KAMAN H-2 SEASPRITE
SEASPRITE SERVICE
| Manufacturer: | Kaman Aircraft Corp., Bloomfield, Connecticut, USA (In 1969, became Kaman Aerospace Corp., Kaman Corp.) |
| Models: | K-20, K-894 |
| Designations: | H-2 (UH-2, SH-2); HU2K |
| Names: | Seasprite; Super Seasprite (SH-2G) |
| First official flight: | (YHU2K-1) 02/07/1959 |
| Factory production period: | 1958 - 1965 (UH-2) 1982 - present (SH-2) |
| Primary service period: | 1962 - 1993 |
| Last official flight: | (SH-2G) 05/2001 |
SEASPRITE VARIANTS
| 1959 | Model K-20 | YHU2K-1 (YUH-2A) | 4 | |
| 1960 | Model K-20 | HU2K-1 (UH-2A) | 84 | |
| 1960 | Model K-20 | HU2K-1U (UH-2B) | 102 | Total: 190 |
| 1982 | Model K-20 | SH-2F | 54 | |
| 1992 | Model K-894 | SH-2G | 17 | Total: 071 |
|
Grand Total: 261 |
SEASPRITE PRODUCTION
YHU2K-1
Prototype, single-engined, 4-bladed
rotor, utility helicopter for US Navy.
Redesignated as UH-2A in 1962.
Produced 1958 - 1959
Kaman Bloomfield, Connecticut
| BuNo.147202 / 147205 | 1 / 4 | 4 | Total: 004 |
HU2K-1
As YHU2K-1, engine / equipment upgrade.
Redesignated as UH-2A in 1962.
Produced
Kaman Bloomfield, Connecticut
| BuNo.147972 / 147983 | 5 / 16 | ||
| BuNo.149013 / 149036 | 17 / 40 | ||
| BuNo.149739 / 149786 | 41 / 88 | 84 | Total: 084 |
HU2K-1U
As HU2K-1, no IFR equipment, later
retrofitted but no designation change.
Redesignated as UH-2B in 1962.
Produced
Kaman Bloomfield, Connecticut
| BuNo.150139 / 150186 | 89 / 136 | ||
| BuNo.151300 / 151335 | 137 / 172 | ||
| BuNo.152189 / 152206 | 173 / 190 | 102 | Total: 102 |
SH-2F
As SH-2F conversions, new-built
production version.
Produced 1982 - 1989
Kaman Bloomfield, Connecticut
| BuNo.161641 / 161658 | 191 / 208 | ||
| BuNo.161898 / 161915 | 209 / 226 | ||
| BuNo.162576 / 162587 | 227 / 238 | ||
| BuNo.162650 / 162655 | 239 / 244 | 54 | Total: 054 |
SH-2G Super Seasprite
As YSH-2G, production version.
2 SH-2F(161643, 161908), also
upgraded to this standard.
Produced 1990 - present
Kaman Bloomfield, Connecticut
| BuNo.163209 / 163214 | 245 / 250 | ||
| BuNo.163541 / 163546 | 251 / 256 | 12 | |
| 6 additional airframes cancelled. | |||
SH-2G(NZ)
2000, export version for NZ Navy.
| (New Zealand) NZ3601 / NZ3605 | NZ01 / NZ05 | 5 | Total: 017 |
SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite - newly upgraded version.
|
Grand Total: 261 |
SH-2G(NZ), s/n: NZ3603, is one of five
new-built Super Seasprites
for the Royal New Zealand Navy, first entering service
in 2001. Four interim SH-2F's were then retired, two of
which stayed in new Zealand for museum display.
Christchurch, New Zealand, 2004.
SEASPRITE CONVERSIONS
US Navy
| NUH-2B | 2 | UH-2A, 1968, permanent conversions for tests. |
| UH-2C | 41 | UH-2A / UH-2B, 1965, twin-engined upgrade conversions, with UH-2A, BuNo. 147981, serving as the prototype. |
| (HH-2C) | 6 | UH-2C, SAR / gunship conversions serving in Vietnam. |
| (NUH-2C) | 1 | UH-2C(147981), armament tests with stores pylons, fire-control radar. |
| HH-2D | 70 | UH-2A / UH-2B, SAR conversions, engine upgrade, no armament. |
| (NHH-2D) | 1 | HH-2D(147981), 1970, prototype to SH-2D with LAMPS (Light-Airborne- Multi-Purpose-System) ASW avionics upgrade. |
| (YSH-2E) | 2 | HH-2D(149033), 1972, prototypes with upgraded ASW systems. |
| SH-2D | 20 | UH-2A/B/C / HH-2C/D, 1971, ASW version, major equipment upgrade, MAD boom, toepedoes. |
| SH-2E | - | Proposed conversions of YSH-2E, superseded by SH-2F. |
| SH-2F | 110 | UH-2A/B/C / SH-2D, 1973, improved ASW version, airframe / engine equipment upgrade. 4 later to New Zealand as NZ3441 / NZ3444. |
| JSH-2F | 1 | SH-2F Prod., temporary conversion for tests. |
| YSH-2G | 1 | Super Seasprite SH-2F Prod.(161653), 1989, prototype with engine / avionics upgrade. |
| SH-2G(A) | 11 | 4 SH-2F Prod. / 7 SH-2F Conv.,
1999-2008, rebuilds for Australian Navy. Assigned RAN s/n: mixed N29-149024 to N29-163210. |
| SH-2G(E) | 10 | SH-2F Prod., 1997-present, rebuilds for Egypt. Assigned Egypt s/n: 3051 / 3060. |
FOREIGN MILITARY SERVICE
- Seasprite helicopters in military service with the armed forces of Australia,
Egypt, New Zealand, Pakistan, Poland and Taiwan.