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Helicopters - CH-124 Sea King
About the Helicopter
The mission of the Sea King helicopter is to enhance a ship’s operation capabilities. With the helicopter’s suite of radar, FLIR, and acoustic processors the helicopter is employed beyond the ship’s own sensor horizon and is able to detect and report surface and sub-surface contact.
Speed: 222 km/h
Endurance: 3h 45m or 616 km at 125-167 km/h
Complement: 2 pilots, 1 navigator, 1 airborne electronic sensor operator.
Range: 740 km
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Cargo & Sonar Equipment Area
The role of the Sea King demands a versatile cargo area. This space provides room for search and rescue equipment such as the stoles litter, may be configured to hold up to six passengers, and provides storage space for a vast amount of supplies including sonobuoys, smoke markers and an emergency inflatable life raft.
Crew Stations (facing right)
The Sea King crew stations have two configurations: The CH124A Sea King crew station is outfitted for a tactical coordinator (Tacco) and an airborne electronic sensor operator (AESOp). The CH124B Sea King crew station is configured for a Tacco and an acoustic sensor operator (Senso).
Cockpit
The Sea King flight environment is extremely challenging, requiring the skill of two pilots to fly the aircraft safely. For example, many missions require that the aircraft captain and co-pilot keep the helicopter flying at 150 feet or below, in even the most adverse weather conditions, day or night.
Armaments and Countermeasures
7.62mm Light Machine Gun
The 7.62mm light machine gun was added as a self-protection measure for Sea Kings deployed during the Gulf War. Not all Sea Kings were retrofitted with this feature.
Mark 46 Torpedo
The Mark 46 torpedo weighs over five hundred pounds and is used as the primary stand-off weapon against the sub-surface threat. This torpedo, complemented by the Sea King’s underwater tracking capability, provides the deterrence necessary to keep enemy submarines away from the fleet.
Sensors
Sonobuoy Launchers
These launchers can be pre-armed with sonobuoys or smoke markers from inside the cabin, whereby the pilots or tactical coordinator can release them whenever required without leaving their respective seats/work station. This avoids the need for a crew member to walk back to the rear of the cabin each time a sonobuoy or smoke marker needs to be released, allowing the crew to remain focused on their task and more effective at their mission.
Air / Surface Search Radar
The Sea King radar serves in a variety of roles, including: surveillance; reconnaissance; tracking; search and rescue; air avoidance; tactical ASW; radar hold down; targeting; and weather monitoring.
Dipping Sonar (CH-124A)
The dipping sonar is used to actively locate underwater contacts. Able to lower the ‘ball’ down to 400 feet, the sonar operator can search for and locate underwater contacts. Through further analysis, these contacts are assigned various designations such as “prob sub low” or “cert sub”.
InfraRed Sensor
Infrared Sensor
Forward-Looking Infrared Sensor
This camera provides infrared images to the crew and is used primarily during night-time for contact classification or identification, search and rescue, and general surveillance. It also serves as a good back-up instrument during night-time approaches to the ship.
Special Equipment
Emergency Locator Beacon
This self-contained beacon will eject from its mount and automatically begin to transmit an emergency distress signal if the helicopter crashes. The beacon will remain afloat and transmitting, even if the helicopter sinks after ditching in the ocean.
Electric Cable Winch
This winch has been recently updated to allow for safer and more effective operations. Its primary role is to hoist up to two people at a time during search and rescue missions or pax transfers. It is also used to transfer small loads, such as mailbags, between the helicopter and various surface vessels.
Class Data
Overview
The mission of the Sea King helicopter is to enhance a ship’s operation capabilities. With the helicopter’s suite of radar, FLIR, and acoustic processors the helicopter is employed beyond the ship’s own sensor horizon and is able to detect and report surface and sub-surface contact.
Procured between 1963 and 1969.
Vital Roles
The Maritime Helicopter is an integral ship's weapon system. The MH significantly contributes to the navy's combat effectiveness by extending a ship or Task Group (TG) surveillance and weapon engagement zone in the areas of Above Water Warfare and Under Water Warfare. In today's operational environment, the accuracy, lethality, and range of modern weaponry favour the naval force that first detects its adversary, launches an effective strike, and counters incoming weapons. To this end, navies employ a defence-in-depth doctrine, by layering detection and prosecution assets. The MH is an essential component of this doctrinal concept through its ability to extend both a ship's and TG's surveillance zone, forward defences, and offensive weapon engagement zone. Other vital roles include search and rescue, surface surveillance, helicopter delivery service (HDS), and troop transport.
Anti-Submarine Weapon of Choice
The Sea King is most notably recognized for its 'active dipping sonar'. This sonar is optimized for the localization of Diesel/Electric submarines in shallow or littoral waters, which provide ideal havens for submarines to lurk undetected. Since submarines are evolving as the naval weapon of choice for a number of potentially belligerent or unstable countries around the world, the active dipping sonar is an essential capability required by the CF in order to support Canada's defence missions.
The CH-124 Sea King significantly contributes to the navy’s combat effectiveness by extending a ship or Task Group (TG) surveillance and weapon engagement zone in the area of Above Water Warfare and Under Water Warfare.
Home Bases
The CH-124 Sea King significantly contributes to the navy's combat effectiveness by extending a ship or Task Group (TG) surveillance and weapon engagement zone in the areas of Above Water Warfare and Under Water Warfare.
The Specs
Type: Shipboard Anti-Submarine Warfare Helicopter
Weight: 9,318 kg (Max TOW)
Length: 5 metres
Width: 5 metres
Height: 5 metres
Engines: Turboshaft: Two 1,350 Shaft Horsepower General Electric T-58-GE-8F turboshafts or 1500 Shaft Horsepower General Electric T-58-100 turboshaft
*Fleet-wide engine upgrade.
Primary navigation (left column)
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