Kaman Seasprite
1958 · Twin-engine turbine helicopter
Seasprite was originally conceived as a small-ships, single engined combat search and rescue airframe for the US Navy. The prototype first flew on 2 Jul 1959. 184 UH-2A/B were built between 1961 and 1963. Between 1967 and 1970 most were upgraded to UH-2C or HH-2C by retrofit of twin 1250 SHP T58-GE-8B turboshaft engines. Further modifications to LAMPS-1 standard in 1973 for some airframes. Upgrades to ASW equipped SH-3D for further airframes. Production restarted in 1981 in response to President Reagans 600 ship fleet inititative and the delay to the SH-60B Seahawk, with more powerful (1350 SHP) T58-GE-8F twin engines and the Kaman 101 rotor system which became the SH-2F. All remaining US Navy -C models have been upgraded to -F.
Plans announced in 1985 to provide an improved version of the Kaman SH-2 Seasprite, mainly for the us export market (initially for south korea and taiwan). By 2001, airframes were in use in Australia, Egypt, New Zealand and Poland.
The SH-2G Super Seasprite has improved twin GE T700-GE-401 turboshaft engines.
The SH-2G Super Seasprite has improved twin GE T700-GE-401 turboshaft engines.
Specifications
| Engine | 1 x General Electric T58 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 3 |
| Length (m) | 15.9 |
| Height (m) | 4.11 |
| Blades | 4 |
| Rotor diam. (m) | 13.41 |
| Disc area (m2) | 141.26 |
| Weight (kgs) | Empty: 2127 Max: 4627 |
Derivatives & Versions
| YHU2K-1 | 1958 | Kaman proposed the Model K-20 to fulfill the light utility role for the US Navy in 1957 and won! The Kaman design featured four blades on the main rotor and three blades on the tail rotor with a single General Electric T58-8F turboshaft engine located above the cabin. |
| UH-2A | 1959 | Kaman built 84 Model K-20 HU2K-1 (UH-2A) Seasprite light utility helicopters for the US Navy from 1958-1960, before production switched to the improved HU2K-1U (UH-2B). |
| UH-2B | 1960 | Kaman built 102 Model K-20 HU2K-1U (UH-2B) light utility helicopters for the US Navy from 1960-1962. |
| UH-2C | 1965 | Total of 41 UH-2A & UH-2B twin-engined upgrade conversions starting in 1965, with UH-2A 147981 serving as the prototype. |
| HH-2D | 1968 | |
| SH-2D | 1970 | |
| YSH-2E | 1971 | Two Seasprites were converted to YSH-2E LAMPS II configuration. |
| SH-2F Seasprite | 1973 | The SH-2F consists of an upgrade to existing UH-2C, HH-2D and SH-2D which includes a very low vibration rotor system, improved LN 66HP radar and a tail wheel re-positioned at mid rear fuselage. |
| SH-2G | 1985 |
Operators
| 1958- |  Kaman |
| 1962-2001 | US Navy |
| 1964-1970 | US Marine Corps |
| 1997- |  Egyptian Navy |
| 1997- |  Royal New Zealand Navy |
| 2002- |  Marynarka Wojenna |
| 2003-2008 |  Fleet Air Arm (RAN) |
| 2018- |  Marina de Guerra del Peru |