FRAM Program

It took an incredible level of commitment on the U.S. Navy's part to develop and field CNO Admiral Arleigh Burke's dream of flying remote control helicopters from his beloved WW II era destroyers. It was the only way to make those vessels have the capability of countering the strategic threat the Russian submarine force was forecasted to pose with long range torpedoes in the 1960's.

While Gyrodyne provided the QH-50C/D Helicopter for the DASH (Drone Anti - Submarine Helicopter) program, Gyrodyne had had actually nothing to do with the Navy's FRAM (Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization) program to update the Navy's destroyers to carry DASH. Prior to receiving drones, NAESU (Naval Aviation Engineering Support) representatives (both Gyrodyne and Babcock) went aboard the completed ship, after FRAM was performed, to check out the wiring interfaces. All of the connections to the ship's gyro data were in the interface box on the right side of the hangar. Gyrodyne's participation involved the hauling aboard the Drone Simulator Test Set (very large and heavy-took two men to carry it) as well other pieces of test equipment. The Babcock personnel were responsible for checking out the SRW-4 system. Most of the problems that were found and corrected were reversal of gyro information and power phases. From former Gyrodyne personnel, it should be stated that the shipyards did a good job.

This page is dedicated to the museums that have a QH-50C/D DASH (QH-50C BuAer No. DS-1156 seen above-left on the USS Richard B. Anderson DD-786 in August 1964) and is designed to be an extension of the education received at those museums. It is for those people interested in the modifications to the Navy ships themselves, to allow DASH to function. It simply was not the placing of an aircraft on a new flight deck. A 5" gun turret needed to be removed and a flight deck built (see USS Bronstein (DE-1037) at left, built from scratch with the FRAM improvements) in its place, weapons storage lockers for the MK-44 torpedoes, wire runs to the CIC station and back to the new deck control station, new antennas, adding of a hangar, and the installation of a new long range sonar system - All these things had to be added to a ship for DASH to fly and be effective. However, the job was time consuming: Some FRAM modifications took some ships out of action for more than a year!

The FRAM program consisted of two levels of modernization; the more extensive FRAM I reconstruction and the somewhat less extensive FRAM II modernization. The FRAM I program involved installation of both the ASROC and DASH systems on Destroyers (DD) and Destroyer Escorts (DE). The FRAM II program was developed primarily for the Sumners class of Destroyers, which had insufficient hull length amidships to accommodate the ASROC system. In the FRAM I reconstructions, one of the twin 5-inch gun mounts was removed as weight compensation for the ASROC system, but the FRAM II modernization kept all three of their 5-inch gun mounts.
The DASH Weapon System consisted of the installation of a flight deck, hangar facility, deck control station, CIC control station, SRW-4 transmitter facility and fore and aft antenna installation.

Finally, we wish to thank all the current and former Navy personnel who contributed to this page of history. Every frame below required detailed analysis to determine the pertinent information being seen and without fail, they provided it and did so enthusiastically. So , again, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!

And now, here is a sample of some Navy ships that underwent FRAM (and two that got the improvements during construction!) and the equipment that was installed so that it could operate DASH. Enjoy!

U.S.S. ROBERT L. WILSON (DD-847)
A BASILONE class destroyer, she displaced 3460 tons when full, was 390 feet long, had 60,000 SHP, General Electric Geared Turbines powering 2 screws to a maximum speed of 36.8 knots. She was laid down by Bath Iron Works, Bath ME on July 2 1945, Launched January 5 1946, commissioned on March 28 1946 and eventually stricken on September 30 1974. She was sunk as a target off Puerto Rico on January 25 1980.

Above, this is the Starboard side of the Flight deck of the WILSON- the area at right is the Deck control station for the DASH. Here the DASH Controller would launch DASH for hand-off to the CIC (combat information center) operator.	Above, here we are looking inside the Hangar where QH-50C, DS-1138 is stowed with the removable work stand attached to the aircraft. This view is Starboard, looking forward. Note the Blade containers at top-right.

Above, the "Library of Manuals" can be seen behind a piece of equipment called the AN/ASM-103 Automatic Flight Control Field Analyzer. The manuals required for the aircraft equipment as well as ship-based equipment exceeded over 30 volumes!	Above is the transmitter room on the WILSON. The DASH equipment begins at far right- that is the twin installation of the AN/URW-14A Radio Transmitting Sets, and below that is the PP-2288/SRW-4 Power Supply and twin set of KY-342/SRW-4C Audio Frequency Coders. Left of that assembly is the Target Control System Test Set (AN/SRM-5).
U.S.S. INGRAHAM (DD-694)
	An ALLEN M. SUMNER class destroyer, she displaced 3218 tons when full, was 376 feet 6 inches long, had 60,000 SHP, General Electric Geared Turbines powering 2 screws to a maximum speed of 36.5 knots. She was laid down by Federal Shipbuilding, Kearny, NJ on August 4, 1943, launched January 16 1944, commissioned on March 10 1944 and served until being decommissioned (and stricken) on July 16, 1971. On that day she was sold to the country of Greece, renamed Miaoulis and eventually stricken by Greece in 1992. As of January 1998, she was laid up in Souda Bay, Crete.

This is the view of the INGRAHAM's Combat Information Center or CIC for the DASH system. At top with the dial, is the Transmitter Control (C-3313/SRW-4C) and at lower right, with all the switches, is the Transmitter Control (C-2804 / SRW-4). The C-3313 control allowed the CIC Pilot/Drone controller to fly the aircraft (after transfer was made from the deck control station) to the distant sonar contact using the ships radar to track the aircraft. The C-2804 control allowed the CIC to select which antenna to use (fore or aft), which transmitter to use and to switch between deck or CIC control of the QH-50C Drone.	In the INGRAHAM's transmitter room, the aft end shows the two Target Control System Test Sets: On the left is the AN/SRM-3 and on the right is the AN/SRM-5. The SRM-3 Test set allowed the ship's DASH personnel to test performance of the target control system. The SRM-5 allowed the ship's DASH personnel to simulate signals used to control the QH-50C Drone (DASH) and diagnose any faults within the system before flying the aircraft. Each DASH ship received these test sets. An additional test set, a AN/PSM-4 Multimeter was also used to perform continuity tests.

Above is the Block Diagram for the Target Control System AN/SRW-4C which controlled the DASH system on Board U.S. Naval FRAM Destroyers
U.S.S. STEINAKER (DD-863)
A GEARING class destroyer, she displaced 3460 tons when full, was 390 feet 6 inches long, had 60,000 SHP, General Electric Geared Turbines powering 2 screws to a maximum speed of 36.8 knots. Her crew numbered 336. She was laid down by Bethlehem Steel of Staten Island, New York on September 1, 1944, launched February 13, 1945 with commissioning on May 26, 1945. On February 24, 1982, the STEINAKER was both stricken from the Naval register and sold to Mexico. She was subsequently renamed "Netzahualcoyotl" and is still active in the Mexican Navy as of May 1998.

Above, the Transmitter Control (C-3313 / SRW-4C) as installed on the STEINAKER. The C-3313 control was designed to operate the QH-50 DASH beyond visual contact distances. Controls were provided for three proportional channels and six on-off channels. A fourth channel "Lateral Trim" was available but not used.	Above is the Deck Control station on the STEINAKER. The item with the "stick" is the Transmitter Control (C-3314/SRW-4C). This control provided the control functions to govern the flight of the QH-50 Drone from lift-off from the deck to 100 yards astern the ship where CIC would take over. Upon return, CIC would release command of the drone and the Deck Controllers would land the aircraft from this station.
U.S.S. BRONSTEIN (DE-1037) The USS BRONSTEIN and her sister ship McCLOY were the only Bronstein class ships built and they are very special to the Gyrodyne Helicopter Historical Foundation: These two ships were built, from the keel-up, with the FRAM improvements and to specifically operate DASH, have the SQS-26 sonar system for target acquisition and all the other improvements that FRAM-1 brought to the Gearings, Sumner and Fletcher class destroyers. The Bronstein class ships operated the QH-50C DASH from commissioning and after their sonar upgrade to the SQS-26AX(R), received the QH-50D variant of DASH.
	A BRONSTEIN class destroyer escort, USS BRONSTEIN displaced 2650 tons when full, was 371 feet 6 inches long, had 20,000 SHP, Foster-Wheeler boilers with one De Laval geared turbine powering 1 screw to a maximum speed of 26 knots. Her crew numbered 216. She was laid down by Avondale Marine, Avondale L.A. on May 16, 1961, launched March 31, 1962, with commissioning on June 15, 1963 she was re-classified a Frigate (FF-1037) on June 30, 1975. She was eventually decommissioned and stricken on December 13, 1990 and sold to Mexico on October 1, 1993 and subsequently renamed "HERMENEGILDO GALEANA (E-42)" As of August 2001, she remains active in the Mexican Navy.

Above, is the BRONSTEIN's flight deck. The Flight Deck Station was the guiding activity for the QH-50 drone during visual portions of the flight. On the BRONSTEIN, the deck control station is at left or on the port side. While BRONSTEIN was built this way, others destroyers that were FRAM'd to receive a flight deck and control station also involved the placement of the deck control station on the right side or Starboard side. Almost EVERY FRAM installation/reconstruction was a custom installation due to the various classes of ship involved as well as differing manufacturers and the various ship yards performing the FRAM modifications.	As on other FRAM Destroyers and Destroyer Escorts, the mast assembly changed during FRAM as the DASH antenna's were installed. There were two antenna's- one for the fore (forward) and one for the aft (rear) of the ship. On the Transmitter control panel at the deck and CIC stations, the operator had the capability of selecting which antenna to use, relative to the Drone's position, to maintain maximum control capability of the Drone.

Above, the USS Bronstein (DE-1037) in dry dock at San Diego showing the massive SQS-26 bow mounted sonar being installed around December 5, 1963. This sonar gave the detection range required for the DASH weapon system to be used to its designed ASW range- out to 20,000 yards (over 11 miles from ship). The BRONSTEIN (operated in Pacific Fleet) and sister ship USS McCLOY (DE-1038) (operated in Atlantic Fleet) were both originally built with the original SQS-26 bow mounted sonar which was included as an update for other older destroyers undergoing FRAM work. The Bronstein class of Destroyer Escorts were the smallest ships that could carry the sonar when they were commissioned in 1963 and in fact were purpose-built to be test beds for the installation. They represented a halfway step between the small Dealey class and the larger Garcias class of Destroyer Escorts. The Bronstein class incorporated the same 600 PSI engineering plant as the Dealeys, but interestingly even though they were considerably larger, they were faster as well, probably because the large bow-mounted sonar gave them a more efficient hull form. The original systems were miserably unreliable and the SQS-26 AX installed in the Garcias wasn't much better. In the summer of 1967, USS McCLOY returned to dry dock to receive the SQS-26 AX (major retrofit).....both she and BRONSTEIN went straight from SQS-26 to SQS-26 AX(R) without getting the AX variant. This system was more reliable, but the BRONSTEIN class was really too small for this sonar system. The equipment rooms filled the entire forward 1/3 of the ship and the crew couldn't fire their forward 3"/50 (twin) Mk 33 guns (seen above-right) without dropping the sonar off the line. The preceding top of the line system was the SQS-23, but the SQS-26 did NOT evolve from the -23.....it was a completely new design to take advantage of bottom-bounce and convergence zone modes. With the history of BRONSTEIN above, the USS McCLOY (the only other BRONSTEIN class DE) (seen at left) suffered the same fate: After she was reclassified as a Frigate (FF-1038) on June 30, 1975, she was decommissioned on December 14, 1990, stricken December 17, 1990 and sold to Mexico on October 1, 1993 (along with BRONSTEIN) and renamed "NICHOLAS BRAVO (E-40)". As of August 2001, she still serves in the Mexican Navy.
U.S.S. EVANS (DE-1023)
A DEALEY class destroyer escort, she displaced 1877 tons when full, was 315 feet long, had two Foster-Wheeler boilers with one De Laval geared turbine generating 20,000 SHP which powered 1 screw to a maximum speed of 27 knots. Her crew numbered 173. She was laid down by Puget Sound Bridge & Dredging of Seattle Washington on April 8, 1955. She was launched on September 14, 1955 and commissioned on June 14, 1957. Eventually, she was decommissioned in September 1968, stricken on December 3, 1973 and sold for scrap on August 16, 1974.

An interesting view of checking out the FRAM installation on the EVANS for the Drone handling equipment, with a QH-50 "Simulated Aircraft" to check the cable equipment used to assist the crew in hauling the Drone back into the hangar deck, on a rolling, pitching ship deck. Winches inside the hangar, mounted on the center-fore section wall were attached to the vehicle to pull it into the hangar.	Above, a Navy Officer points out a close tolerance between the QH-50 "Simulated Aircraft" and the Deck control station. The QH-50 "Simulated Aircraft" had a 45 gal drum for an engine, rough tube fuselage and wooden tail. However, it used actual landing gear to test the handling procedures. The simulated aircraft was vital to check the fit of the aircraft to the hangar's clearances and fit of the storage areas and supplies relative to the aircraft.
U.S.S. BRADLEY (DE-1041)
	A GARCIA class destroyer escort, she displaced 3560 tons when full, was 414 feet 6 inches long, had two Foster-Wheeler boilers with one Westinghouse geared turbine generating 35,000 SHP which powered 1 screw to a maximum speed of 27.5 knots. Her crew numbered 247. BRADLEY was laid down by Bethlehem Steel of San Francisco on January 17, 1963. She was launched on March 26, 1964, commissioned May 15, 1965 and was later reclassified as a Frigate (FF-1041) on June 30, 1975. Eventually, she was decommissioned on September 9, 1988, stricken and sold to Brazil on April 15, 1989. Renamed the "Pernnambuco", she is still in service with the Brazilian Navy.

Above, the view of the BRADLEY's deck control station shows the 3 principle components of that station: At left, the Transmitter Control C-2804/SRW-4 (small box with switches and lights), with the stick is the Transmitter Control C-3314/SRW-4C and above that is the Control Monitor C-4298/ASW-20. The Control Monitor provided the Deck Control Pilot the capability to initiate the start up of the QH-50's turbine engine, and to monitor the transmission, engine and on-board electrical power of the Drone prior to launch from the ship. After launch, the Deck Control Pilot could then set the "Drone Angle relative to the ship" before handoff to CIC.	The view of the dual AN/URW-14A Transmitting sets in the BRADLEY's Transmitter room. The actual transmitting function comprised two Audio Frequency Coder (KY-342/SRW-4C) units, two Radio Transmitting sets, RF Transmitting Line Switch (SA-631/SRW-4, Interconnecting Box (J-1052/SRW-4) and two UHF Circularly Polarized Antenna AT-781A/U units. Digital-type coding required either Transmitting Control (C-3313 or C-3314) be used to provide the coded input to the radio transmitting sets. If non-proportional-type coding was selected, the internal coder in the radio transmitting set will provide requisite inputs to the transmitter.
U.S.S. RADFORD (DD-446/DDE-446)
A FLETCHER class destroyer, she displaced 2924 tons when full, was 376 feet 5 inches long, had 60,000 SHP, General Electric Geared Turbines powering 2 screws to a maximum speed of 38 knots. Her crew numbered 273. She was laid down by Federal Shipbuilding of Kearny, New Jersey on October 2, 1941. Launched May 3, 1942 and commissioned on July 22, 1942, she was decommissioned January 17, 1946 due to the end of WW II. Recommissioned October 17, 1949, she was reclassified DDE-446 on March 26, 1949 and then reclassified again, back to DD-446 on June 30, 1962. Eventually, however, RADFORD was decommissioned and stricken from the naval register on November 10, 1969 and sold and broken up for scrap in October of 1970.

Above is a view of the ONLY test set equipment located in the DASH hangar. This view is portside-mid section of the RADFORD's DASH Hangar. The test set at left is the AN/ASM-103 Automatic Flight Control Field Analyzer. The equipment below the AN/ASM-103 was the control monitor, transmitter control and decoder test sets.	Above, a technician on the RADFORD, has hooked up the AN/ASM-103 to QH-50C, DS-1199, to test the avionics. The AN/ASM-103 was designed to be directly connected to AFCS connector on the QH-50 drone and, with the Rotary servo actuator powered up with an auxiliary drive electric motor, analyze the complete avionics and flight control system of the drone and detect problems that needed adjustment. The AN/ASM-103 did this by simulating signals from the ship-based control system and then measured the avionics system response. A complete functional test using this piece of test equipment was required before a flight!

This picture on the RADFORD (above-left) provides an idea of the limited space provided for these aircraft and why their 20' rotor diameter and compactness afforded by the coaxial rotor system made DASH possible. The left picture was taken standing AGAINST the port wall, looking forward and starboard. With each Destroyer having a twin DASH installation (2 aircraft per ship), space was tight between the aircraft (see right photo). Note the winches at the forward wall for the cable-retrieval system when rolling-pitching seas made Drone handling difficult. This system was later abandoned due to easier ground handling gear and top-weight considerations.	Above shows the starboard side of the middle of the DASH hangar on RADFORD. The black hose is for fueling of the aircraft (note nozzle on the end). Also hanging on the wall are the cable assemblies for the winch arrangement. After a ASW (anti-submarine warfare) flight and removal of the twin MK-44 homing torpedoes to the side weapons locker, the QH-50 was relatively easy to move with its two ground handling wheels placed at the center of its gravity on the bottom landing gear skid.

Below is the second verse to Anchors Aweigh........ We felt this was a good way to end this page, of Navy ships and aircraft and men of a time, long gone.
Stand, Navy, out to sea, Fight our battle cry; We'll never change our course, So vicious foe steer shy-y-y-y. Roll out the TNT, Anchors Aweigh. Sail on to victory And sink their bones to Davy Jones, hooray! Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh. Farewell to college joys, we sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay. Through our last night on shore, drink to the foam, Until we meet once more. Here's wishing you a happy voyage home.

Helicopter Historical Foundation
P.O. Box 3838, Reno, Nevada USA 89505

Because of SPAM, we ask that you copy the below address into your mail program and send us your comments!

Email us at: Gyrodyne_History@Yahoo.com

The name "Gyrodyne" in its stylized form above, is the Trademark of and owned by the Gyrodyne Helicopter Historical Foundation; unauthorized use is PROHIBITED by Federal Law.

The Gyrodyne Helicopter Historical Foundation (GHHF) is a private foundation incorporated in the State of Nevada as a Non-profit organization.

GHHF is dedicated to the advancement of the education and preservation of the history of the Ships, the Men and the Company that built, operated and flew the U.S. Navy's QH-50 Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter (DASH) System and to the preservation of the history of the U.S. Army's past use of DASH.
Your support will allow for that work to continue.

U.S.S. ROBERT L. WILSON (DD-847)

U.S.S. INGRAHAM (DD-694)

Above is the Block Diagram for the Target Control System AN/SRW-4C which controlled the DASH system on Board U.S. Naval FRAM Destroyers

U.S.S. STEINAKER (DD-863)

U.S.S. BRONSTEIN (DE-1037)

U.S.S. EVANS (DE-1023)

U.S.S. BRADLEY (DE-1041)

U.S.S. RADFORD (DD-446/DDE-446)

Stand, Navy, out to sea, Fight our battle cry; We'll never change our course, So vicious foe steer shy-y-y-y. Roll out the TNT, Anchors Aweigh. Sail on to victory And sink their bones to Davy Jones, hooray!

Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh. Farewell to college joys, we sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay. Through our last night on shore, drink to the foam, Until we meet once more. Here's wishing you a happy voyage home.

The Gyrodyne Helicopter Historical Foundation (GHHF) is a private foundation incorporated in the State of Nevada as a Non-profit organization.

Stand, Navy, out to sea, Fight our battle cry;
We'll never change our course, So vicious foe steer shy-y-y-y.
Roll out the TNT, Anchors Aweigh. Sail on to victory
And sink their bones to Davy Jones, hooray!

Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh.
Farewell to college joys, we sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay.
Through our last night on shore, drink to the foam,
Until we meet once more. Here's wishing you a happy voyage home.