A True ‘Warhorse’
By Joe Campion
Published on: July 17, 2024
Estimated reading time 19 minutes, 47 seconds.
Using the Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallions, the U.S. Marine Corps HMH-465 “Warhorse” is more than capable of carrying out combat assault transport, air evacuation, tactical recovery, and more.
Established on Dec. 1, 1981, the Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 “Warhorse” (HMH-465) of the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) was the first West Coast USMC squadron to receive the Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion. The squadron hasn’t flown any other series of the heavy-lift helicopter during its time.
While its core missions can range from combat assault transport, heavy rotary wing aerial delivery, air evacuation, and tactical recovery of aircraft personnel (TRAP), the unit can be assigned further tasks when deployed in theatre. This includes operations from Navy ships, rapid insertion/extraction of troops, and aviation delivered ground refueling (ADGR) to fixed- or rotary-wing platforms.
Highlighting its capabilities when it comes to ADGR, a single CH-53E can impressively provide 4,000 pounds (1,815 kilograms) of fuel from each of its auxiliary tanks. It can also be configured with two tactical bulk fuel delivery systems (TBFDS), each carrying 5,000 lb (2,270 kg) of fuel. This amount of fuel, depending on the CH-53E’s transit time to either its home base or an airborne tanker, can refuel two Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters simultaneously, or three Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIs at a forward arming and refueling point (FARP).
https://verticalmag.com/features/a-true-warhorse/
