HH-60H Rescue Hawk

• Strike rescue • Gull War participants • US Coast Guard service

Based upon the SH-60B Seahawk, the HH-60H is a specialised combat rescue variant. Entering service in 1990 it has proved highly effective, giving the US Navy a much-needed dedicated rescue helicopter. Two detachments from HCS-4 and -5 took part in Operations Desort Shield and Desert Storm, whore the HH-60s flow a total of more than 750 mission hours. The US Coast Guard also took delivery of a rescue Seahawk, known as the HH-60J.

▼ Air force rescue

Like the Navy, the US Air Force also operates a Feet of roscue variants based on the UH-60 Black Hawk. Those foaturo retractable refuelling probes.

▼ Close co-operation

Since 1991 Roscue Hawks have been deployed aboard comers, alongside SH-60F Ocean Hawks providing additional and useful rescue capability.

A Coast guard variants

I Besides the US Navy, the Coast Guard also operates a fleet of machines known as HH-60J Jayhawks. These have no armament.

◄ Unsung heroes

Although perhaps lacking tho glamour o1 their naval counterparts, tho Coast Guard Jayhawks have an important rote and are often used on anti-drug smuggling missions oft the south-eastern USA and around the Bahamas.

FACTS AND FIGURES

► During tho Gulf War tho two HH-60H detachments remained combat-ready 95 por cent оГ the time.

► Both the airframe and tho engines are shared with the SH-60F Ocoan Hawk.

► Surviving aircraft are being upgraded with defensive armament.

> First operational deployment of tho HH-60H took place In 1990. when HS-2 took the type aboard USS Nimitz.

> US Coast Guard HH-OOJs have grentor endurance than their Navy counterparts.

> Forward looking infra-red turrets have been fitted to the HH-OOs in recent yoars.