Vietnam – October 2019

18 VIETNAM

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By Carl O. Schuster

Crew: Three to Four

Engine: Two Pratt

& Whitney T73-700

turboshaft, 4,800

horsepower each

Rotor diameter:

72 ft.

Length: 88 ft., 6 in.

Max. payload:

28,000 lbs.

Max. slingload:

28,000 lbs.

Max. speed:

150 mph

Range: 230 miles

Armament: None

Heavy hauler

The Skycrane could carry

up to 28,000 pounds of

cargo or a troop “pod” with

45 soldiers on short trips.

Helpful helo

Skycranes were

credited with

recovering 380

damaged aircraft.

CH- 54 B TARHE SKYCRANE

Power lifter

Two 4,800 horsepower

engines and a six-blade

rotor provided unmatched

lifting power.

On April 1, 1968, two battalions of Marines moved out from Landing Zone Stud and started

to drive up Route 9 toward Khe Sanh. As the Marines advanced, elements of the 1st Cavalry

Division (Airmobile) seized key terrain dominating the route ahead. By midday, CH-54 Tarhe

helicopters, whose particular talents earned them the more popular name “Skycranes,”

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also carried heavy equipment to the Marine engineers rebuilding the road. The 1st Cav’s

2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, linked up with Khe Sanh’s garrison on April 8, and

the engineers declared Route 9 open three days later.

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greater lift capacity than any other rotary-wing aircraft then in service. The Army initially

ordered 54, and named the aircraft after an 18th century Wyandot tribal chief. Four pre-

production YCH-54s deployed to Vietnam in 1965 with the 1st Cav’s 478th Aviation Com-

pany (Heavy Helicopters). They quickly proved their worth, recovering downed aircraft and

transporting 155 mm howitzers, bulldozers and other bulky equipment and supplies. They

also dropped 10-ton bombs to collapse tunnels and create instant landing zones. By 1967, the

Army had three heavy helicopter aviation companies in Vietnam, each with 10 Skycranes.

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sion and stronger engines. However, the Skycrane’s lack of armament and limited agility

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helicopters entered service, the Skycranes were increasingly relegated to rear-area missions

before being withdrawn by 1972. During the helicopter’s eight years in Vietnam, one was

shot down and eight were lost from operational causes.

Nonetheless, the CH-54 provided a vital service during the war, recovering more than 380

downed aircraft. Skycranes served with the U.S. Army Reserves well into the 1990s, and

commercialized versions are still employed with civilian transport companies supporting

the energy and forest industries throughout the U.S. Northwest, Alaska and Canada. V

Straddling the load

The CH-54’s stalky

landing gear gave it great

airlifting versatility.