Utility helicopters become a naval necessity

The S-55 family provides a starting point for the AW101 Merlin and for modern US Navy and Marine Corps tactical-lift aircraft. Utility helicopters lack the glamour of gunships, but they perform the carrying and support work that makes a helicopter force useful. Their payload can support anti-submarine equipment, and their range can place patrols and ASW pickets far beyond the operating ship. Multiple aircraft operating at distance complicate a submarine's approach even when they cannot guarantee detection. The Chickasaw and Whirlwind helped turn the helicopter from niche equipment into a necessary part of fleet operations.