SAR Work and More Combat
After Vietnam, the Sea Knights were busy flying transport and replenishing hops. Many HH-46As and later HH-46Ds wore international orange accents as the primary base search and rescue helos at Naval Air Stations (NASs) and Marine Corps Air Stations (MCASs) around the world. Several examples were flown out of NAS Pensacola in the Florida panhandle, supporting the various training commands housed at the sprawling complex.
In 1983, when Operation Urgent Fury kicked off in Grenada, USMC Phrogs flew the 8th Marine Regiment to the island and did whatever work came up next. They rescued a downed helicopter crew, evacuated med school students, and moved Army Rangers and Force Recon Marines around the embattled tropical island. All in a day’s work for the Leatherneck Phrogs.
Another War and More Improvements
The Marines used their CH-46Es during Operation Iraqi Freedom as well. On 1 April 2003, USMC CH-46E Sea Knights and CH-53E Super Stallions carried Special Operations troops and Army Rangers on their mission to extract captured US Army Private Jessica Lynch from an Iraqi hospital.
During the occupation of Iraq and the counter-insurgency operations that followed, CH-46Es were utilized for the casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) role. CASEVASC-tasked helos are required to maintain 100% availability regardless of conditions, which tasked the by-then aging Phrogs hard. The USMC decided to improve the anti-missile countermeasures of their Phrogs after seeing losses reach unacceptable levels by adding chaff and flare dispensers and infrared (IR) detection and suppression equipment.
Like Keeping an Old Ford Pickup Running
Even though no new CH-46s were built after 1971, the Sea Knights fleet continually improved and upgraded as they soldiered on. Many of the CH-46F variants received glass cockpits, stronger drive trains, fiberglass rotor blades, electrical and hydraulic system improvements, and further uprated T-58 engines. Changes to the fuel systems and the seating improved crashworthiness and survivability.
A third .50 caliber machine gun mount was installed in the aft fuselage to add more firepower. When avionics were upgraded, the CH-46E (yes…not G…E) became an all-weather, day/night helicopter. Upgrades continued through the 1980s and into the 1990s. The original heavier armor was replaced by lightweight protection, and the motors were upgraded again, simplifying maintenance. Ironically, by the time it was finally time to retire the Phrogs, they were the best rotorcraft they had ever been.
Passing the Torch and Bowing Out
Navy Sea Knights were replaced by new technology in the form of the Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk. The Navy retirement party for the CH-46 took place on 24 September 2004. The Marines continued to operate their Phrogs while the Bell-Boeing MV-22 Ospreys were being sorted out and coming online.
Between 2006 and 2014, MV-22s steadily and inevitably replaced Marine CH-46s until the last operational ceremonial USMC Sea Knight flight at MCAS Miramar on 5 October 2014. The CH-46 Sea Knight was retired from operational use by Marine Medium Helicopter Training Squadron 164 (HMMT-164) on 9 April 2015.
The USMC officially retired the Phrog on 1 August 2015 during a ceremony at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center. At the time this article was written, 102 phrogs were in storage at AMARG.
The International Phrog
A civilian/commercial version of the 107 (the 107-II) went into service with New York Airways in 1962. Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan obtained 107 manufacturing rights in 1965 and dubbed their version the KV107. They are still building the KV107.
Current and former military operators of the CH-46 series include Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Thailand, and the United States. Current and former civil operators of the 107 include Canada’s Helifor as well as Columbia Helicopters, New York Airways, Pan American Helicopters, and the Department of State in the United States.
Five Things You Might Not Know About the Sea Knight:
Dilbert Dunkers Were Built for the Phrog
The “Dilbert Dunker” has been featured in movies such as Officer and a Gentleman (1982), but a second dunker is waiting for aircrew and selected trainees at several NAS and MCAS locations, which is in some ways more challenging to negotiate.
The “Helo Dunker” is built to simulate a helicopter crash at sea. In operation, it is dropped into a pool and then rotates to mimic the weight of the helicopter’s engines, turning the fuselage inverted as it sinks. Students are required to process several tasks before egressing the trainer, along with several other students, who are dunked simultaneously.
The first couple of dunks are tough enough…but when they blindfold everybody (to simulate a night crash) it gets real interesting! Oh, and they didn’t give us “egress bottles” back in the day either.
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Movie Stars
Phrogs have been featured in several movies over the years. In the James Bond film You Only Live Twice (1967), a KV-107 lifts a pesky S.P.E.C.T.R.E. car chasing our hero Bond and drops it into a conveniently placed body of hard-as-concrete-from-that-height water. In Under Siege (1992), the bad guys get aboard the battleship Missouri via a Sea Knight. Also, in Battle: Los Angeles (2011), Rules of Engagement (2000), and Heartbreak Ridge (1986), the Marine Phrogs play supporting roles as well.
So Long Saigon
Marine CH-46s carried the last Marines off the United States Embassy rooftop in Saigon on 30 April 1975.
Fitting End
The Marine Helicopter Squadron (HMM-164) that took the first Sea Knights into combat in Vietnam also retired the Sea Knight 51 years later.
The Trusty CH-46 Sea Knight
The popular military aviation saying “never trust a helicopter under 30” was attributed to the Marines who flew Phrogs…not a single one of which was a day under 40 when they began to be replaced by the complicated and expensive MV-22.
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Good article, it makes me long for the old days.
CH-46 Crew Chief/HMM-264/’80-’84
It’s about time somebody did a story on our beloved, forgiving, capable and indispensable Phroggy! Another thing you may not have guessed: whether on instruments or doing precision hover work; she was a very stable platform to fly.
-USMC / DOS Phrog Pilot 2005-2012
This article failed to mention the CH-46F, which was the last production model of the H-46 (174 built), improvements to the electrical distribution, com/nav update BUNO 154845-157726. Also the CH-46E were update -A, -D, and -F airframes were updated to CH-46E (275) standards with improved avionics, hydraulics, drive train and upgraded T58-GE-16 and T58-GE-16/A engines.
Great Article. I have over 1000 hours in the HH-46A’s. Crew Chief Cherry Point Search and Rescue 78-81
SAR Swimmer 81
I’m glad to be part of a proud and elite group of people that got to fly, crew and maintain this helicopter in the Marine Corps.
This almost brought tears to my eyes, I spent 16 of my 23 years as a Navy Phrog SAR Crewchief! Just the sound of the video brought back amazing memories! To my fellow 46 warriors and to those we lost at sea and over land, may the legacy live in us who worn the proud pins of hours airborne in Gods HELO!!
Mike was right behind you. SAR school 12/79 with at HSL-31 in San Diego. Went to HC-3 in 1980. Phorg Flyer till 1998. Finished in 1998 at HC-8
Rich, I flew in very few (1) H-46F’s while I was at the NARF North Island from 1983 to 1986. Not sure if they had moved on or what. I was one of the lead test Crew Chiefs at that time. I can tell you a lot about SRM upgrades from back then..
The USN actually took delivery on the first 2 UH-46As on 6 Jul 64; bunos 150965/150966, numbers 26&27 built.
HC-1, having attended FIP (Fleet Intro Program), at Vertol, ferried them to NAAS Ream Field, Imperial Beach, CA.
There they were operated under a special NAVAIR clearance, lacking several critical modifications, in order to begin training and development of vertrep cargo handling equipment. The time crunch involved the imminent deployment of the new replenishment classes of ships, not even yet knowing of the conflict in the immediate future. In early Oct, a VERTOL/NAVAIR team installed 18 mods/changes in each aircraft, using the ferry squadron hangar at NAS North Island.
HC-1 Det 47, with these 2 ’46s, deployed from Long Beach embarked in USS Sacramento AOE- 1, 27 Nov 64.
Crossdecked to USS Mars AFS-1, in Sasebo, cruised to Yokosuka/Atsugi arriving just before Christmas, for a long period of H-46 accomplishments!
My book shows that 625 H-46s were built, with buno 157726 being the last.