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westland sea king

in Fleet Air Arm

Del'd: 112 - 1969 to present

History of this Model in this Organisation:

When an initial order for 60 Sea King HAS.1s was placed with Westland Aircraft Ltd by the UK Ministry of Aviation on behalf of the RN for £24 million in late 1966, it was the largest order for helicopters ever placed with a British company.

Quantity approximate at Oct 2003. First Westland built airframe was c/n WA630 (XV642) which flew on 7 May 1969 from Yeovil. At least 8 marks for the Royal Navy since that date, either as new build or rework on existing airframes.

The Sea King HAS.1 retained the Sikorsky watertight hull, 5 bladed all metal main rotor and fixed tail wheel. Wessex HAS.3 radar/sonar and UK Gnome H.1400 engines. Initial production was of the HAS.1, 56 of which were delivered to the Royal Navy, (remaining 4 were the development machines).

By 1974, the HAS.2 was designed. New build HAS.2 with improved Gnome H.1400-1 engines, increased fuel capacity, a 6 bladed tail rotor and air intake deflectors/filters. Order for 13 in Nov 1974 and 8 more in 1976. Internal improvements include a Marconi Acoustic Processing & Display suite. XZ570 ff 18 Jun 1976, all delivered by Oct 1979. The remaining 48 HAS.1s were upgraded at RNAY Fleetlands, and NASU Culdrose and known as HAS.2A. All front line Sea Kings were at HAS.2/2A standard by Jul 1978.

The Sea King HAS.5 was developed from the HAS.2, beginning in Jan 1979 with major avionics update and introduced a Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) housed in the starboard undercarriage sponson and winched away from the airframe for operations. f/f 14 Aug 1980, first 2 handed to RN on 2 Oct 1980. From 1980, 30 (new) Sea King HAS.5 were built with a Thorn-EMI (MEL) Sea Searcher radar, Plessey dipping sonar, Racal Orange Crop ESM, Jezebel passive sonobuoys and composite rotors to replace original all-metal ones. 35 HAS.2A conversions were rebuilt as HAS.5 in early 1980s.

Following the critical lack of an airborne radar picket during the Falklands campaign of 1982, the folly of relying on RAF Shackleton AEW.2s for out-of-theatre operations, after the 1978 retirement of the carrier-based Gannet AEW.3 by HM Treasury-led cuts was evident. Westland rushed two HAS.2A development airframes through an intensive programme between May and Aug 1982 to fit the Thorn-EMI Searchwater radar (as in the Nimrod) into an air-pressured, external, swivelled Kevlar housing (known as a dustbin) on the starboard side of the airframe, Cossor Jubilee Guardsman electonic warfare system was fitted and the internal observer stations were updated. The first airframe was available at the end of 1982. 10 Sea King HAS.2s were converted into AEW.2As.

The Sea King HAS.6 (six new and 69 conversions from 1990, with Westland kits) operated from 1989 and feature improved airframe and tranmission, GEC-Marconi 2069 dipping sonar, further improved signal processing, internal-mount MAD, revised Racal Orange Reaper ESM and Gnome H1400-2 engines. Includes the GEC-Marconi AD3400 VHF/UHF secure speech radio. The HAS.6 was also the last version of Sea King to be used in the anti-submarine role, following its withdrawal from the front line in 2004. By Aug 2004, the Royal Navy had no effective, primary role anti-submarine helicopter, while the Merlin remained non-operational and is still grounded.

9 Sea King AEW.2As have been converted to AEW.7 standard with Gnome H1400-2 engines, renamed Sea King ASaC.7 and introduced in 2001.

Some low flying hours Sea King HAS.6s are having their anti-submarine sensors and signal processing stations removed to function in the main role of Commando assault with a secondary Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD). The Sea King HAS.6C was converted at DARA Fleetlands during 2004 and retains its main wheel sponsons but the undercarriage is fixed in the lowered position and an improved defensive package fitted. The first of type were issued in mid 2004.

Units with this Model in this Organisation:

Years	Units	bold : Current Base of the Unit
2006/now	857 squadron	RNAS Culdrose
2006/now	854 squadron	RNAS Culdrose
2002/now	849 squadron	RNAS Culdrose
1992/00	814 squadron	RNAS Culdrose
1989/03	820 squadron	RNAS Culdrose
1989/01	810 squadron	RNAS Culdrose
1989/01	819 squadron	Glasgow Prestwick
1988/93	826 squadron	Boscombe Down RNAS Culdrose
1988/89	824 squadron	Glasgow Prestwick
1988/now	771 squadron	RNAS Culdrose
1985/93	819 squadron	Glasgow Prestwick
1984/03	849 squadron	RNAS Culdrose
1983/90	810 squadron	RNAS Culdrose
1982/92	814 squadron	RNAS Culdrose
1982/89	824 squadron	Glasgow Prestwick RNAS Culdrose RNAS Culdrose
1982/84	824 squadron	RNAS Culdrose RNAS Culdrose
1982	825 squadron	RNAS Culdrose Port San Carlos
1981/93	826 squadron	Boscombe Down RNAS Culdrose RNAS Culdrose
1980/90	820 squadron	RNAS Culdrose
1977/85	819 squadron	Glasgow Prestwick
1977/83	824 squadron	RNAS Culdrose RNAS Culdrose
1977/82	814 squadron	RNAS Culdrose
1977/80	820 squadron	RNAS Culdrose
1976/83	826 squadron	RNAS Culdrose RNAS Culdrose
1973/77	814 squadron	RNAS Culdrose Glasgow Prestwick
1973/75	737 squadron	Portland
1972/77	820 squadron	RNAS Culdrose
1971/78	819 squadron	Glasgow Prestwick RNAS Culdrose AAC Ballykelly
1970/98	706 squadron	RNAS Culdrose
1970/77	824 squadron	RNAS Culdrose
1970/76	826 squadron	RNAS Culdrose Tengah Air Base RNAS Culdrose
1969/70	700 squadron	RNAS Culdrose

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Aircraft Platform:

Classes

H Tiger conversion class

L Fearless class

Roles of this Model in this Organisation:

Roles

airborne early warning

anti-submarine

carrier on-board delivery

search and rescue (sar)

Construction Numbers of this Model in this Organisation:	Help Us

C/N	Mod	Built	ID In this Organisation	In other Org

wa 630		1969	XV642: Westland Sea King HAS.1 f/f 07/05/1969, upgraded to HAS.2A, wfu and xfer as GIA as A2614, AESS Gosport, Hampshire Mar97.
wa 631		1969	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	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	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	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	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 XV647: Ditched in the gulf of mexico in 1978,engine failure whilst in the hover.with the calm sea, was able taxi to the ship, to be recovered (820 sq-BL-C99) XV647: RN in 1996 /20 771Sqn.
wa 636	has.1	1969	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 XV648: RN in 2009 type:HU.5S /18 771Sqn.
wa 637	has.1	1969	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. XV649: First Seaking to reach 10,000 flying hours. Converted to ASaC Mk7 unk XV649: RN in 1996 on HMS Invincible R05 type:AEW2A /N-186 849Sqn. ; 2003 type:ASaC7 /CU-180 849Sqn. ; 2009 type:ASaC7 /180 849Sqn.
wa 638	has.1	1969	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. XV650: Destroyed in mid air collision with XV704 in northern Persian Gulf on 22mar03. Seven fatalities. XV650: RN in 1990 type:AEW2A /CU-180 849Sqn ; 1996 /IFOR 849Sqn.
wa 639	has.1	1969	XV651: RN in 1996 type HU.5 /599 706Sqn.
wa 641	has.1	1969	XV653: RN in 1999 type:HAS.6 /CU-513 810Sqn ; from 200? /CU-63 i/a 1SoTT Cosford.
wa 643	has.1	1969	XV655: RN in 1996 on HMS Invincible R05 type:HAS.6 /N-267 814Sqn.
wa 644	has.1	1969	XV656: RN in 1996 type AEW2A 849Sqn. /180
wa 649	has.1	1970	XV661: RN in 1996 type HAS.5 771Sqn. /824; 2004 type HAS.5U 771Sqn. /CU-821
wa 651	has.1	1970	XV663: RN in 1996 type HAS.6 810Sqn. /501
wa 652		1970	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 653	has.1	1970	XV665: RN in 1996 type:HAS.6 /505 810Sqn. : 1999 type:HAS.6 810Sqn. ; from 1999/2000 /CU-507 i/a AESS Gosport/HMS Sultan.
wa 658	has.1	1970	XV670: RN in 1993 type:HAS.5 /592 706Sqn. ; 1996 type:HAS.5 /88 849Sqn.
wa 660	has.1	1970	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. XV672: RN in 1996 type AEW2A 849Sqn. /82 IFOR
wa 661	has.1	1970	XV673: RN in 1993 type:HAS.5 /588 706Sqn. ; 1996 type:HAS.5 706Sqn.
wa 665	has.1	1970	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: RN in 1996 on HMS Invincible R05 type:HAS.6 /N-269 814Sqn.	private owner XV677: The airframe is currently stored at HMS Sultan awaiting it's relocation to AeroVenture, Doncaster. private owner XV677: 25/07/06 - Moved to AeroVenture, Doncaster, UK, home of South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum
wa 668	has.1	1970	XV679: RN in 1996 type AEW2A 849Sqn. /8
wa 671	has.1	1971	XV700: RN in 1996 type HAS.6 810Sqn. /008
wa 672	has.1	1971	XV701: RN in 1996 on HMS Invincible R05 type:HAS.6 /N-268 814Sqn.
wa 675	has.1	1971	XV704: RN in 1990 type:AEW2A /R-184 849Sqn. ; 1996 type:AEW2A /83 IFOR 849Sqn.
wa 676	has.1	1971	XV705: RN in 1996 type HAR.5 771Sqn. /821
wa 677	has.1	1971	XV706: RN in 1996 type HAS.6 706Sqn. /583; 2004 AESS /L-17
wa 678	has.1	1971	XV707: RN from 1971 in 1983 type:HAS2 /PW-07 819Sqn. ; 1993 type:AEW2A /CU-181 849Sqn. ; 1996 type:AEW2A on HMS Invincible R05 /N-185 49Sqn. ; 2005 type:ASaC.7 /184 849Sqn. ; 2008 /184 849Sqn.
wa 679	has.1	1971	XV708: RN in 1996 type HAS.6 810Sqn. /10
wa 680	has.1	1971	XV709: RN in 1996 type HAS.6 706Sqn. /585
wa 683	has.1	1972	XV712: RN in 1996 on HMS Invincible R05 type:HAS.6 /N-266 814Sqn.
wa 685	has.1	1972	XV714: RN in 1996 on HMS Invincible R05 type:AEW2A /N-187 849Sqn.
wa 838		1976	XZ570: Sea King HAS.5+ ff 18 Jun 1976, dd 19 Jul 1976. First new build HAS.2, Westland Yeovil 1980, to A&AEE Boscombe Down by 1983, conv to HAS.5 by 1985, to Westland Yeovil by 1988, conv to HAS.5(mod) by 1989, to DTEO Boscombe Down by 1996, to Westland Yeovil by 1997, to Westland Weston-super-Mare by 1998, to Westland Yeovil by 1999 as Searchwater 2000 trials airframe, still 2001, stored Gosport by 2002 still Mar 2008, to G.I Predannack by 27 Dec 2008.
wa 842	has.2	1976	XZ574: RN in 2004 type HAS.6 771Sqn. /29
wa 878		1979	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.	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 880	has.2	1979	XZ920: RN in 1996 type:HAR.5 /822 771Sqn.
wa 881	has.2	1979	XZ921: RN in 1996 type HAS.6 706Sqn. /587
wa 882	has.2	1979	XZ922: RN in 1996 type HAS.6 810Sqn. /03
wa 888	has.5	1980	ZA127: RN in 1996 type HAS.6 706Sqn. /592
wa 890	has.5	1980	ZA129: RN in 1996 type HAS.6 810Sqn.
wa 895	has.5	1981	ZA134: RN in 1996 771Sqn. /824; 2004 type HU.5SAR 771Sqn. /CU-825 ZA134: ZA134 has been part of the static display during SAR-Meet 2008 in Kiel-Holtenau (picture above)
wa 898	has.5	1981	ZA137: RN in 2004 type:HU.5SAR /CU-820 771Sqn. ; 2009 type:HU.5SAR /20 771Sqn.
wa 899	has.5	1982	ZA166: RN in 1996 706Sqn. /81
wa 900	has.5	1982	ZA167: RN in 1996 /825 771Sqn. ; 2004 type:HU.5 /CU-822 771Sqn. ; 2009 type:HU.5 /22 771Sqn.
wa 902	has.5	1982	ZA169: RN in 1996 on HMS Invincible type:HAS.6 /N-265 814Sqn.
wa 907	hc.4	1979	ZA293: RN in 2004 848Sqn. /WO
wa 910	hc.4	1980	ZA296: RN in 2004 845Sqn. /B
wa 911	hc.4	1980	ZA297: Royal Navy
wa 912	hc.4	1981	ZA298: RN in 2004 848Sqn. /WW
wa 913	hc.4	1981	ZA299: RN in 2004 845Sqn. /D
wa 931	hc.4	1983	ZD476: RN from 1984 in 2003 /WU 848Sqn. ; 2009 /WZ 848Sqn.
wa 933	hc.4	1984	ZD478: RN in 1998 /VG 846Sqn.
wa 934	hc.4	1984	ZD479: RN in 1992 /ZS 707Sqn.
wa 935	hc.4	1984	ZD480: RN in 1996 845Sqn. /E (tiger c/s)
wa 936	hc.4	1984	ZD625: RN in 1885 type:HC4 /ZF 707Sqn. ; 1989 /ZX 707Sqn ; 1992 /ZZ 707Sqn. ; 1993 /ZZ 707Sqn. ; 2005 /P 846Sqn. ; 2007 /P 846Sqn. ; 2008 type:HC4+ /P 846Sqn. ; 2009 /P 846Sqn.
wa 937	hc.4	1984	ZD626: RN in 1992 /ZY 707Sqn.
wa 938	hc.4	1984	ZD627: RN in 1998 /VL 846Sqn.
wa 939	has.5	1984	ZD630: RN in 1996 on HMS Invincible type:HAS.6 /N-271 814Sqn.
wa 942	has.5	1984	ZD633: RN in 1996 type HAS.6 810Sqn. /507
wa 943	has.5	1984	ZD634: RN in 1996 type:HAS.6 /06 810Sqn.
wa 956	has.5	1986	ZE418: RN in 2009 type:ASaC7 /186 849Sqn.
wa 957	has.5		ZE419: RN in July 1991 type:HAS.6 /N-269 814Sqn.
wa 958	has.5	1986	ZE420: RN in 1992 type:HAS5 /138 826Sqn. ; 2009 type:ASaC7 /189 857Sqn.
wa 961	has.5	1986	ZE422: RN in 1996 type HAS.6 706Sqn. /588
wa 952	hc.4	1985	ZE425: RN in 1992 /VJ 846Sqn.
wa 953	hc.4	1985	ZE426: RN in 1992 /VO 846Sqn. ; 1996 /VI 846Sqn.
wa 954	hc.4	1985	ZE427: RN in 1992 /VH 846Sqn.
wa 955	hc.4	1985	ZE428: RN in 1996 /VK 846Sqn. ; Sep.1997 /ZW 848Sqn.
wa 960	hc.4	1986	ZF115: RN in 1992 A&AEE ; 2001 DERA at 30 November 2001 damaged. Return service 2 April 2009. 07-2009 winter camouflage /R 848Sqn.
wa 962	hc.4	1986	ZF116: RN in 2004 848Sqn. /WP
wa 963	hc.4	1986	ZF117: RN in 1992 /VK 846Sqn. ; 1996 /VQ 846Sqn. ; 2004 /VQ 846Sqn.
wa 968	hc.4	1986	ZF121: RN in 1996 /VJ 846Sqn. ; 1998 /VJ 846Sqn.
wa 969	hc.4	1986	ZF122: RN in 1998 /VI 846Sqn. ; 2004 /VU 846Sqn.
wa 974	hc.4	1987	ZF124: RN in 2004 845Sqn. /L
wa 998	has.6	1989	ZG817: RN in 1996 810Sqn. /04
wa 999	has.6		ZG818: RN in July 1991 "Flying Tigers" mrks. /N-271 814Sqn.
wa1000	has.6	1990	ZG819: RN in 1996 on HMS Invincible R05 type:HAS.6 /N-270 814Sqn.
wa1001	hc.4	1990	ZG820: RN in 2004 845Sqn. /A
wa1002	hc.4	1990	ZG821: RN in 2004 845Sqn. /D
wa 996		1989	ZG829: ETPS exact type:??? in July 1991 ETPS w/o 20 October 1992.

80 C/N found in this Organisation