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westland sea king

   

   

Derived from s-61 h-3

Model History:

The Admiralty was not satisfied with arrangements for British anti-submarine warfare in the mid 1960s. The Wessex HAS.3 was useful for hunting and finding submaines, but lacked the power to lift or capacity to deliver missiles or depth charges to engage with them. The latter role was that of the Wasp HAS.1, which whilst it could deliver the punch, could not also carry the equipment or have the endurance to find them. Thus two airframes, operating as a relay team were required to do the job. The US Navy HSS-2 (SH-3A) provided this capability and would fit into hangars on board the 2 existing Tiger Class helicopter cruisers HMS Blake (C99) and HMS Tiger (C24). In 1967, Westland obtained a licence to build a version of the HSS-2 in the UK with all British avionics, including the proven Ekco radar/ Type 195 sonar combination from the Wessex HAS.3 and replacing the US engines with twin Gnome H1400s. An initial order for 60 Sea King HAS.1s was placed by the RN and the first UK built machine flew on 7 May 1969 from Yeovil.
At least 7 main versions of the Sea King developed for the UK armed forces, plus a further 7 near derivatives for export and 3 versions in the Commando tactical assault (and VIP transport) role.
Also export versions for at least Australia, Belgium, Egypt, Germany, India, Norway, Pakistan and Qatar.

Organisations / Units with this Model:

    Organisation     Qty UnitsBases/Heliports
1975/0813 royal australian navy
1976/now     817 squadronNowra 1963/now
1976/now5 force aérienne belge
1976/now     40 escadrille héliKoksijde / Coxyde 1974/now
1974/now22 marineflieger
1975/now     marineflieger-geschwader 5Kiel-Holtenau 1958/now
1971/now43 bharatiya nau sena
1971/now     inas 330 - harpoons
1974/now     inas 336 - flaming arrows
1990/94     inas 339 - falcons
1972/now14 luftforsvaret
1972/now     330 skvadronØrland 1973/now
1974/now7 pakistan naval air arm
1975/now     111 squadronPNS Mehran / Sharea Faisal 1975/now
1978/now25 royal air force
1977/96     sea king training unitRAF St. Mawgan 1993/96
RNAS Culdrose 1977/93
1978/now     202 squadronBrawdy 1979/94
Kent International / Manston 1988/94
Lee-on-Solent 1988
RAF Boulmer 1975/now
RAF Coltishall 1985/88
RAF Coltishall 1976/82
RAF Leconfield 1988/now
RAF Leconfield 1964/79
RAF Lossiemouth 1972/now
Thorney Island
1983/86     1564 (tactical support) flight
1986/now     78 squadron Port Stanley 1986
RAF Benson 2007/now
RAF Mount Pleasant 1986/07
1994/now     22 squadronAAC Wattisham 1994/now
RAF Coltishall 1988/94
RAF St. Mawgan 1992/97
RAF Valley 1955/now
RMB Chivenor 1958/now
1996/now     203(r) squadron CYRAF Akrotiri 2003
RAF St. Mawgan 1996/now
2007/now     1564 (tactical support) flight RAF Mount Pleasant 2007/now
1969/now112 fleet air arm
1969/70     700 squadronRNAS Culdrose 1969/70
1970/98     706 squadronRNAS Culdrose 1962/98
1970/76     826 squadronRNAS Culdrose 1966/73
RNAS Culdrose 1973/82
SGTengah Air Base 1973
1970/77     824 squadronRNAS Culdrose 1970/82
1971/78     819 squadronAAC Ballykelly 1963/71
Glasgow Prestwick 1971/01
RNAS Culdrose 1971
1972/77     820 squadronRNAS Culdrose 1964/now
1973/75     737 squadronPortland 1959/83
1973/77     814 squadronGlasgow Prestwick 1973/76
RNAS Culdrose 1976/now
1976/83     826 squadronRNAS Culdrose 1982/93
RNAS Culdrose 1973/82
1977/82     814 squadronRNAS Culdrose 1976/now
1977/80     820 squadronRNAS Culdrose 1964/now
1977/85     819 squadronGlasgow Prestwick 1971/01
1977/83     824 squadronRNAS Culdrose 1982/87
RNAS Culdrose 1970/82
1980/90     820 squadronRNAS Culdrose 1964/now
1981/93     826 squadronBoscombe Down 1992/93
RNAS Culdrose 1982/93
RNAS Culdrose 1973/82
1982/92     814 squadronRNAS Culdrose 1976/now
1982     825 squadron Port San Carlos 1982
RNAS Culdrose 1982
1982/84     824 squadronRNAS Culdrose 1982/87
RNAS Culdrose 1970/82
1982/89     824 squadronGlasgow Prestwick 1987/89
RNAS Culdrose 1982/87
RNAS Culdrose 1970/82
1983/90     810 squadronRNAS Culdrose 1983/01
1984/03     849 squadronRNAS Culdrose 1984/now
1985/93     819 squadronGlasgow Prestwick 1971/01
1988/now     771 squadronRNAS Culdrose 1974/now
1988/93     826 squadronBoscombe Down 1992/93
RNAS Culdrose 1982/93
1988/89     824 squadronGlasgow Prestwick 1987/89
1989/01     810 squadronRNAS Culdrose 1983/01
1989/03     820 squadronRNAS Culdrose 1964/now
1989/01     819 squadronGlasgow Prestwick 1971/01
1992/00     814 squadronRNAS Culdrose 1976/now
2002/now     849 squadronRNAS Culdrose 1984/now
2006/now     854 squadronRNAS Culdrose 2006/now
2006/now     857 squadronRNAS Culdrose 2006/now


Construction Numbers of this Model:

C/NVersionBuiltHistory
    wa 631 1969 fleet air arm XV643 : f/f 10/06/69, d/d 29/01/73. Built as HAS.1, converted to HAS.2A then to HAS.5 and finally to HAS.6 standard. Served with 700(S), 814, 819 & 820 NAS. To AESS (HMS Sultan) by Aug 2000.
    wa 632 1969 fleet air arm XV644 : f/f 7 Aug 1969, d/d 19 Aug 1969. HAS.1  700(S) Sq/582-CU 1969, /528-PO by Jul 1971. Ditched in English Channel off Portland and sank when flotation bags failed while with 737 Sq on 19 Nov 1974 and recovered. Wreck at Fleetlands by Jun 1976. Converted to AEW.2A, to 849 Sq/180-CU by Jul 1994, to A2664 at Lee-on-Solent by 1986 still there by 1988. Scrapped Predannack by May 1994.
    wa 633 1969 fleet air arm XV645 : ff 9 Jul 1969, dd 11 Jul 1969 to RN. 700(S) Sq/583-CU 1970, w/o 13 Jan 1972 when ditched in sea off Portland as 737 Sq/529-PO - first wholly UK-built Sea King accident.
    wa 634 1969 fleet air arm XV646 : HAS.1  f/f 30 Jul 1969, d/d 19 Aug 1969, HAS.1 700(S) Sq/584-CU 1969, w/o 25 Oct 1977 when ditched into the South West Approaches due to loss of yaw control while with 814 Sq.
    wa 635 1969 fleet air arm XV647 : ff 06 Sep1969, dd 26 Sep 1969 to RN as HAS.1 700(S) Sq/585-CU 1969, 706Sq/593-CU by Sep 1975. Converted to HAS.2A, 820 Sq/412-BL by Apr 1977, 820Sq/413-BL by Jul 1979, 820Sq/360-N by Jul 1980. Converted to HAS.5, 814 Sq/265 by 1986, 771 Sq/820-CU by 1988 still Mar 1999, to AMG-CU 24 Mar 1999. Converted to HAS.5U, 771Sq/707 by 2003, 771 Sq/828 by Apr 2005 still May 2005
    wa 636 1969 fleet air arm XV648 : ff 14 Sep 1969, dd 6 Oct 1969 to RN as HAS.1, 700(S) Sq/586-CU 1969, 706Sq/591-CU by Sep 1974 still Aug 1978. Converted to HAS.2A, 825Sq/97 May - Sep 1982. Converted to HAS.5 706Sq/587 by 1986, 706Sq/582 by 1988, /827-CU, to Boscombe Down, to 819 Sq 23 Dec 1998. Converted to HAS.5U, 819Sq/708-PW by Mar 1999 still Sep 2000, 771Sq/708-PW by Mar 2003, AMG CU by 2004, 771Sq/818 by May 2005
    wa 637 1969 fleet air arm XV649 : f/f 21/09/69, d/d 06/10/69. Built as HAS.1, converted to HAS.2A then converted to AEW.2A. Served with 700(S), 706 & 849 NAS.
    wa 638 1969 fleet air arm XV650 : f/f 02/10/69, d/d 06/11/69. Built as HAS.1 then converted to HAS.2A before being converted to an AEW.2A model. Served with 706, 819, 824, 826 & 849 NAS.
    wa 652 1970 fleet air arm XV664 : Built as Sea King HAS.1 f/f 06/05/1970, d/d 01/06/1970 to Royal Navy. 826Sq/142-E by 1971, converted to HAS.2 and to 824Sq/051-R by Nov 1978, 819Sq/304-PW by Jun 1981, 819Sq/704-PW before 1984. Converted to AEW.2A and to 849Sq/185-CU by Nov 1984, 849Sq/185-N by 1988 still Sep 1992, converted to ASaC.7 and to 849Sq A Flt/187-R by 2003 still Sep 2004, to DARA, to 849 Sq by Jun 2005 (using c/s 187 by Aug 2005), to 849Sq/190 on 13 Dec 2006, still Jul 2007.
    wa 660 1970 fleet air arm XV672 : f/f 19/9/70, d/d 5/10/70. Built to HAS 1 standard at Yeovil and served with 706, 819 and 814 Naval Air Squadrons. Converted to HAS 2 standard at Culdrose in 1979 and served with 824 and 826 Naval Air Squadrons. Ditched into the sea in 1982. after considerale repairs, XV672 was converted to AEW 2 standard and spent the 1990\'s with 849 Naval Air Squadron, serving aboard HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal. Converted to ASaC 7 standard in 2001.
    wa 665 1970 fleet air arm XV677 : f/f 18/12/70, d/d 22/01/71. Originally built as an HAS.1 it has been converted/modified to HAS.2A then HAS.5 and is now to HAS.6 spec.It has served with 706, 814, 819 & 825 Naval Air Sqns. Sold to a private owner
XV677 private owner: The airframe is currently stored at HMS Sultan awaiting it's relocation to AeroVenture, Doncaster.
XV677 private owner: 25/07/06 - Moved to AeroVenture, Doncaster, UK, home of South Yorkshire
Aircraft Museum 
    wa 746 1972 luftforsvaret 060 : Mk43. DD to R Nor AF 1972, to 330 Skv by Apr 1991. Updated to Mk43B, 330 Skv by Apr 2003.
    wa 747 1972 luftforsvaret 062 : Mk43. dd 1972 to R Nor AF.
    wa 748 1972 luftforsvaret 066 : Mk43. dd 1972 to R Nor AF. 330 Skv by Jul 1990 still Oct 1999. Updated to Mk43B.
    wa 749 1972 luftforsvaret 068 : Mk43. dd 1972 to R Nor AF. At Kjevik as instructional airframe by Apr 1995, still Aug 2003.
    wa 750 1972 luftforsvaret 069 : Mk43. dd 1972 to R Nor AF. 330 Skv by Jun 1990. Updated to Mk43B, 330 Skv by Mar 2003.
    wa 751 1972 luftforsvaret 070 : Mk43. dd 1972 to R Nor AF. 330 Skv by Mar 1987. Updated to Mk43B, 330 Skv by Sep 2001.
    wa 752 1972 luftforsvaret 071 : Mk43. dd 1972 to R Nor AF. 330 Skv by Jun 1994. Updated to Mk43B, 330 Skv by Mar 2002.
    wa 753 1972 luftforsvaret 072 : Mk43. dd 1972 to R Nor AF. R Nor AF, w/o 30 Apr 1977.
    wa 754 1972 luftforsvaret 073 : Mk43. dd 1972 to R Nor AF. 330 Skv by Jun 1990. Updated to Mk43B, 330 Skv by Aug 2003.
    wa 755 1972 luftforsvaret 074 : Mk43. dd 1972 to R Nor AF. 330 Skv by Jun 1984. Updated to Mk43B, 330 Skv by Sep 2001.
    wa 759 1972 marineflieger 89+55 : To MFG5. This was the famous 'Germany 5' airframe in the Merc Enterprise rescue of Jan 1974 in the western English Channel. Carried special '30 years of the Sea King' paint scheme during 2005, still with MFG5.
    wa 787 1974 royal australian navy N16-098 : ff 30 Jun 1974, dd 2 Mar 1975 Ex G-17-1. First RAN Sea King delivered. On board HMAS Melbourne with HS-817 for the Silver Jubilee deployment during summer 1977. Ditched in sea 23 May 79 following tail rotor failure.
    wa 788 1974 royal australian navy N16-100 : ff 6 Aug 1974, dd 8 Apr 1975. Ex G-17-2. To HS817/902 by Jan 1993, Converted to Mk50A. Aboard HMAS Manoora for Pacific Island deployment, (Christmas Island and Nauru during Sep 2001). Crashed at Amandraya, on the Indonesian island of Nias, on Saturday 2 April 2005 at approximately 7:30 pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time), whilst operating from HMAS Kanimbla during Operation Sumatra Assist (Phase 2), helping earthquake victims.
    wa 789 1974 royal australian navy N16-112 : ff 16 Oct 1974, dd 16 Apr 1975. Ex G-17-3, to G-BCHY, to RAN HS-817/903. Emergency Landing in sea 15 Jul 1986 off Kiama during Anti Submarine exercise with HMAS Adelaide when transmission oil lost. Capsized in the moderate sea. HMAS Adelaide attempted salvage struck the floating fuselage and the aircraft sank.
    wa 790 1974 royal australian navy N16-113 : ff 24 Oct 1974, ex G-17-4, G-BCHZ. To RAN dd 22 Apr 1975 as HS-817/904. Ditched in Jervis Bay 30 Nov 1976 after transmission failure. Sank during salvage attempt.
    wa 791 1974 royal australian navy N16-114 : ff 13 Oct 1974, ex G-17-5, G-BCIA, dd 11 Jul 1975 to RAN HS817/905. Appeared in special 817 Sq paint scheme during year 2000. Part of the Christmas Island border protection force between Jul and Dec 2002. Deployed on HMAS Success during Sept 2003. HS-817/905, callsign Shark 05.
    wa 792 1974 royal australian navy N16-117 : ff 13 Dec 1974 as G-17-6. dd 27 Jan 1975 to RAN. To HS817/906, Ditched in Jervis Bay 13 Nov 1975 and recovered. To Australia Museum of Flight, Nowra, NSW.
    wa 800 1974 pakistan naval air arm 4513 : To 111 Sq. w/o 8 Feb 1986. Replaced by Mk45A 4516 in Jan 1989.
    wa 831 1976 force aérienne belge RS01 : Sea King Mk.48 ex G-BDNH, to Belgian Air Force Nov 1976 as RS01 with 40 Esc.
    wa 832 1976 force aérienne belge RS02 : 080476 first flight / ex G-BDNI/G17-2 / 200576 handed over /
Crew on delivery : Cdt.J.Hilleware, 1Lt D.Payeur, Olt.W.Lelievre, 1SM W.Van Acker / 270598 damage to main- and tailrotor during landing at the Moeskroen Fire Department. The helicopter hit a lightingpost. / 081004 l/n 40Sm / scheduled to be retired in 2004/2005
    wa 833 1976 force aérienne belge RS03 : 090476 or 120476 first flight / ex G-BDNJ/G-17-3 / 280576 handed over / Crew on delivery : Kapt.M.Gyssels, 1Lt.D.Kerkhof, 1Lt.A.Jacobs, 1SM P.Vandermeersche / 031280 Emergency landing near Mont-Saint-Guibert. By cause of ice both engines stopped, but nevertheless the pilot managed to, but aircraft considerably damaged. With the aid of USAF CH47C the Sea King is transported to Koksijde and repaired. As a direct result FOD-guard where fitted in front of the air intakes of all Belgian Sea Kings / 0290 emergency landing near Naninne, defect gearbox, repaired on site / 180197 after a rescue mission after a ship collision the aircraft has to make an emergency landing in heavy fog on the quay of Koksijde, no damage / 200203 during the tragic fire in an apartment building at Mons RS03 was slightly damaged when landing nearby the plastic roof of a pumping station was shattered by the rotor-blast and sucked in by the helicopter\'s engines. (call sign Rescue 93)
021003 l/n 40Sm
    wa 834 1976 force aérienne belge RS04 : 070576 first flight / ex G-BDNK/G17-4 / 140776 handed over  / crew on delivery : Cdr.R.Orbie, 1Lt.R.Raes, 1Lt.V.Nicolai, Sgt.D.Provoost
151004 l/n 40Sm
    wa 835 1976 force aérienne belge RS05 : 070676 first flight / ex G-BDNL/G-17-5 / 020776 handed over / crew on delivery : LtCdr.P.Pitt (Royal Navy), Cdt.J.S\'Jegers, Olt.E.Vaneecke, 1SM.W.Vereecke / 030595 handed over to 40Sqn after Midlife Update by SABCA (first modernised aircraft) / 090499 inflight fire on the returnflight to Koksijde after a paradrop at Schaffen (Diest) after a problem with the AC-generator. An emergency landing was made in a field near the Old Mill of Oordegem near Lede.  The fire department which was alerted managed to put out the fire quickly and the helicopter could continue its flight to Koksijde. /
000601 f/n scs 25 Years Sea King / 130902 l/n 40Sm (scs) / under maintenance at Sabca / 220304 arrived at Koksijde after 17month at Sabca for upgrade / 050504 first flight after return to Koksijde / 180504 emergency landing at Valkenburg NAS (The Netherlands) after problems with the the hydraulic system of the rotorblades / 141004 l/n 40Sm (scs)
    wa 838 1976 fleet air arm XZ570 : Sea King HAS.5+ ff 18 Jun 1976, dd 19 Jul 1976  First new build HAS.2, conv to HAS.5, to A&AEE Boscombe Down still 1986, Westland by 1988, stored Gosport.
    wa 874 1979 luftforsvaret 189 : Mk43. 330Skv by Oct 1994, 330 Skv C Flt by Jul 2001
    wa 878 1979 fleet air arm XZ918 : ff 3 Apr 1979, dd 6 Jun 1979, HAS.5 820Sq/020-N by Jan 1985, ditched in Mediterranean 8 Nov 1985 following loss of main gearbox oil while with 814 Sq, recovered. 820Sq/020-R by 1988. Sold to RAN.
royal australian navy N16-918 : dd 25 Jun 1996 to RAN as N16-918. Purchased as replacement for N16-124 and became RAN N16-918. Converted to Mk50A via LOTE on delivery. HS817Sq/922 by Jul 1996. 1st Sea King to land on HMAS Manoora for first-of-type trials. Deployed to Solomon Islands in 2003 aboard HMAS Manoora. In Service HS-817/922.
    wa 951 1985 westland IN514 : ex ZF527. Ditched in Mediterranean Sea near St. Raphael, during sonar dipping trials and w/o 23 Jul 1987, before delivery to Indian Navy as IN514.
    wa 988 1989 bharatiya nau sena IN525 : Mk 42B, ff 29 Mar 1989 as ZG612. Del to Indian Navy as IN525 14 Sep 1989. Wore /W by Feb 2001. While with 330 Sq on 26 Mar 2003 it either ditched off Goa or fell off the deck of the carrier INS Viraat. Noted dumped at INS Garuda, Kochi (Cochin) in 2003 with tail boom torn away near fuselage joint.
    wa 991 1989 bharatiya nau sena IN528 : Mk.42B ff 18 May 1989 as ZG615, dd 30 Nov 1989 to Indian Navy as IN528. Carried code /W by Mar 1999, still Jul 2005 when embarked on INS Mumbai (D62).
    wa1005 1990 luftforsvaret 322 : Mk43B. ff as ZH566, to R Nor AF as 322.
    wa1012 1995 luftforsvaret 329 : Mk43B. ff as ZJ162, dd May 1996 to R Nor AF as 329.
    wa1013 1996 luftforsvaret 330 : Mk43B. ff as ZJ163, dd Oct 1996 to R Nor AF as 330.
    43 C/N found.




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