page_title: Kaman SH-2 Seasprite
section_title: Variants
hierarchical_section_title: Kaman SH-2 Seasprite / Variants
caption_attribution_description: English: One of two U.S. Navy Kaman YSH-2E Seasprite LAMPS II-prototypes (BuNo 150169) landing on the guided missile cruiser (then "frigate") USS Fox (DLG-33) at San Diego, California (USA), in 1971.
context_page_description: The Kaman SH-2 Seasprite is a ship-based helicopter originally developed and produced by American manufacturer Kaman Aircraft Corporation. It has been typically used as a compact and fast-moving rotorcraft for utility and anti-submarine warfare missions.
  Development of the Seasprite had been initiated during the late 1950s in response to a request from the United States Navy, calling for a suitably fast and compact naval helicopter for utility missions. Kaman's submission, internally designated as the K-20, was favourably evaluated, leading to the issuing of a contract for the construction of four prototypes and an initial batch of 12 production helicopters, designated as the HU2K-1. Under the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system, the HU2K was redesignated H-2, the HU2K-1 becoming the UH-2A. Beyond the U.S. Navy, the company had also made efforts to acquire other customers for export sales, in particular the Royal Canadian Navy; however, the initial interest of the Canadians was quelled as a result of Kaman's demand for price increases and the Seasprite performing below company projections during its sea trials.
context_section_description: YHU2K-1
  Four test and evaluation prototypes powered by an 875-shp General Electric T58-GE-6 turboshaft engine. Later redesignated YUH-2A in 1962.
  HU2K-1
  Utility transport helicopter, powered by a 1,250-shp (932-kW) General Electric T58-GE-8B turboshaft engine. Initial production version. Later redesignated UH-2A in 1962. 88 built.
  UH-2B
  Utility transport helicopter, same as UH-2A without IFR instruments, although these were later added without a subsequent change to the designation. 102 built.
  H-2 "Tomahawk"
  A gunship version based on UH-2A. One prototype was built and tested for the U.S. Army in 1963. The Army selected it in November 1963, but the planned order for 220 H-2s was forsaken for additional UH-1 orders.
  NUH-2B
  One aircraft (147978) fitted with Beechcraft Queen Air wings and a General Electric J85 turbojet engine in May 1968.
  UH-2C
  UH-2A and UH-2B helicopters fitted with two General Electric T58-GE-8B turboshaft engines. One former UH-2A acted as a prototype and was followed by 40 conversions from UH-2A and UH-2B.
  NUH-2C
  One UH-2C helicopter (147978) was modified with stub-wings and pylons for weapons trials, missiles fitted included the AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-7 Sparrow III air-to-air missiles.
  NUH-2D
  Redesignation of the NUH-1C test and evaluation helicopter.
  HH-2C
  Search and rescue helicopter, armed with a single Minigun in a chin-mounted turret and two waist mounted 7.62mm machine guns, six conversions.
  HH-2D
  Search and rescue helicopter, without any armament or armor but fitted with T58-GE-8F engines and four-bladed tail rotor, 67 conversions from UH-2A and UH-2Bs.
  SH-2D
  Anti-submarine warfare helicopter, 20 conversions from earlier models.
  YSH-2E
  Two test and evaluation helicopters, fitted with an advanced radar and LAMPS equipment.
  SEALITE
  Intended as the definitive version of the Seasprite for the LAMPS program. A 'lightweight' design for use on naval destroyers and escort vessels which had helicopter deck loading limits of about 6,000 lb (2,720 kg). Was to utilize the dynamic system of the basic UH-2 helicopter, but with a small, lighter fuselage, new skid landing gear, one Pratt & Whitney (UACL) PT6T (T400-CP-400) turboshaft engine, and a three-blade folding rotor with a new rotor hub to keep the maximum gross weight at 7,900 lb (3,583 kg). Planned in three variants, ASW, CMD (Cruise Missile Defense, i.e. anti-ASM), and General Purpose. The company designation for the SEALITE was K-820. Due to post-Vietnam cutbacks, the SH-2F was ultimately procured instead.
  SH-2F
  Anti-submarine warfare helicopter, powered by two 1,350 shp (1,007 kW) General Electric T58-GE-8F turboshaft engines. Improved version. Mostly conversions from SH-2Ds and earlier models. Bureau numbers 161641 through 161652 and 161654 through 163214, a total of 59 aircraft, entered service as SH-2Fs.
  YSH-2G
  1 SH-2G prototype converted from an SH-2F.
  Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite
  Anti-submarine warfare helicopter, powered by two 1,723 shp (1,285 kW) General Electric T700-GE-401 turboshaft engines.
caption: A YSH-2E "LAMPS II" prototype approaching USS Fox (CG-33), 1971.
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