Sikorsky
H-3 / HSS-2
Sea King / Jolly Green Giant
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SH-3A
Photo: Robert Deering 6/28/2010
USS Midway Museum (CV-41)
San Diego, California

The Sikorsky H-3 Sea King (company designation S-61) became operational with the United States Navy in June 1961.  It was used primarily for anti-submarine warfare, detecting and tracking Soviet submarines and, in time of war, would be used to attack enemy submarines as well.  Night-time ASW operations were possible, with considerable difficulty.  The Sea King was widely exported, particularly for its anti-submarine capabilities, and was operated in large numbers by several nations, including Brazil, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.

The Sea King also performed various other roles and missions such as search and rescue, transport, anti-shipping and airborne early warning operations. Aircraft carriers would typically deploy Sea Kings to operate in the close vicinity of the carrier in order to act as a plane guard, ready to respond to another aircraft that crashed during takeoff or landing.  Providing a safety margin for other operations, and transferring personnel and mail in between vessels were routine, if less prestigious, duties for the US Navy Sea Kings.

Several Sea Kings, operated by the United States Marine Corps were used as the official helicopters of the President of the United States. 

The United States Air Force used a highly modified version as a military transport for personnel and cargo, and another version was adopted for combat search and rescue for downed pilots known as the "Jolly Green Giant."

SOURCE: Wikipedia

Variants

XHSS-2
 The only prototype of the H-3 Sea King.

YHSS-2 / YSH-3A
 Pre-production S-61 aircraft, seven built for the U.S. Navy.

SH-3A (HSS-2)
Anti-submarine warfare helicopter for the U.S. Navy; 245 built.

HH-3A
 Combat search and rescue helicopter for the U.S. Navy. Converted from SH-3A.

NH-3A (S-61F)
 Experimental high-speed compound helicopter, with extensive streamlining, no floats, short wings carrying two turbojet engines for extra speed; one converted from SH-3A.  Later modified with a tail rotor able to rotate 90° to serve as a pusher propeller; this helicopter demonstrated "Roto-Prop" pusher propeller for Sikorsky's S-66 design.

RH-3A
 Minesweeper helicopter for the U.S. Navy. Nine converted from SH-3A aircraft.

VH-3A (HSS-2Z)
 VIP transport helicopter for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps.  Eight built, plus two SH-3A (STAKE) conversions rebuilt from damaged helicopters (one YHSS-2 and one SH-3A). One (Army operated) was given to Egypt in 1972 and one (also Army operated) crashed at Walker Key, Bahamas in 1973. The rest were returned to the U.S. Navy in 1975–76 and replaced by the VH-3D. At least two have subsequently been placed in museums.

SH-3D (S-61B, HSS-2A)
 Anti-submarine warfare helicopter for the U.S. Navy. 73 built and two conversions from SH-3As.

VH-3D
 VIP transport helicopter for the U.S. Marine Corps. It entered service in 1976.

SH-3G
 Cargo, utility transport helicopter for the U.S. Navy. 105 conversions from SH-3A and SH-3D.

SH-3H (HSS-2B)
 Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter for the U.S. Navy.  It included SH-3G features with improvements for ASW, anti-ship missile detection and airframe. 163 SG-3s were upgraded to SH-3H configuration.

SH-3H AEW
 Airborne early warning version for the Spanish Navy.

 UH-3H
 Cargo, utility transport version for the U.S. Navy.

CH-3A
 Military transport version for the U.S. Air Force; three converted from SH-3As into CH-3A configuration; they later became CH-3Bs.

CH-3B
 Military transport helicopter for the U.S. Air Force.

CH-3C
 Military transport helicopter for the U.S. Air Force featuring a new rear fuselage design with a ramp for vehicles and other cargo.  75 built.

CH-3E
 Upgraded CH-3C with more powerful engines.  41 CH-3C's conversions plus 45 new aircraft.

 HH-3E “Jolly Green Giant”
 Modified CH-3E for combat rescue missions for the U.S. Air Force with armor, defensive armament, self-sealing fuel tanks, a rescue hoist, and in-flight refueling capability.  50 conversions built.


SH-3A
 Photo: Robert Deering 6/28/2010
USS Midway Museum (CV-41)
 San Diego, California
 

HH-3A
Photo: Robert Deering 7/16/2014
American Helicopter Museum
Brandywine Airport (OQN)
West Chester, Pennsylvania
 

VH-3A
Photo: Robert Deering 6/9/2018
Ronald Reagan Presidential
Library and Museum
Simi Valley, California
 

HH-3E
Photo: Robert Deering 10/18/2012
National Museum of the USAF
 Wright-Patterson AFB (FFO)
 Dayton, Ohio