portugal Marinha Portuguesa

Portuguese Navy







Marinha Portuguesa Portuguese Navy

The Portuguese Navy is one of the oldest in the world; 20 May 1498, when Vasco da Gama arrived in India with his Armada is celebrated as Navy Day. Naval Aviation in Portugal started in cooperation with France, which began training its aircrews in 1916 prior to the formation of the Serviço e Escola de Aviação da Armada in Sep 1917 and based French aircraft at the Bom Sucesso base near Lisbon in 1918. In Aug 1918, the USA was granted base facilities at Horta on Faial in the Azores. A third base was established on Macau (China) in 1927, followed by Ponta Delgada on São Miguel in the Azores.
Frustrated by unopposed raiding from submarines on Portuguese ports during World War I, then 1st Lt Sacadura Cabral attended a flying course in France and convinced the Portuguese government to obtain a brace of seaplanes from the Franco-British aviation consortium. These were in service by spring 1917 and in Sep of that year, the Maritime Aviation Service of the Portuguese Navy had been declared. On 27 May 1952, that service became formally part of the Portuguese Air Force.
Neutral during WWII, the service grew through a modernising acquisition programme and by impounding aircraft from both sides that landed in its terrritory. After WWII, it became especially proficient in anti-submarine warfare. This was the last Naval aviation unit raised before 1952 when it was merged with army aviation, to form the Portuguese Air Force. Whilst it lost its independent identity, naval aviation continued its presence as the Forças Aeronavais within the FAP.
By the early 1990s, it was clear that a change to maritime patrol, ASW and ASV arrangements were needed. After a selection between the Seasprite and Lynx, an initial order for 5 Super Lynx was placed in 1989 and on delivery in mid 1993, the Esquadrilha de Helicópteros da Marinha was formed as part of a revitalised Aviação Naval under control of the Marinha Portuguesa (Navy). The Lynx are deployed to the three MEKO 200 Frigates of the Vasco da Gama Class launched in the early 1990s, NRP Vasco da Gama (F330), NRP Alvares Cabral (F331) and NRP Corte Real (F332), each of which can support up to 2 Super Lynx.
A mid life upgrade programme for the naval Lynx involved all 5 aircraft, re-engined with the LHTEC CTS800-4N. Other improvements included a glass cockpit and an electric rescue hoist, with the first one flying at Yeovil, UK in Feb 2020. Deliveries were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the first Super Lynx Mk.95A was received in Jul 2021.






  List of Units


UnitFromTo
Esquadrilha de Helicópteros da Marinha Portuguesa - Naval Helicopter Squadron EHM1993



  Bases and Locations


Base Unit
Montijo (BA6)EHM


helicopter   Model Types


ModelDel'dFromTo
Westland Lynx51993




List of Aircraft


Model C/N Built ID
Lynx HAS3S 336 198719201 : Marinha Super Lynx mk95 type; ex Royal Navy HAS.3 ZF559; uk test ...
: noted at Béja Air Show.
: embarked on NRP Alvarez Cabral during visit to Liverpool.
: noted at Lajes for the VIP day of Lusitano 2017.
: undergoing upgrade at Yeovil
Lynx HAS3S 338 198819202 : Marinha Super Lynx mk95 type; ex Royal Navy HAS.3 ZF561; uk test ...
: EHM by Aug 1999. Embarked on NRP Corte-Real during STANAVFORLANT ...
: to Yeovil for conversion to Super Lynx 95A, until c Nov 2022.
: pictured (pic2) during an air test from Montijo.
: celebrated EHM 30th anniversary along Lisbon waterfront.
: pictured (pic3) on apron, during EHM 30th anniversary event.
: provided a fast roping platform to train Fuzileiros (Marines) in ...
Super Lynx mk95 375 199319203 : Marinha, test serial ZH582
: noted at Monte Real Air Show.
: noted at Montijo.
: noted at RNAS Yeovilton International Air Day.
: noted at Sintra.
: pictured (pic2) with EHM at RNAS Yeovilton
: 27may10 pictured (pic3) on USNS LCPL Roy H. Wheat (T-AK 3016) dur ...
: at Montijo airbase
: undergoing upgrade at Yeovil
Super Lynx mk95 376 19204 : Marinha. ex ZH583
: noted at Porto.
: noted operating from Portuguese Navy frigate in Funchal Harbour.
: pictured (pic1) undergoing engine and main blade maintenance at M ...
: pictured (pic2) hangared, during EHM 30th anniversary event.
Super Lynx mk95 377 199319205 : Marinha. ex ZH584, pictured
: noted at Yeovilton Air Day.
: aboard NRP Corte Real at Portsmouth, named Izzi.
: noted at Béja Air Show.
: noted at Montijo.
: fast roping exercise with World Food Programme ship in Gulf of Ad ...
: undergoing upgrade at Yeovil
: assigned to Frankie Flight for anti-narcotics deployment around t ...
: pictured (pic2) in the squadron hangar at Montijo.
: celebrated EHM 30th anniversary along Lisbon waterfront.
: pictured (pic3) hangared, during EHM 30th anniversary event, with ...






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