The CH-46E numbered 275 untis built up from the A-, D- and F-models. These all included modernized avionics suites, improved transmission boxes and upgraded T58 General Electric turboshaft engines. The HH-46E were three SAR conversions for the USMC from the CH-46E stock. The VH-46F was formed from the CH-46F and used as a VIP support model.
CH-46X was a proposed, all-modern successor to the CH-46 line but not followed-up on.
Production of 524 total CH-46 helicopters was had from 1962 until 1971 with the USMC becoming the type's largest global operator. The aircraft was produced under the Vertol Aircraft Corporation and Boeing Vertol brand labels for its time. The United States Navy also began to rely on the type as did the United States State Department for a time. The USMC fielded the system during the latter half of the Vietnam War (1955-1975) where it was used in all manner of roles - general transport, assault support, Search and Rescue (SAR), MEDical EVACuation (MEDEVAC) and special operations support. The USN gave up use of the CH-46 in 2004 and the USMC followed until 2015.
Other operators went on to include the Canadian Army and Air Force who both operated the type as the CH-113 Voyageur and Labrador (respectively). Japan operated the type as the KV-107II through a series of variants and also took on license local production of the helicopter. The Japanese used the CH-46 across their air, army, marine and police services for a time. The Saudi Ministry of Interior and the Royal Thai Army both relied on the CH-46 (both being former operators).
Sweden purchased ten UH-46B in 1963 from the United States stock and designated them as Hkp 4A in service. This was further bolstered by another eight KV-107 helicopters built by Japan-based Kawasaki under license (becoming the Hkp 4B in Swedish service). The Swedes also made use of the Hkp 4C and Hkp 4D marks in service.
With its inherent power of two turboshaft engines driving wide-spanning main rotor blades (these effectively cancelling out torque and making for a more stable rotary-wing platform), the CH-46 carried a crew of three and held space for up to 25 troops or 15 medical litters and their accompanying staff. The Sea Knight, like its Chinook counterpart, could also be arranged to carry an external sling load under the fuselage as needed.
Though the United States Army elected to take on the dimensionally larger C-47 Chinook into service, the Marine Corps accepted their CH-46's in 1961 to replace their aging UH-34 helicopter series. By 1964, deliveries were in full swing. The USMC no longer relies on the CH-46 as a workhorse and the series in mainly in use with the US Department of State and several private civilian market companies.
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