Transport / Cargo Helicopters

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Cargo Helicopters
CH-46 Sea Knight
CH-47 Chinook
CH-53E Super Stallion

Military transport helicopters are used in places where the use of conventional aircraft is impossible. The landing possibilities of helicopter are almost unlimited, and where landing is impossible, for example densely packed jungle, the ability of the helicopter to hover allows troops to deploy by rappelling and roping.

Transport helicopters are helicopters used by militaries with the primary purpose of transporting personnel (troops) and cargo in support of military operations and training. Transport helicopters are also referred to as cargo helicopters. The benefit of using helicopters for these operations is that personnel and cargo can be moved to and from locations without requiring a runway for takeoffs and landings.

Cargo is carried either internally, or externally by sling load where the load is suspended from an attachment point underneath the aircraft. Personnel are primarily loaded and unloaded while the helicopter is on the ground. However, when the terrain restricts even helicopters from landing, personnel may also be picked up and dropped off using specialized devices, such as rescue hoists or special rope lines, while the aircraft hovers overhead.

Air assault is a military mission that relies heavily on the use of transport helicopters for success. An air assault involves a customized assault force that is then assembled on the pick-up zone (PZ) and staged for sequential transport to a landing zone (LZ). The idea is to use the helicopters to transport and land a large number of troops and equipment in a relatively short amount of time, in order to assault and overwhelm an objective near the LZ. The advantage of air assault over an airborne assault is the ability of the helicopters to continually resupply the force during the operation, as well as to transport the personnel and equipment to their previous location, or a follow-on location if the mission dictates.

Transport helicopters are operated in assault, medium and heavy classes. Air assault helicopters are usually the smallest of the transport types, and designed to move an infantry section and their equipment. Helicopters in the assault role are generally armed for self protection both in transit and for suppression of the landing zone. This armament may be in the form of door gunners, or the modification of the helicopter with stub wings and pylons for the carriage of missiles and rocket pods.

Medium transport helicopters are generally capable of moving up to a platoon of infantry and are capable of being able to transport towed artillery or light vehicles either internally or as under-slung roles.Unlike the assault helicopter they are usually not expected to land directly in a contested landing zone, but are used to reinforce and resupply landing zones taken by the initial assault wave. Examples include the unarmed versions of the Mil Mi-8, the Super Puma and the CH-46 Sea Knight.

Heavy lift helicopters are the largest and most capable of the transport types, currently limited in service to the CH-53 Sea Stallion the related CH-53E Super Stallion, CH-47 Chinook, and Mil Mi-26. Capable of lifting up to 80 troops and moving small AFVs (usually as slung loads but also internally). These helicopters operate in the tactical transport role in much the same way as small fixed wing turboprop air-lifters. The lower speed, range and increased fuel consumption of helicopters being more than compensated by their ability to operate anywhere.

CH-46 Sea Knight

The CH-46 Sea Knight is a medium-lift tandem rotor transport helicopter, used by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) to provide all-weather, day-or-night assault transport of combat troops, supplies and equipment. Assault Support is its primary function, as it is used to transport US Marines into battle, often airlifting them directly from amphibious assault ships to the combat zone. A secondary role is the transport of supplies and equipment which it can haul in its cabin or in underslung loads.

CH-47 Chinook

The US Army CH-47 Chinook is a versatile, twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter with tthe role of troop and cargo transport. The lack of a tail rotor allows for a longer than normal cabin, increasing the helicopter's cargo capacity. With its size, power and range, the Chinook is often the only US helicopter capable of performing certain missions, be it delivering supplies across the deserts of Iraq or the mountains of Afghanistan.

CH-53 Sea Stallion

The CH-53D Sea Stallion is designed for the transportation of equipment, supplies and personnel during the assault phase of an amphibious operation and subsequent operations ashore. Capable of both internal and external transport of supplies, the CH-53D is shipboard compatible and capable of operation in adverse weather conditions both day and night. The CH-53D is now filling a role in the Marine Corps' medium lift helicopter fleet.

CH-53E Super Stallion

The CH-53E Super Stallion is the largest and heaviest helicopter in the United States military. The CH-53E Super Stallion is designed for the transportation of equipment, supplies and personnel during the assault phase of an amphibious operation and subsequent operations ashore. Capable of both internal and external transport of supplies, the CH-53E is shipboard compatible and capable of operation in adverse weather conditions both day and night.