RJ....
Walk on water....why drag the Marines into this?
Also...you forget the mini's running around...called Dolphins (Dough Fiends by the Tea Drinkers). The USCG seems to do quite well with those for some reason and their mission is very similar to that being discussed for the 139 it would appear.
Of course what does the USCG know of rescue flying or the US Navy for that matter. Afterall...they use Rescue Swimmers and Baskets of all things.
I wonder if a concept called "thinking outside the box" has been tried in this discussion?
The crux of the argument as I read it....The SeaKing/S-61....regardless of the cabin size is the SAR bird of choice. Never mind it does not have the Carson blades, Carson Tail rotor,or other performance enhancements.....cannot do AAR (air to air refuel)...but afterall...change is never good.