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From: hmueller@wfsc4.tamu.edu (Hal Mueller)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Unmanned ASW Helo (Was Re: Helicopter resupply mission)
Message-ID: <1990Nov29.002729.19104@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 29 Nov 90 00:27:29 GMT
References: <1990Nov25.223324.14409@cbnews.att.com> <1990Nov27.043636.1845@cbnews.att.com>
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Organization: Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University
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From: hmueller@wfsc4.tamu.edu (Hal Mueller)


>didn't the US Navy have a remotely controlled ASW helo drone?  i
>know that lots of older frigates still in commission have the
>small hangar designed for this drone (most have since been
>extended to support the manned ASW helos).  as i understood it,
>the ASW drone was discontinued for "loss of control" problems.

The system was called DASH--Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter.  The
BROOKE class FFG (originally DEG-1 through 6) was designed to 
carry two.  They later operated with early versions of LAMPS (one
LAMPS bird only).  Since the BROOKE class was built on a GARCIA-class
hull, it's plausible that the GARCIA class was originally meant to
be a DASH platform as well.

The GLOVER (a one-of-a-kind FF) was designed to carry one, and her
JP-5 (jet fuel) system was designed to fuel only one; when I was 
aboard her I was told that that's the reason they weren't certified 
for in-flight refueling.  GLOVER's flight deck was too small for 
any manned helo in service.

I remember hearing, though I can't remember the source, that
DASH's primary failing was that the operators liked to run
the helos at the edge of their control range.  When they flew
out of range, they lost control.  I've also seen a film of
a DASH politely keeping station 100 yards abeam of the control
ship and refusing all orders.

--
Hal Mueller               Remember that the only thing the USAF and USN have
hmueller@wfsc4.tamu.edu   ever agreed on is that the Army shouldn't have
n270ca@tamunix.Bitnet     fixed-wing aircraft.  --Mary Shafer