Helicopters to join increased Marine detachment in Darwin from 2014

US Marine CH-53E Sea Stallion (US DoD Photo/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ken J. Riley)

Here's an interesting announcement by the Australian Prime Minister's Office/Department of Defence that seems to have pretty much flown under the radar of the defence media; from 2014 the Marine presence in Darwin will increase to 1,150 from the current 250. The Marines will also station four "heavylift helicopters" (Ed: CH-53 Sea Stallions, I presume? The MV-22 Osprey can haul more, but they aren't technically "helicopters" per se) at RAAF Darwin with 130 personnel to support the deployment, which will occur on six-month rotations during Darwin's dry season (May to October).

The press release repeats the plan to increase the Marine presence in the Northern Territory to 2,500 personnel from 2016, which will then comprise of a full MAGTF (Marine Air-Ground Task Force).

USN MH-53E Sea Dragon destroyed in South Korean crash

A U.S. Navy Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter has been destroyed after making an emergency landing at the southern seaside village of Pohang in South Korea on Friday. No casualties were reported among the twelve American military on board or on the ground.

It was reported that a fire started from the rotor and consumed the helicopter before being putting out by firefighters sent to the scene.

The MH-53E Sea Dragon is a version of the CH-53E Super Stallion used by the U.S. Navy for the airborne mine countermeasures role. A total of 46 Sea Dragons were built.

PHOTO: MH-53 Sea Dragon prepares to land at Japanese airfield

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110331-N-5716H-324 SENDAI, Japan (March 31, 2011) An MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadron 14 (HM-14), embarked aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46), prepares to land at a Japan Self-Defense Force airfield. Tortuga is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting Operation Tomodachi. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Josh Huebner/Released)

US Marine CH-53 crashes off Kaneohe Bay, one crewmember killed

One Marine died and three others were injured, two critically, after a Marine Corps CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter crashed into a sandbar off Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. The helicopter was assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 363 based at nearby Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay.

Hawaii-based Marine CH-53 squadrons trade places in Afghanistan

The Pegasus has landed. The Ugly Angels of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 will now head home and HMH-463 Pegasus will continue in their place at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. Both units are homebased at Marine Combat Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii and operate the CH-53D Sea Stallion

PHOTO: JMSDF MH-53 lands on USS Denver

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A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) MH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter touches down on the flight deck of the amphibious transport dock USS Denver (LPD 9) during exercise Keen Sword 2011 in the East China Sea on Dec. 5, 2010. Keen Sword is the 10th joint-bilateral field training exercise since 1986 involving Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and the U.S. military. The timing of this exercise also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the signing of the U.S.-Japan Cooperation and Security Treaty. Denver is part of the permanently forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is conducting a scheduled patrol in the Western Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bryan Blair)

PHOTO: HMM-262 CH-53E Sea Stallion takes off from USS Essex

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100927-N-5538K-153 PHILIPPINE SEA (Sept. 27, 2010) A CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 262, takes off from the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex is part of the forward-deployed Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is underway in the western Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Casey H. Kyhl/Released)

PHOTO: CH-53E lands during the 31st MEU Air Combat Element fly-on

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100907-N-5215E-056 SEA OF JAPAN (Sept. 7, 2010) A CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopter lands during the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) Air Combat Element fly-on aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex is conducting a patrol in the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew A. Ebarb/Released)

PHOTO: C-17 loads CH-53 for Pakistan flood relief

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Airmen and Marines move a CH-53E Super Stallion onto a C-17 Globemaster III Aug. 20, 2010, at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. The helicopter is one of four that will be used to supplement U.S. military rescue and relief efforts in the flood-affected areas of Pakistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Kamaile O. Long)

PHOTO: Marines board a CH-53E on the USS Peleliu

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100812-N-3729D-022 INDIAN OCEAN (Aug. 12, 2010) Marines assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU), embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) in the Indian Ocean, board a U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter. The Marines are the first wave to go ashore in Pakistan to help maintain the heavy lift aircraft the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps are providing to deliver relief supplies to flood-stricken regions. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Andrew Dunlap/Released)

See related story: USS Peleliu to Provide Helos for Pakistan Relief