Editing Kaman SH-2 Seasprite (section)

===Origins===
[[File:YUH-2A 147204 ditching NAN7-63.jpg|thumb|A YUH-2A during ditching trials, 1963]]
[[File:UH-2A HU-1 hoisting man from USS JR Craig (DD-885) c1964.jpg|thumb|UH-2A hoists someone from a ship, 1964. The Seasprite began its military career as modest naval utility helicopter.]]

In 1956, the USN launched a competition for a compact, all-weather multipurpose naval helicopter, and encouraged submissions from private companies.<ref name=Complete_Encyclopedia>Donald, David ed. "Kaman H-2 Seasprite", ''The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft''. Barnes & Noble Books, 1997. {{ISBN|0-7607-0592-5}}.</ref><ref name = "McGowen 60"/> Kaman responded with its ''K-20'' design, a relatively conventional helicopter with a [[General Electric T58|General Electric T58-8F]] [[turboshaft]] engine droving a 44-foot four-bladed main rotor and a four-bladed tail rotor.<ref name = "McGowen 60">McGowen 2005, p. 60.</ref><ref name=Apostolo/> Kaman won the competition<ref name=Apostolo>Apostolo, G. ''The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters''. Bonanza Books, 1984. {{ISBN|0-517-43935-2}}.</ref><ref name = "Pattillo 211">Pattillo 2001, p. 211.</ref> and was awarded a contract to construct four prototypes and an initial batch of 12 production helicopters, designated as the ''HU2K-1''.<ref name=Complete_Encyclopedia/>

In 1960, the HU2K was the RCN's preferred option for its ASW helicopter program, and the [[Government of Canada]] approved the purchase of 12 Seasprites for $14.5 million.<ref>Soward 1995, pp. 169–171.</ref> However, the purchase was disrupted by Kaman suddenly raising the price to $23 million, and concerns that the helicopter's designed [[Aircraft gross weight|weight]] and performance criteria were overoptimistic. The RCN delayed making a decision until after the USN sea trials<ref>Soward 1995, pp. 244–246.</ref> which confirmed that the HU2K was overweight and underpowered for their needs. In late-1961, Canada selected the competing [[Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King]] instead.<ref>Soward 1995, pp. 261–262.</ref>

In the late-1960s, without further orders Kaman decided to terminate production after completing the USN order of 184 H-2s. However, in 1971, production was restarted for the improved SH-2F<ref name = "Pattillo 312">Pattillo 2001, p. 312.</ref> to operate from older frigates. This ability meant it stayed in service to the end of the century, as even with the introduction of the newer, larger and overall more capable [[Sikorsky SH-60 Sea Hawk]] which entered service starting in the mid-1980s, but it could not operate safety from the smaller flight decks like the smaller Seasprite.<ref>Lehman 2001, p. 183.</ref>