Fact File: The CH-47 Chinook in the War

[Matt Wiser]

A chopper that saw service on both sides (!) during the War;

The CH-47 Chinook in World War III


The Boeing Vertol CH-47 Chinook was, and still is, the U.S. Army's primary medium-lift helicopter beginning in 1962, and improved versions of the helicopter are still in U.S. Army and Allied service today. The aircraft saw combat in Vietnam and the Falklands before the Third World War, and the helicopter performed a variety of missions, including troop transport, supply, CASEVAC, search and rescue, and special operations in the U.S. Army, the RAF, Canadian Forces, the RAAF, and the ROKAF. In addition, the CH-47 was also used by a number of export customers, both during and after the war, who still use the Chinook today. This work covers the CH-47's service during and after the Third World War.


Variants:

CH-47A: Initial production version introduced to U.S. Army service in 1962, and subsequently saw service in Vietnam. Two Lycoming T55-L-5 engines with 2,200 Shaft Horsepower. Replaced with T55-L-7 (2,650 SHP) or L-7C with 2,850 SHP. Two door mounted M-60 machine guns, 10,000 pound cargo capacity, 33 troops or 24 litters and three attendants.

ACH-47A: Gunship version evaluated in Vietnam. Nicknamed “Go-Go Birds” by their crews. Mounted up to five M-60 7.62-mm or five M-2 .50 caliber machine guns, two rocket pods with nineteen 2.75-inch rockets each, two 20-mm cannon, nose mounted 40-mm grenade launcher. Three used in South Vietnam, one retained in CONUS for testing. Only one aircraft remained by 1968 of the three, survivor returned to CONUS and the program was terminated.

CH-47B: Interim between A and C. Two T55-L-7C engines with 2,850 SHP. Often used to retrieve crashed aircraft and helicopters in South Vietnam.

CH-47C: Improved A with new engines and transmissions. T55-L-7C engines at first, then the T55-L-11 with 3,750 SHP, a pitch stability augmentation system, and uprated gross weight of 46,000 pounds. Eight sold to Canadian Forces as CH-147, and license-produced in Italy as the ECH-47C by Elicotteri-Meridonali for Italian and export customers.

CH-47D: Introduced in 1979 to U.S. Army service, and also to foreign operators. Civil version designated Boeing 234. Two T55-L-712 engines at first, then the T55-GA-714A. Capacity increased to up to 55 troops or 26,000 pounds of cargo. Primarily produced through conversions of A, B, and C models with new production during the war. License production in Italy and by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan.

MH-47D: Special Operations version used by 160th Aviation Regiment (Special Operations). Inflight refueling probe, additional armor and other upgrades.

MH-47E: Improved Special Operations version for 160th SOAR. Inflight refueling probe, increased internal fuel capacity, terrain following/terrain avoidance radar.

CH-47F: New build version to replace CH-47D. New Honeywell engines with 4,868 SHP, upgraded airframe, new cockpit avionics with digital flight control system. All new production from Boeing's Ridley Park, PA plant, with initial deliveries to the U.S. Army in 2006. Exported to the RAF, RCAF, Australian Army and ROC Army Aviation. Coproduced in UK by Westland.

HH-47F: Combat SAR version for ROKAF.

MH-47F: Special Operations helicopter for 160th SOAR. Includes all CH-47F features, including glass cockpit, radar, and NVG-compatible cockpit.

CH-47J: CH-47D version produced in Japan by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Kits supplied at first from Boeing prewar, with Kawasaki producing helicopters and parts for JGSDF, JASDF, and for the U.S, Britain, Canada, and Australia during the war.

CH-47DG: Upgraded version of C for Greek Army.

CH-47SD: Version of D with increased fuel capacity for Singapore AF, Greek Army, and ROC Army Aviation.

Chinook HC: RAF version first delivered in 1980 as HC 1. Comparable to CH-47C with same power plant. Additional deliveries before and during the war comparable to CH-47D with D model power plant. HC 2 also comparable to CH-47D with surviving HC 1s upgraded to 2 standard; HC 2A version compatible with inflight refueling probe. HC 3 version for SOF support, but procurement delays caused by MOD attempts to install flight software without Boeing involvement almost resulted in program cancellation. HC 4,and 5 are upgraded HC 2, and 3 versions. HC 6 is RAF version of CH-47F.

Boeing 234: Civil versions used in U.S., UK, and Canada. A number were appropriated for military use (along with their crews)



Users:

Allies:

United States Army (including Reserve and National Guard)

Royal Air Force

Royal Australian Air Force

Canadian Forces (later RCAF)

Republic of China Army Aviation

Republic of Korea Army Aviation

Republic of Korea Air Force


Other users:

Argentina: Army and Air Force

Egypt: Air Force

Greece: Army Aviation

India: On order for Indian Air Force

Iran: Iranian Army and Air Force

Italy: Italian Army

Japan: JASDF and JGSDF

Libya: Italian-built versions for Air Force

Morocco: Air Force

Netherlands: Air Force

Singapore: Air Force

Spain: Spanish Army Aviation

Turkey: On order for Turkish Army

United Arab Emirates: Air Force


Service:

CH-47s saw service from the first day of the war until the last, in all theaters. CH-47s were preferred in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and New Mexico in the SOF support mission and were the only helicopters involved in the Denver Airlift, with the 3-140 Aviation Battalion (CA NG) the primary unit. Several of their Chinooks were field modified to a version of the“Go-go Birds” for the SOF and CSAR mission.

Chinooks also saw yeoman duty supporting the Army's airborne and air assault divisions, as well as in the general transport and Medevac missions.

RAF and Canadian Chinooks supported the Northern Theater alongside their U.S. Army counterparts, with several RAF and Canadian CH-47s supporting the defenders of Vancouver.

ROK and ROC CH-47s supported their expeditionary forces in the Southwest in the same roles as their U.S. Army counterparts.

At least one CH-47 was captured by the Soviets in Alaska, and shipped to the USSR for evaluation. One other Chinook was captured by Cuban forces in Texas, and was photographed in Cuban markings. That Chinook was then given to the Libyan Expeditionary Force in 1986, operating alongside six Libyan CH-47Cs. The captured aircraft was recovered during the collapse of the Pueblo Pocket in 1987, along with two surviving Libyan Chinooks. The captured aircraft was then shipped to Boeing's facility in Ridley Park, PA, for repair and reissue. The two Libyan examples were evaluated by the Army, prior to their own trip to Pennsylvania for cockpit upgrades and new engines. One of the captured Libyan examples is now on display in Pueblo, while the second is at the Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker, AL.

[clancyphile]

Post-war the CH-47G came out, with MH-47G special operations and HH-47G CSAR variants offered as well.

[Bernard Woolley]

Model 234LRs were used for a while by British Airways Helicopters/British International Helicopters to support the North Sea oil and gas industry. That ended in 1986 when one was lost along with 45 lives (OOC: a real incident). Post-accident the oil industry decided that the Chinook was too big for the role. The surviving Chinooks were taken over by the RAF and generally used as a source of spare parts.