• Special operations • In-flight refuelling • Amphibious
With the Boeing MH-47E. the US
Army enhanced its ability to carry out secret missions deep in enemy territory at night and in foul weather. The dark, dangerous-looking MH-47E is today’s special operations version of the much – admired Chinook of the Vietnam era. With high-tech terrain-following radar and an infrared sensor, the MH-47E is the trump card of the US Army’s famous ‘Night Stalkers’.
A Weekend warriors
Smaller saddle tanks identity this as an early MH-47D operating with an Oklahoma unit of the Amiy National Guard.
Missile attack ►
The avoidance of enemy missiles relics on low flying and a series of chaff dispensers situated on each side of the fuselage.
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▼ Night vision
Situated in the nose is an AAQ• 16 forward-looking infra-red (FUR) turret, which is essential tor low – level night operations.
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A Special Ops kit
The MH-47E features numerous additions to the standard model CH-47. including radar, an in-tkgN refuelling probe, a complete sot of defensive modifications and additional fuel tanks.
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FACTS AND FIGURES
► Flfty-ono МН-47Е» arc In production; all will be operated by the Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
► Operational equipment includes terrain – following and mapping radar.
► The contract for development of the MH-47E was awardod to Boeing in 1987.
>■ Missions Include global clandestine, long* range airlift infiltration/oxfiltration into hostile territory.
► A platoon of Rangers can bo airlifted in
one mission.
► The Chinook can be completely refuelled in less than 4 minutes.
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MH-47E Chinook
Type: Special Forces support neJcoptcr
Powerplant: two Textron Lycoming T55 i 714 tutboshaft onginor.
Max speed: 285 km/h 0 77 m. p.h | at sea.’eve’
Max cruising speed: 259 km/h pet mi.) nt sea level
Endurance: 5 hr 30 m*>
Combat radius: SCO km (348 mu
Range: иттуэтд 2224 km (1.382 mi); typical 1136 km (706 mi.)
Weights: empty 12210 kg (26.918 lb.), maximum take-off 24.494 kg (54.000 lb.)
Armament: two 12.7-mm machine-guns:
Sixiger air-to-air missies
Dimensions:
rotor ammeter «8.28 m (CO ft )
looglh 15.87 m (52 ft.)
height 5.59 m (18 tt. 4 m.)
rotor area 282.6 m’ (3.042 sq. tt)
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Below: This MH-47E is seen during maintenance. The type has proved to bo very reliable and looks set to equip special operations units into the next century.
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Above: The mam transport assets of the SOF are seen here: a Chinook taking oft on an exercise with an accompanying CH-53E.
recover SEAL teams.
Establishment «I forward arming areas and refuelling points is another role assigned to the МІІ-Г. for which three 3028-litre fuel tanks are earned internal!} these are known as •Ial cow’ operations:
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Огечаьспа requirements speofod on up-iftipd у«гйХ1 of tr« Lyccmng rtigrxi lo mpruvo handling at tow lewW ard wfxsn Uo. innq
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Devotoped in response to a request
trom th • Special Operations Forces, the
MH-rt. i. was dorivod from the standard
CH-47D. but is fitted with extremely
sophisticated avionics.
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founded, їм – icmg-range opnrju<гл. the Oneok S*?8 ‘<хЛ ic bo titled wfih an mtWjht
CKt*. aOcwrg rotuertng from a C-130 jwoukr. Wm a length of П rn (36 tt.). it в Ihe "ук: protjn oiinched to any лгсгеїі.
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Located я :he nose is nn ЛРО-174 terram-tolowng OT wealht» глипт, and mounted linear the chin is an AAQ-16 FUF1 turret the awonca suto meant, that operaiiom can bo earned cut btnow Э0 m |9H it. I.
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AdOional tuel tanks can do boHod on to the soes ot ttie fusefoge. о/іікхкХ* this requres moving trv «csewoeeis tOTAtVd to accommodate the ext>a vo»imo
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Ttie ггч» cargo ramp в ottnn «it open dining oporatonn to aftew racxl «ax of troops Occascnauy, a irvitwardfting mochine-gun is Mtfid. mcreawig the atmument further.
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DEPLOYMENT: Onch in Ifni ivmi of deployment, troops can leave fhn MH-47 by nbwilllng from the rear cargo Duong this «tagn. defeoirvo lirepower <s provided
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NIGHT-HAWK: A comprehensive fit of terrain-following radar and FLIP turret lets the MH-47 tly at exTiwnaii/levels m i,.xvc?.it;,-f. s
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Мнц; )ЬЕ° ,,Л ‘GE: To operate bohinaeneSybnOTMtw ■•Ncri p„.r’ v ‘:ri 3 telescopic in-flight refuelling probe
™……………. •’ ,rwward rites enables contact with a Hercules
rch Entile a drogue behind its fuselage
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Boeing-Vertol
