Into flight thumb|SH-3As of HS-6 above in the early 1960s On 11 March 1959, the first prototype conducted its maiden flight. During early 1961, a pair of prototypes were stationed on board the aircraft carrier to fulfill a demand for carrier suitability trials. These trials, which involved testing the folding mechanism of the main rotor blades and a series of takeoffs performed during winds of up to , were completed successfully in mid-1961."HSS-2 Completes Carrier Trials." Naval Aviation News, July 1961, pp. 22–23. Shortly after the completion of suitability trials, the US Navy formally accepted delivery of the first HSS-2 rotorcraft, which was subsequently re-designated as the SH-3A, in September 1961.Frawley 2003, p. 194.
Into flight thumb|SH-3As of HS-6 above in the early 1960s On 11 March 1959 the first prototype conducted its maiden flight During early 1961 a pair of prototypes were stationed on board the aircraft carrier to fulfill a demand for carrier suitability trials These trials which involved testing the folding mechanism of the main rotor blades and a series of takeoffs performed during winds of up to  were completed successfully in mid-1961"HSS-2 Completes Carrier Trials" Naval Aviation News July 1961 pp 22–23 Shortly after the completion of suitability trials the US Navy formally accepted delivery of the first HSS-2 rotorcraft which was subsequently re-designated as the SH-3A in September 1961Frawley 2003 p 194