The Boeing Vertol H-46 Sea Knight was a versatile tandem-rotor helicopter used extensively by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps for transporting personnel, cargo, and supplies between ships and shore. Entering military service in the 1960s, the Sea Knight’s distinctive front-and-rear rotor design provided excellent lifting capability while eliminating the need for a tail rotor, making it well suited for operations aboard crowded naval vessels. Navy versions, designated UH-46, became especially important for vertical replenishment (VERTREP) missions, carrying food, ammunition, spare parts, mail, and other supplies from support ships to aircraft carriers and other vessels without requiring the ships to stop or enter port. Marine Corps CH-46s became famous during the Vietnam War for carrying troops into combat, evacuating casualties, and delivering supplies to remote locations. Rugged, dependable, and remarkably adaptable, the H-46 Sea Knight served for decades and became one of the most recognizable workhorse helicopters in American naval aviation.