Vietnam War Ch-46 Sea Knight Helicopter Promo Film “Wings for the Ground Commander”
Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight is a medium-lift tandem-rotor transport helicopter powered by twin turboshaft engines. It was designed by Vertol and manufactured by Boeing Vertol following Vertol’s acquisition by Boeing. During 1961, the US Marine Corps (USMC), who had been studying its requirements for a medium-lift, twin-turbine cargo/troop assault helicopter, selected Boeing Vertol’s Model 107M as the basis from which to manufacture a suitable rotorcraft to meet their needs. Known colloquially as the “Phrog” and formally as the “Sea Knight”, it was operated across all US Marine Corps’ operational environments between its introduction during the Vietnam War and its frontline retirement during 2014. The Sea Knight was operated by the USMC to provide all-weather, day-or-night assault transport of combat troops, supplies and equipment until it was replaced by the MV-22 Osprey during the 2010s. The USMC also used the helicopter for combat support, search and rescue (SAR), casualty evacuation and Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP). The Sea Knight also functioned as the US Navy’s standard medium-lift utility helicopter prior to the type being phased out of service in favor of the MH-60S Knighthawk during the early 2000s. The commercial version of the rotorcraft is the BV 107-II, referred to simply as the “Vertol”.