The CH-46 Sea Knight (HC-6) was a U.S. Navy helicopter primarily used for cargo and troop transport missions. Operated by Helicopter Combat Support Squadron SIX (HC-6), also known as the “Chargers”, the squadron was based at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, and flew the Sea Knight for decades.
When the CH-46 Sea Knight was tasked with delivering cargo, it typically operated in two modes:
- Internal Cargo Transport – carrying supplies, equipment, or personnel inside the cabin.
- External Cargo Lift – using a sling system under the fuselage to carry pallets, vehicles, ammunition, or other heavy loads directly to ships or forward operating bases.
This made the Sea Knight a vital part of the Navy’s vertical replenishment (VERTREP) missions, where it shuttled supplies between underway ships, ensuring carrier groups and surface fleets remained stocked while at sea.
Would you like me to make you a visual diagram of the CH-46 Sea Knight delivering cargo (internal + external) so it’s easier to see how the process worked?
