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In Detail ———— Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) —— 'Sea Griffons' as Shipboard Helicopters ? ————

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Coastal Patrol, Offshore Patrol, and Maritime Defence  –  September 2004 Maritime Security:  Sea Boots for a Navalized CH-146  – Is There Any Case for a  'Sea Griffon'  Aboard CF OPVs? The Canadian Forces CH-146 Griffon utility helicopter is a slightly militarized Bell  Model 412.  Is it practical to turn tactical choppers  such as these into maritime helicopters?  Maritime  Staff would say 'no' while other countries say 'yes'.  Agusta builds the same model under licence as the  AB 412  which serves Italy's  Guardia Costiera as well as other coast guards and  NATO navies. [1] Model 412s have also been modified for shipboard use in the US as a commercial venture. Since Italy's Agusta had already developed  the needed  higher landing skids, adapting the 412s was fairly straight- forward. Fitting out these 'civilian' helicopters with appropriate naval equipment and sensors (at right) would be trickier. Most difficult of all is ensuring a sufficient range for the new job. Model 412 range can be extended by using cabin-mounted long-range fuel tanks – the Columbian Navy uses this system. A belly tank would be another option but, in either option, there are obviously trade-offs in all- up weight for the marginally underpowered and cramped Griffon. The most compelling reasons to investigate the possibilities of a maritime Griffon are the advantages of CH-146 commonality and availability. [ at right ]  – Hypothetical naval CH-146 'Sea Griffon' showing  an optional 360° search radar. Ideally this 'Sea Griffon' would have a search radar and other features suited to maritime helicopters.  But,  it would also be possible to adapt a handful of existing CH-146 Griffons to the naval role by simply substituting the higher landing  skids  with  their  emergency floatation  bags  –  an interim interim maritime helicopter, if you will.  Such an adaptation would lack rotor folding and other naval niceties but could fill the maritime helicopter gap  (on board OPVs at least) until a more suitable shipboard aircraft could be procured as replacements. Although extravagent by Canadian military standards, it may be time to consider replacing the CH-146 altogether with more capable aircraft. The new Agusta-Bell AB139 would be an obvious candidate for the CF, including a naval version. [2] [ Update: In the end, CH-146 Griffons did end up flying off the landing decks of Canadian Forces ships. Thanks to the delays in delivery of CH-148 Cyclone shipboard helicopter, Griffons became the default vehicle for the CF helicopter operations in Haiti. Once tactical pilots were used to deck landing, Griffons were used to transport the PM and GG to HMCS Athabaskan.] Although extravagent by Canadian military standards, it may be time to consider replacing the CH-146 altogether with more capable aircraft. The new Agusta-Bell AB139 would be an obvious candidate for the CF, including a naval version. [2] 'Sea Griffon' replacement? [ at right ]  – Hypothetical Agusta-Bell AB139 naval helicopter in CF markings. [1]  The Italian Navy continues to use earlier model AB212 as ASW helicopters. The Griffon has a more efficient 4-bladed main rotor but, onboard ship, the 212's 2-bladed rotor has an advantage. With blades oriented fore-and-aft, the 212 (an equivalent of retired CF CH-135s) is compact without complicated folding rotors. [2]  Thanks to Peter Marshall and Pascal Vadori for background information and a stimulating discussion of shipboard helicopter options and of Griffon 'what ifs'. Also see:  Maritime Helicopter Issues for CF Offshore Patrol Vessels