Helicopter Field Hospitals

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mithril

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i've been discussing with some friends on another site the use of Helicopters set up as mobile field hospitals. the site is a forum for a scifi tabletop game, and the debate is over whether Helicopters should be allowed to be built with the Mobile Field Hospital/MASH gear. a lot of those in the debate argue that such facilities would be impossible, but some of us have found indications at least a few such vehicles exist. sadly details about them seem to be in short supply for us laymen.

specifically, the Mi-26MS, which we've found mention of and which apparently includes a full surgery section along with pre-op and a small lab, in addition to the normal medic stuff.

and i've found mention of the CH-54 Tarhe being used in Vietnam with a pod housing a mobile field hospital. but i can't find more details on that beyond a mention. ideally i'd like to find out if this actually existed, and how they did it. (for example, did the pod get dropped off before it was used as a field hospital? did they do surgical stuff in flight?)


since the game's field hospital gear is specifically surgical/MASH type medical gear (the ground vehicle version is supposed to provide at least one surgical section in the vehicle.. ones in the game run the gamut of just big vehicles to smaller ones with slide out sections for space.) the medical tech is pretty much supposed to be similar to today (no super-medical-tech here), which is why we've been looking for relatively modern examples
 
The Sikorsky CH-54 Tahre (it's civilian counterpart is the S-64 Flying Crane) was designed to carry interchangable cargo pods in addition to large objects on a sling. According to this source, "The first production CH-54s began reaching Vietnam in 1965, and the type quickly proved its value as a 'flying crane' by routinely sling-lifting such outsized and weighty cargoes as artillery pieces, armoured vehicles and recovered aircraft. The Tarhes' universal cargo pods also proved very useful, for they could be used to carry up to eighty-seven troops in addition to serving as mobile hospitals, command posts or barracks." So there is a real-world example for you.

S-64%204edit.jpg
 
You can't get much more 'BattleTech' than this...

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,4424.msg194575.html#msg194575


cheers,
Robin.
 
cluttonfred said:
The Sikorsky CH-54 Tahre (it's civilian counterpart is the S-64 Flying Crane) was designed to carry interchangable cargo pods in addition to large objects on a sling. According to this source, "The first production CH-54s began reaching Vietnam in 1965, and the type quickly proved its value as a 'flying crane' by routinely sling-lifting such outsized and weighty cargoes as artillery pieces, armoured vehicles and recovered aircraft. The Tarhes' universal cargo pods also proved very useful, for they could be used to carry up to eighty-seven troops in addition to serving as mobile hospitals, command posts or barracks." So there is a real-world example for you.
Click to expand...

do you know of any sites which have more detail?
 
"A lightweight van (universal pod) could be attached to the fuselage for use as a mobile command post, maintenance and repair shop, or as a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH). The field hospital was equipped with X-Ray, lab equipment, and blood bank. It was well lighted and air conditioned so surgery could be performed where ever it was needed. "

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/h-54.htm
 
How about a video about the CH-54 Tahre and its universal pods including -- TAA DAA! -- one of the MASH-configured units in action beginning about 0:23. ;D

http://youtu.be/Qh-XUJyLxzU​
 

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