08/15/2008. Remarks by Ray Watkins: "The USN sought an anti-submarine warfare helicopter in 1950. Bell won the competition and a contract for three prototypes, as the XHSL-1, this was the first and only tandem-rotor helicopter design produced by Bell.

The first prototype flew on March 4, 1953 and the aircraft suffered many developmental problems. In service it had problems with noise levels (which hindered sonar detection) and the overall size of the helicopter for use on escort carriers. A contract for 78 aircraft was cut back to fifty in July 1955."