USS Bronstein (FF-1037)
Weapon Systems

QH-50 Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter (DASH)

Remotely-piloted aircraft  manufactured by Gyrodyne.
Particulars:
Maximum speed  80 knots
Cruise speed  60 knots
Service ceiling  QH-50C, 16,500 ft (5,030 m)
    QH-50D, 25,000 ft (7,620 m)
Hover ceiling  QH-50C, 11,300 ft (3,445 m)
    QH-50D, 16,000 ft (4,875 m)
Range   60 nautical miles
Weapons   2 MK 46 torpedoes or
    1 torpedo and 1 sonobouy
Maximum weight  QH-50C, 2,300 lbs (1,043 kg)
    QH-50D, 2,350 lbs (1,066 kg)
Rotor diameter  20 ft (6.1 m)
Engine   QH-50C, Boeing T50-B0-8A
    QH-50D, Boeing T50-B0-10
Horsepower  300 shp

The Deck Control Officer visually controled the DASH during take off and landing from the flight deck. Flight and weapons release were controlled from the Combat Information Center. A special variant of DASH known as "Snoopy" used in Viet Nam also carried a television camera for gunnery spotting and surveillance work.
The DASH system was placed in service 1963 as a long-range anti-submarine weapon system. Due to problems that resulted in many training and operational losses of the aircraft, the system was withdrawn from service in 1969 from the US Navy.