The CH-53 Sea Stallion (Sikorsky S-65) is an American family of heavy-lift transport helicopters designed and built by the American manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft. The Sea Stallion was originally developed in response to a request from the United States Navy's Bureau of Naval Weapons made in March 1962 for a replacement for the Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave helicopters flown by the United States Marine Corps (USMC).

In July 1962, Sikorsky's proposal, which was essentially a scaled-up S-61R fitted with twin General Electric T64 turboshaft engines and the dynamic system of the S-64/CH-54, was selected. On October 14th, 1964, the YCH-53A performed its maiden flight; the first deliveries of production CH-53s to operational units commenced on September 12th, 1966. The first combat use of the type occurred during the following year when it was deployed to the Vietnamese theater; the CH-53 quickly proved its value for moving heavy payloads, particularly in the recovery of damaged aircraft.

Several variants of the type were promptly introduced. The United States Air Force introduced the HH-53 "Super Jolly Green Giant", configured for special operations and combat search and rescue (CSAR) missions, during the latter part of the Vietnam War; the majority of these were subsequently rebuilt into the MH-53 Pave Low. The visually similar CH-53E Super Stallion is a heavier-lifting improved version of the rotorcraft, designated S-80E by Sikorsky; its third engine makes it more powerful than the Sea Stallion and thus displaced it for the heavy-lift mission. Furthermore, many early-build CH-53s were refitted with more powerful engines, while others were reconfigured for different mission roles, such as US presidential flights, training, and airborne mine countermeasures (AMCM) operations.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a USMC CH-53E Sea Stallion heavy lift helicopter that was attached to HMH-461 "Ironhorse," then participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom during 2003. Pre-order! Ship Date: September 2026.

Dimensions:
Rotor Span: 10-inches
Length: 10-inches

Release Date: ?

Historical Account: "Ironhorse" - Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 (HMH-461) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of CH-53K King Stallion transport helicopters. The squadron, known as "Ironhorse", is based at Marine Corps Air Station New River in North Carolina and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 29 (MAG-29) and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW). With its lineage starting in 1944, HMH-461 is the oldest active Heavy Lift Helicopter Squadron in the Marine Corps.

In January 2011, HMH-461, joined by a detachment from HMH-465, deployed to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 11.1. During the deployment, Ironhorse moved more than 7.7 million pounds of cargo, carried over 35,000 passengers, and conducted two Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) missions retrieving two crashed H-47 aircraft.

The squadron would deploy again to Camp Bastion in 2013, this time as an entire unit, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 13.1; moving more than 4.3 million pounds of cargo, 23,800 passengers, and completing more than 130 named tactical raids and assaults. For its operational excellence in Afghanistan, HMH-461 was awarded the Keith B. McCutcheon, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron of the Year Award in 2012 and 2014.