U.S Navy LAMPS (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System) Competition

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Vertiflite Volume 14 (1968) has an article on the LASH - snippet below.
http://books.google.co.nz/books?id=TTlWAAAAMAAJ&q=Bell+608+LASH+(Light+Anti-Submarine+Helicopter)&dq=Bell+608+LASH+(Light+Anti-Submarine+Helicopter)&hl=en&sa=X&ei=7dS0T8jqDMyVmQXC4rX2Dw&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAA

THE LIGHT ANTISUBMARINE HELICOPTER (LASH) PC Norwine, Supervisor, Application Engineering Bell Helicopter Co. ... (Cover photo shows Model 608, LASH, concept demonstrator with mock-up ASQ- 81 and dummy Mark 46 torpedo- -Ed. ) Background

So it seems to pre-date LAMPS I (1970).

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

According to a 1973 article in Air Enthusiast LAMPS (I) main contenders were:


Bell (UH-1 derivative)
Kaman (UH-2 derivative)
Boeing (Bolkow Bo.105)
Sikorsky (Lynx)


Interest was also shown by
Hughes
Lockheed
Gates Learjet
Fairchild Hller.

 

[Stargazer]

Interest was also shown by
Hughes
Lockheed
Gates Learjet
Fairchild Hller.

To what extent? Did they actually submit something that was rejected, or did they only plan to?

 

[Stargazer]

Another element to add to the Bell 608 LASH puzzle, an advertisement from that time:

 

[taildragger]

Reading about this today, apparently two of the Kaman Sealite would fit in the hangar of a Knox class and three would fit in the hangar of a Spruance. The variations in the types appearance may be explained by the face that in 1969 the max gross weight was reported at 8,800lbs but by 1970 was being reported as 10,200lbs.

I served on a Knox class vessel and can't say for sure that 2 SH-2's wouldn't fit, but it would be a very tight fit and I never saw it done. Certainly it would have made it difficult to accomplish anything in the hanger. The rear half of the hanger was on rails and was generally retracted for flight ops, so that real estate was at least useful and probably necessary for landings and takeoffs, meaning that a 2nd parked helo would be an obstacle..

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Interest was also shown by
Hughes
Lockheed
Gates Learjet
Fairchild Hller.

To what extent? Did they actually submit something that was rejected, or did they only plan to?

Article doesn't say. Interesting Flight International comment:


http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1970/1970%20-%202095.html

The American Lamps (light airborne multi-purpose system) requirement calls for a helicopter for operation from its frigates. The weight bracket is 6,000lb-8,000lb, defined on the one hand by the need to carry a given ASW fit, and on the other by the limited deck strength of these ships (and deck-strengthening is not part of the US Navy's plan).

On this basis the Lynx appears not only to fit the bill nearly exactly, but to be one of the few helicopters which even comes near the requirement: the Bell UH-ls are too large and heavy, likewise the Sikorsky S-58 already mentioned, the Kaman UH-2 series and the Boeing Vertol Sea Knight. The Hughes OH-6, Bell JetRanger, Fairchild FH-1100 and Alouette III are all too small. The Kaman Huskie falls in the right weight bracket, and the Bolkow 105 could probably be stretched (though this would violate the "buy ready-made" principle).
An exchange deal between Westland and Sikorsky would involve the US Navy in a purchase of some 300 WG.13s at around £200,000 each, and the RAF of between 25 and 45 CH-53s at probably about £1.7 million apiece.

 

[500 Fan]

Going back to the discussion between L.A.S.H. and L.A.M.P., I wonder if it is the case that the L.A.S.H. requirement was for a manned helicopter to replace the Gyrodyne QH-50 ASW Drone helicopter? The QH-50 seemed to have been a little troublesome throughout its lifetime and maybe the US Navy initially wanted to replace it with a light helicopter like the Hughes 500, Bell 608, FH1100 or Alouette III. Presumably any of these light helicopters would have fitted into the existing hangar facilities on-board the Sumner- and Gearing-class destroyers then carrying the QH-50 in the late 1960's. With the decision to dispose of the Gearing and Sumner-class vessels in 1970 and the adoption of the Knox-class vessels, did the L.A.S.H. requirement evolve into L.A.M.P., then L.A.M.P. 1 and ultimately the Kaman SH-2F Seasprite?


If anyone has any documents outlining the technical requirements for the LASH competition, I'd love to see them. Thanks.


500 Fan.

 

[500 Fan]

Two more photos from Flickr of the Bell 206 ASW proposal.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6521867847/sizes/l/in/set-72157627928485093/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6521868257/sizes/l/in/set-72157627928485093/


500 Fan.

 

[Triton]

Two more photos from Flickr of the Bell 206 ASW proposal.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6521867847/sizes/l/in/set-72157627928485093/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/6521868257/sizes/l/in/set-72157627928485093/


500 Fan.

 

[Triton]

Bell H-57 Sea Ranger-based ASW helicopter (US Navy LAMPS) model manufactured by Rolen found on eBay.

URL:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ROLEN-NAVY-BELL-H-57-SEA-RANGER-ASW-FACTORY-HELICOPTER-DESK-MODEL-TOPPING-/400420295386?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d3ae8d2da

Seller's description:

ROLEN Bell H-57 SEA RANGER factory ASW proposal model. Not sure of the history of this proposal but this H-57 model features a non standard sono-bouy. Model is in excellent overall condition. Nice main and tail rotor. Looks to be missing some kind of a centerline pod, tank or weapon. The instrument console has broken loose inside the cockpit. Fuselage length 12" with a 13" rotor span.

 

[RavenOne]

Maybe they just liked the Bo 105. IIRC, there's another JB movie (I'm not fan, so.....) that has a Bo 105 dressed in Soviet markings doing

Yep that was the beginning of A View To A Kill wig Roger mOore, the red BO105 decked out in Soviet colours chasing 007 after he recovers the microchip from 008 body in the ice.

 

[Stargazer]

Sikorsky's winning design in full-scale mockup form (photo from the cover of Aviation Week, April 3, 1978):

 

[Jemiba]

Found in VertiFlite, August 1969, two artist impressions of the BO 105 LAMPS proposal:

 

[Stargazer]

Do you know from the article if this submittal was made directly by Bölkow or was it done by Boeing Vertol?

 

[Jemiba]

Do you know from the article if this submittal was made directly by Bölkow or was it done by Boeing Vertol?

I think, the answer in the mentioned article is "..The hingeless-rotor BO-105 will be demonstrated initially in the
U. S. as a LAMPS competitor — this tour marking the first milestone in a marketing program since Boeing and
the West German firm of Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm completed a licensing and marketing agreement. "

 

[mil]

BO 105 LAMPS proposal

 

[Stargazer]

Thanks Jemiba!

 

[fightingirish]

I remember reading, that Boeing got also to use MBB's patents and technologies for their own projects and products. The hingeless rotor system for example was used for Boeing's helicopter projects.

 

[Pioneer]

Nice work Mil!!

Regards
Pioneer

 

[Stargazer]

Nice work Mil!!

What work are you talking about?? He posted a photo! Or do you see something I don't?!

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Good Day All -

Photos of the Sikorsky SH-60B mock up and a couple of artworks courtesy of the Vought Archives.

Enjoy the Day! Mark

 

[RAP]

...

 

[Pioneer]

Good Day All -

Photos of the Sikorsky SH-60B mock up and a couple of artworks courtesy of the Vought Archives.

Enjoy the Day! Mark

So going by the above post Mark Nankivil, did Vought/LTV have an affiliation with Sikorsky in terms of the SH-60B? Hence it being in the Vought Archives?

Regards
Pioneer

 

[500 Fan]

...

Thanks for posting. Does anyone know where historical US Navy test reports can be accessed (similar to US Army reports on DTIC)? Hughes and the US Navy did a small test with a Hughes YOH-6 in 1967 or 68 with the Sumner/Gearing class of vessel with a view to replacing the QH-50 with a light ASW helicopter. The OH-6 depicted was what Hughes hoped would be the result. I'd love to get a look at the test report to identify the aircraft involved and the scope of the test. Thanks.

500 Fan.