The Navy's SH-2G Seasprite, What should we do with them?

[Brendan Cowan]

Hi Folks,

The Seasprite saga hasn't been much fun for the RAN.

Still, I though that we could take a more light hearted straw poll on what they could do next!

So strap on your best Navy whites, top it off with some gold braid and be the Admiral!

Over to you!


Brendan C

[Dave Masterson]

Well here's my 10cents worth. We ordered these aircraft in 1997. 10 years and $1 billion dollars later, not one of them is operational. What can they be used for? Who knows,certainly doesn't appear to be what they are allegedly designed for. We should have spent the money on more Seahawks. The Americans tried to give the Seasprites to Turkey,Greece and Thailand as part of their aid programme,but guess what, they didn't want them and turned the offer down.

I think we should just sell them off for what we can get and put the money into upgraded Seahawks. Having said this I can't see that happening as we have spent to much money on them and it may be even more folly to sell them after spending so much.

So where do we go from here? An expensive general hack aircraft ferrying small amounts of equipment from ship to shore..or an expensive Museum piece. Time will tell.

P.S and I voted on the poll! ;)

[Warhawk]

That was what I was talking about,..Penguin on SH60s, or in this case a Penguin on a S70C!!!!! RAN that is:on N24-004 some time ago.


http://motty.hobbyvista.com/Helicopters/Motty's-N24-004-02-01.jpg

:o why the Seasprite?, we could save on crews and be multiskilled,..gawd sounds like how it is at work, more to do with less!! :huh:

[Demon50]

If any serving RAN members are reading this, I hope you can answer some questions.

If the Seahawk can carry the Penguin missile and if the Seahawk can be embarked on Anzac frigates, why did we purchase the Seasprite ?

[Demon50]

A bit more research and answers to questions posed on other boards and elsewhere disclose that :

1). RAN S70B Seahawks can be carried on the ANZACs and are regularly deployed to the Middle East.

2). USN SH60Bs have been cleared to fire the Penguin which is the USN's only operational helicopter-launched missile. It has a range of 35kms, more than double that of the RN's Sea Skua.

Given the above, should the RAN have purchased the already proven SH60B/Penguin combination rather than go for the Seasprite ? Apparently other Navies also use the SH60B/Penguin combination.

It just seems so logical to me but perhaps I have missed something important along the way.

[Dave Masterson]

I don't think you have missed anything. Maybe they have missed out on the "Issue 1 of-Common Sense" ;)

[Dean]

Gee, there are just too many good options to choose from. My first suggestion would have been to use them a new heavy duty anchors for the Anzacs.

Personally, why flush more money down the gurgler when we've already put some much money into them already. Lets cut our losses and use them for joy rides on open days at Nowra.

[jeep1943]

Does anyone know what they did with the Seapsprite fuselage that was at RAAF Wagga until a couple of years ago? Apparently it was in an appaling condition and was no good for training the Birdies.

[Dave Masterson]

Just received this email from Darryl Gibbs of the CNAPG. A great source of information as usual.




Hi Dave.

Sorry for the delay. I had trouble finding my info on
it.

It was Bu. No. 151316 (construction number 153) which
was a stripped out fueselage which was sent here as a
training aid, however, it was not realy suitable for
use on any of the subjects currently taught here and
it was taken away. I was told it went to Nowra, but
have not confirmed that it is still there.

The aircraft was built in 1973 and was accepted by the
USN on 13 Jul 73.

It was shipped from Baltimore to Sydney by Wallenius
Wilhelmsen Lines on the Taiko. Unfortunately, I am
unsure of the date, but if it is any help, the booking
number was USNTD86821.

I hope that this has been some help.

I will send you a few photo's too, but I will put them
in another e-mail soon.

[Warhawk]

It may not be over yet!!

Kaman believes they have pinned the cause of the sensor anomaly and plans to replace the entire lot.

Kaman anticipates the final acceptance of the Seasprites will occur following the resolution of this anomaly and completion of final flight acceptance testing. So it seems that switching and updating a few components will rectify this problem.

See the Boffins have been at work afterall. "Maybe"

I think that it has something to do with the company's very survival now.

That Australian? Company I stated, in err, CSC has been involved and have stated that "it will be fixed and accepted"

One word says it all "Bravo"

Hale to the birdies :ph34r: , 11 more on their way.


Basically they were ordered for the 1200-1500tonne Off Shore Patrol Vessels that were mooted, and were to be followed by another 7 airframes, which I might add, were identified and nico penned "RAN" in the USA.

HiLo mix with SeaHawks, but alas, it didn't happen. SeaHawks were to be upgraded with a dunking Active Sonar.

But that wasn't to be.

:blink:

[darren.crick]

what is the cost comparison betwen the seahawk and seasprite to purchase?