Kaman H-2 Tomahawk
| H-2 Tomahawk | |
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| File:UH-2A HC-1 CVA-63 Mar1966 (clipped).jpg | |
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The Kaman H-2 Tomahawk was a helicopter gunship variant of the Kaman UH-2 used by the Navy as utility helicopters. It was proposed to the US Army for use as an interim helicopter gunship.
History
The goal was to adopt an interim low-cost gunship, more capable than the UH-1B/C that were being used as gunships in Vietnam while a dedicated attack helicopter was developed : the Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne. The single prototype was handed over to the Army Aviation Test Board for evaluation in October 1963. The Aviation Test Board ultimately judged the Tomahawk to be an extremely capable machine, and in early November 1963 the Army sought and received Congressional authorization to purchase 220 aircraft. However the acquisition of the H-2 was abandoned in favor of further purchases of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois.[1]
Design
The H-2 Tomahawk was mostly based on the Navy's UH-2A Seasprite utility helicopter. The main difference being armement: The Tomahawk featured two turrets mounted on aircraft's chin, each with two 7.62mm machine guns. The turrets could be aimed independently or paired together to shoot the same target. An M60 machine-gun was also mounted on the side for use by a door-gunner. The helicopter featured stub wings each with two pylons; on each wing could be carried two 7-shot or one 19-shot pod of 2,75 inch rockets.[2] Armor plating was added to protect the cockpit, engine, gearbox and fuel tanks. Navigation and communication equipment was Army-standard.[3]
Specifications
- Crew : 3
- Engine : 1x General Electric T58-GE-8 turboshaft, rated at 930kW
- Rotor diameter : 13.41m
- Main rotor : 4 bladed
- Fuselage length : 11.15m
- Height : 4.11m
- Take-off weight : 4060kg
- Empty weight : 2886kg
- Max speed : 260km/h
- Service ceiling : 5300m
- Range : 1070km
See Also
- Kaman SH-2 Seasprite
- Bell UH-1 Iroquois
- Bell AH-1 Cobra
References
- ↑ Harding, Stephen. Kaman H-2 Tomahawk and Seasprite". U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947. Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 1997. ISBN 0-7643-0190-X Search this book on
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- ↑ "Уголок неба ¦ Kaman UH-2 Tomahawk". www.airwar.ru. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
- ↑ "Kaman H-2 "Tomahawk" helicopter - development history, photos, technical data". www.aviastar.org. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
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