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January 15, 2008
Army Chinooks Help Carry Work Load
Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment prepare their aircraft for missions in which they transported 25,000 total pounds of gear. 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment considers this to be a light day after so far transporting 28,000 passengers and almost 2 million pounds of cargo since August. Photo by: Cpl. Andrew M. Kalwitz, USMC.
Army Chinooks Help Carry Work Load
By Cpl. Andrew M. Kalwitz
2nd Marine Logistics Group
Though they are a flock of merely eight, the Army’s CH-47 Chinooks move thousands of pounds of gear and scores of personnel daily. Despite their small number of aircraft, the 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment has handled a large workload since beginning operations in August. With greater capacity, the Army’s Chinooks have spared the Marine Corps’ aircraft approximately 28,000 passengers and almost 2 million pounds of cargo.
“They just needed something to fill the gaps until they could get another stateside unit into the rotation,” said Capt. Nelson Gray, a Milan, Ohio native.
Gray said the battalion’s Chinooks have already flown more than 300 missions. The overachieving aircraft can already carry 2,000 lbs. more than the Marine Corps’ Sea Knight, but that’s not all.
The Chinooks can also lift an external payload of nearly 13,000 lbs. by hooking the gear up to a sling under the belly of the aircraft. That’s more than twice the Sea Knight’s maximum lifting capability.
“It’s the best aircraft in any military inventory that I’ve seen yet,” said Capt. Zachariah Morford, a commanding officer for one of the battalion’s companies. “Our aircraft flies faster, higher, farther than anything in the Army inventory and now that we’re stacking up against Marine aircraft, we’re more than holding our own.”
The Soldiers are on a constant flight rotation, taking to the skies both day and night for the entirety of their deployment. A lot of maintenance comes with that kind of tempo, especially if the battalion plans to sustain it for the remainder of their 15-month deployment.
“Without us, we couldn’t move troops or supplies so it’s satisfying to see these things take off and go,” said Staff Sgt. Samuel Ayres, a Chinook mechanic with the battalion.
Morford said he especially enjoys working in a Marine environment as many of the few and the proud are unfamiliar with the Chinook’s capabilities.
“People wear a couple different uniforms, but all haircuts look the same and the food tastes the same,” said the Gainesville, Fla., native. “There are fewer differences than I would’ve at first imagined. They have a very mission focused perspective and we’ve been able to fit right into that.”
Posted by Wild Thing at January 15, 2008 12:44 AM
Comments
Yep, we all look the same. Our race is Camo. Our blood is green. The most important thing is that we are all serving OUR country together.
Posted by: SSgt. Steve, USMC at January 15, 2008 07:20 AM
40+ years after it's combat debut in Vietnam, "The Hook" is still soldiering on. It is one of those classic aircraft like the DC-3, C-130 and B-52. The Chinnok performs in all environments and performs an infinite variety of missions. From my experience, it is a great aircraft to make parachute jumps from.
Another experience I had in the military was working with members of other branches. That was always interesting and, Yes, we were always still Americans, even if we had a bit of interservice rivalry.
Posted by: TomR at January 15, 2008 08:05 AM
Fond memories of a great bird WT. The rhythmic vibrations caused by the five large transmissions, each one louder than the next as they turn, keeping the aircraft flying smoothly. Jammed full of GI's and gear with the doors open.
Once I flew over Paradise Lodge in one, on Washington's Mt. Rainier, much to the surprise of the tourists there, then on to Gray Field at Ft. Lewis for a day, to return back into the desert for more fun with the Armor. One statement sticks out as reminiscent of my RVN days “People wear a couple different uniforms, but all haircuts look the same and the food tastes the same,” Yes, we are indeed brothers in arms, thrown into the same pot, the only thing different are the attitudes of the brass at the top who all think they are in charge. This was one of the birds used for troop transport at LZ Stud and around Khe Sanh, some at Ashau and Chu Lai and at a few other delightful locales there, Fat City comes to mind.
Boeing Vertol when the Vertol Aircraft Corporation (formerly Piasecki Helicopter) built the CH-47, IMO they're one of the best aircraft around and I have loaded these flying boxcars with thousands of pounds of Ammo, they'll carry two jeeps and crew, they'll sling load artillery pieces and will sling load a downed Huey too. The weak part is the fuel tank location but I'll still crawl on board with confidence. As Mr. Hope would say, thanks for the memories.
Posted by: Jack at January 15, 2008 02:53 PM
SSgt. Steve, USMC,love it.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 15, 2008 11:31 PM
Tom, thanks for sharing about the Chinnok.
And I have always loved hearing the stories and experiences of the various branches and the rivalry too, some are really funny ones. Some too are very touching and show just what you talked about, how they are there for each other as all Americans.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 15, 2008 11:36 PM
Jack thank you so much for sharing I love hearing about all of that. I love the sound these make.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 15, 2008 11:39 PM
