MH-60S Helicopters
Operational History of MH-60 S Knighthawks
The multimission Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter entered service in February 2002. The US Navy acquired a total of 237 of the MH-60S helicopters, to carry out missions such as vertical replenishment, combat search and rescue, special warfare support and airborne mine countermeasures.
The helicopter began full-rate production in August 2002. As of January 2011 52 MH-60R and 154 MH-60S helicopters were in the service with the US Navy. First deployment of the new helicopter took place on board USS Essex in January 2003 and a number of MH-60S helicopters were deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The helicopter was originally designated CH-60S, as a replacement for the US Navy’s Boeing CH-46D Sea Knight heavy-lift helicopters in the vertical replenishment role. The helicopter was redesignated MH-60S as a result of an expansion in mission requirements to include a range of additional combat support capabilities. Retirement of the US Navy Sea Knights concluded in September 2004.
The MH-60S helicopter was the first deployment aboard the USS Freedom (LCS-1) to conduct regional security and counter-drug operations. The Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadrons operate the MH-60S helicopters.
The following are photos of the MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter:
168578 MH-60S_ Rivard (65) (L)
HSC-21 Sideflare 710 in flight near Otay Mountains
168578 MH-60S_ Rivard (26) (L)
HSC-21 Sideflare 710 in flight near Otay Mountains
166350 MH-60S_Rivard (1) (L)
HSC-3 Merlins in flight near Otay Mountains
167900 MH-60S (57)
Black Knight 610 in flight in the desert east of El Centro. Photo taken by Ray Rivard
166350 MH-60S_Rivard (91) (L)
HSC-3 Merlins in flight near Otay Mountains
166350 MH-60S_Rivard (77) (L)
HSC-3 Merlins in flight near Otay Mountains
IMG_4328
HSC-2 in NYC for Fleet Week 2016. Photo taken by CDR Scott “Smoke” Moak.
168578 MH-60S_ Rivard (60) (L)
HSC-21 Sideflare 710 in flight near Otay Mountains
27175106552_0d2bb5356f_o
HSC-2 and HSC-28 in flight across the New York City Harbor. Photo taken by CDR Scott “Smoke” Moak
166350 MH-60S_Rivard (4) (L)
HSC-3 Merlins in flight near Otay Mountains
168578 MH-60S_ Rivard (61) (L)
HSC-21 Sideflare 710 in flight near Otay Mountains
166350 MH-60S_Rivard (34) (L)
HSC-3 Merlins in flight near Otay Mountains
166350 MH-60S_Rivard (51) (L)
HSC-3 Merlins in flight near Otay Mountains
166328 MH-60S_Rivard (68) (L)
HSC-23 Wildcards in flight near Otay Mountains
166328 MH-60S_Rivard
HSC-23 Wildcards in flight near Otay Mountains
168578 MH-60S_ Rivard (57) (L)
HSC-21 Sideflare 710 in flight near Otay Mountains
166350 MH-60S_Rivard (8) (L)
HSC-3 Merlins in flight near Otay Mountains
166328 MH-60S_Rivard (25) (L)
HSC-23 Wildcards in flight near Otay Mountains
MH60S.166328.2.CSN.8.18.16.KevinWhitehead unsharp
Another photo of HSC-23 Showbird in flight near Otay Mountains of Chula Vista, CA. Photo taken by Kevin Whitehead
168578 MH-60S_ Rivard (7) (L)
HSC-21 Sideflare 710 in flight near Otay Mountains
166328 MH-60S_Rivard (29) (L)
HSC-23 Wildcards in flight near Otay Mountains
168578 MH-60S_ Rivard (70) (L)
HSC-21 Sideflare 710 in flight near Otay Mountains
168578 MH-60S_ Rivard (50) (L)
HSC-21 Sideflare 710 in flight near Otay Mountains
168578 MH-60S_ Rivard (31) (L)
HSC-21 Sideflare 710 in flight near Otay Mountains
166350 MH-60S_Rivard (48) (L)
HSC-3 Merlins in flight near Otay Mountains
166350 MH-60S_Rivard (82) (L)
HSC-3 Merlins in flight near Otay Mountains
168578 MH-60S_ Rivard (17) (L)
HSC-21 Sideflare 710 in flight near Otay Mountains
166328 MH-60S_Rivard (91) (L)
HSC-23 Wildcards in flight near Otay Mountains
MH60S.166328.CSN.8.18.16.KevinWhitehead unsharp
HSC-23 Showbird in flight near Otay Mountains of Chula Vista, CA. Photo taken by Kevin Whitehead
166328 MH-60S_Rivard (74) (L)
HSC-23 Wildcards in flight near Otay Mountains
168578 MH-60S_ Rivard (4)
HSC-21 Sideflare 710 in flight near Otay Mountains
166328 MH-60S_Rivard (45) (L)
HSC-23 Wildcards in flight near Otay Mountains
168578 MH-60S _ Rivard(4) (L)
Sideflare 710 with poetry from Ray Rivard
Photos were taken by the following photographers: Ray Rivard, Kevin Whitehead, and CDR Scott “Smoke” Moak, USN
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