| The CH-53E Super Stallion is used by the | | | | horsepower) each. It has a maximum speed of |
| United States Marine Corps to perform heavy | | | | 196 mph and an unrefueled range of 540 |
| lift missions and the U.S. Navy as an aerial | | | | nautical miles, which can be increased by |
| mine sweeper. It's the largest and most | | | | using in-flight refueling. It's armed with |
| powerful helicopter in the United States | | | | two window mounted 50-caliber machine guns |
| inventory. | | | | and one ramp mounted gun in the rear. For |
| | | | defense it has chaff and flare dispensers as |
| The CH-53E looks very similar to its siblings | | | | well as missile warning receivers. |
| the CH-53A/G, HH-53C and MH-53. The major | | | | |
| difference is this has three engines while | | | | Upgrades to the Super Stallion have included |
| other models have two. This provides extra | | | | the Helicopter Night Vision System and an |
| power and redundancy. In fact the CH-53E is | | | | improved Forward Looking Infrared Imaging |
| able to lift and recover every aircraft in | | | | system (FLIR). |
| the Marine inventory except the KC-130 | | | | |
| Hercules. It's able to lift Humvees, | | | | Since it entered service the CH-53E has seen |
| artillery pieces, and the Marine Corps Light | | | | action in Beirut, Somalia, Kuwait, Iraq, |
| Armored Vehicle 25 (LAV 25). | | | | Bosnia, and Afghanistan. Additionally |
| | | | whenever a U.S. embassy is under imminent |
| The Navy version, designated the MH-53E Sea | | | | threat of attack the Marines use Super |
| Dragon performs long-range mine sweeping, | | | | Stallions to evacuate embassy personnel. |
| Airborne Mine Countermeasures missions and | | | | |
| heavy lift. | | | | The CH-53E has a crew of five. Two pilots, a |
| | | | crew chief/right gunner, a left gunner and a |
| The Super Stallion entered service in 1981 | | | | tail gunner. |
| and has served faithfully ever since. The | | | | |
| largest operator of it is the Marine Corps | | | | A new CH-53 will soon be in operation with |
| who have over 100 in service. | | | | the Marines. The CH-53K. Four of the new |
| | | | Stallions have been built for system |
| The CH-53E can carry 37 troops without | | | | evaluation. The Ch-53K will be able to double |
| centerline seats installed and 55 combat | | | | the payload capability of the CH-53E. It will |
| troops with centerline seats installed or it | | | | be powered by General Electric engines and a |
| can carry 32,000 pounds of cargo. It's | | | | utilize a new composite rotor system. It has |
| capable of hoisting up to 34000 pounds. The | | | | been in service for almost 30 years. It's |
| Super Stallion has a seven bladed rotor | | | | proven its worth one mission at a time and is |
| system with a rotor diameter of 79ft. It's | | | | a big part of the Marine Corps vertical |
| powered by three General Electric T64-GE-416 | | | | envelopment warfare doctrine. |
| turbo shaft engines rated at 4,380 SHP (shaft | | | | |