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 for the RN on 27 Jun 1966 and the first UK built machine flew on 7 May 1969 from Yeovil.
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 for the RN on 27 Jun 1966 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.
Specifications
| Engine | 2 x Rolls-Royce Gnome |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 2 + 27 |
| Length (m) | 17.02 |
| Height (m) | 5.13 |
| Blades | 5 |
| Rotor diam. (m) | 18.9 |
| Disc area (m2) | 280 |
| Weight (kgs) | Empty: 6300 |
| Speed (km/h) | Max: 208 |
Derivatives & Versions
| Sea King HAS.1 | 1969 | First anti-submarine version for the Royal Navy. |
| Sea King Mk.41 | 1969 | In 1969 Germany ordered 22 Sea Kings to replace H-34G and SH-34J Helicopters. |
| Sea King Mk.42 | 1970 | Anti-submarine warfare version of the Sea King HAS. |
| Sea King Mk.43 | 1972 | SAR variant similar to Mk. |
| Commando | 1973 | Tactical assault derivative developed from the Sea King HAS. |
| Sea King HAS.2 | 1974 | Improved anti-submarine version for the Royal Navy. |
| Sea King Mk.45 | 1974 | Sea King HAS. |
| Sea King Mk.50 | 1974 | Anti-submarine warfare version of the Sea King HAS. |
| Sea King Mk.47 | 1975 | Anti-submarine warfare version of the Sea King HAS. |
| Sea King Mk.48 | 1976 | Search and rescue version for the Belgian Air Force. |
| Sea King HAS.2A | 1977 | Surviving 48x Sea King HAS. |
| Sea King HAR.3 | 1978 | RAF search and rescue version |
| Sea King HC.4 | 1978 | |
| Sea King HAS.5 | 1979 | Third anti-submarine warfare version production model for the Royal Navy with MEL Super Searcher radar in enlarged dorsal radome, new AQS902 acoustic processing system with provision to use sonobouys. |
| Sea King Mk.42A | 1979 | Anti-submarine warfare version of the Sea King HAS. |
| Sea King Mk.43A | 1979 | |
| Sea King AEW.2 | 1982 | Airborne Early Warning variant rapidly brought into service during the Falklands/Malvinas conflict. |
| Sea King Mk.50A | 1982 | |
| Sea King HAR.3A | 1984 | Improved RAF search and rescue version, based on the HAR. |
| Sea King Mk.42B | 1985 | Anti-ship warfare version for the Indian Navy |
| Sea King Mk.42C | 1986 | Assault, Search and rescue and utility transport version for the Indian Navy |
| Sea King HU.5 | 1987 | Before the Royal Navy phased the Wessex out of SAR service, work began to identify Sea King HAS. |
| Sea King HAS.6 | 1990 | 5 built of this type |
| Sea King Mk.43B | 1990 | |
| Sea King Mk.45A | 1995 | |
| → Sea King | 2001 |