type has gone through a turbulent patch in recent years but a.
The mh53e helicopter is capable of using a variety of amcm equipment. The sikorsky mh53 is a variant of the ch53 except for a few particulars such as fuels and weights. It also has upgraded adverse weather avionics allowing it to operate in the worst of conditions. Ch53 sea stallion mh53e sea dragon mh53j pave low iii the ch53d sea stallion is designed for the transportation of equipment, supplies and personnel during the assault phase of an amphibious operation and subsequent operations ashore. It is the sister squadron to hm15, the blackhawks, based at naval station norfolk. Mh53e h53 sea dragon stallion us navy usmc sikorsky. Apr 17, 2016 united states navyhelicopter combat support squadron hc4 black stallions naval station sigonella, sicily. The mh53e sea dragon mine countermeasures helicopter was developed for the us navy to replace rh53ds. Marines use a ch53e super stallion to lift a humvee during an exercise. This is the first time this aircraft has been rendered in 148 scale and like its ch53 brother, it is quite an impressive model. Another replica, a real marvel, the mh53e sea dragon helicopter from sikorsky. Originally requested by the us navy as their main airborne mine countermeasures amcm helicopter but also used in the most.