Introduced after an evaluation of the Sikorsky S-55, the Whirlwind HAR.1 was the first British version of this successful helicopter. Served the Royal Navy for almost 25 years in HAR.1, HAR.3, the troublesome HAS.7 and the HAR.9 versions in carrier plane guard, ship's flight, tactical transport, commando assault, anti-submarine and Search and Rescue roles.
Picture shows Whirlwinds taking 45 Commando, Royal Marines from HMS Theseus (R64) to Port Said during Operation Musketeer on November 1956
Units
| 1967-1976 | 829 Squadron829 NAS |
| 1967-1970 | 771 Squadron771 NAS |
| 1965-1967 | 829 Squadron829 NAS |
| 1965-1966 | 848 Squadron848 NAS |
| 1964-1966 | 829 Squadron829 NAS |
| 1964-1965 | 845 Squadron845 NAS |
| 1963-1965 | 728 Squadron728 NAS |
| 1962-1964 | 846 Squadron846 NAS |
| 1961-1965 | 781 Squadron781 NAS |
| 1961-1964 | 771 Squadron771 NAS |
| 1961-1962 | 819 Squadron819 NAS |
| 1960-1974 | 705 Squadron705 NAS |
| 1960-1962 | 825 Squadron825 NAS |
| 1960-1961 | 814 Squadron814 NAS |
| 1960-1961 | 719 Squadron719 NAS |
| 1959-1963 | 848 Squadron848 NAS |
| 1959-1963 | 824 Squadron824 NAS |
| 1959-1962 | 737 Squadron737 NAS |
| 1959-1960 | 815 Squadron815 NAS |
| 1959 | 815 Squadron815 NAS |
| 1958-1959 | 815 Squadron815 NAS |
| 1958-1959 | 824 Squadron824 NAS |
| 1958 | 701 Squadron701 NAS |
| 1957-1960 | 820 Squadron820 NAS |
| 1957-1959 | 845 Squadron845 NAS |
| 1957-1959 | 728 Squadron728 NAS |
| 1957-1958 | 701 Squadron701 NAS |
| 1957-1958 | 701 Squadron701 NAS |
| 1957 | 700 Squadron700 NAS |
| 1955-1966 | 705 Squadron705 NAS |
| 1955-1957 | 845 Squadron845 NAS |
| 1954-1960 | 705 Squadron705 NAS |
| 1954-1955 | 848 Squadron848 NAS |
Platforms
| CV Audacious class |
| CV Centaur class |
| CV Improved Centaur class |
| CV Modified Centaur class |
| AO Protector class |
| AO Endurance (1967) |
Airframes (166)
| Reg | Model | C/N | Built | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XA862 | har.1 | wa 1 | 1952 | |
| XA863 | har.1 | wa 3 | 1953 | 703 |
| XA865 | har.1 | wa 5 | 1954 | |
| XA866 | har.1 | wa 6 | 1954 | |
| XA867 | har.1 | wa 7 | 1954 | |
| XA868 | har.1 | wa 8 | 1954 | |
| XA869 | har.1 | wa 9 | 1954 | |
| XA870 | har.1 | wa 16 | 1954 | |
| XA871 | har.1 | wa 17 | 1954 | |
| XD763 XJ393 | har3 | wa 57 | 1954 | |
| XD764 XJ394 | har3 | wa 58 | 1955 | |
| XD765 XJ395 | har3 | wa 59 | 1955 | |
| XD766 XJ396 | har3 | wa 60 | 1955 | |
| XD767 XJ397 | har3 | wa 61 | 1955 | |
| XD768 XJ398 | har3 | wa 62 | 1955 | |
| XD769 XJ399 | har3 | wa 63 | 1955 | 62 |
| XD770 XJ400 | har3 | wa 64 | 1955 | |
| XD771 XJ401 | har3 | wa 65 | 1955 | |
| XD772 XJ402 | har.5 | wa 66 | 1955 | |
| XG572 | har3 | wa 67 | 1955 | |
| XG573 | har3 | wa 68 | 1955 | |
| XG574 | har3 | wa 69 | 1955 | |
| XG575 | har3 | wa 70 | 1955 | |
| XG576 | har3 | wa 71 | 1955 | |
| XG577 | har3 | wa 72 | 1956 | 979-Z |
| XG578 | har3 | wa 73 | 1956 | 980-Z |
| XG579 | har3 | wa 74 | 1955 | |
| XG580 | har3 | wa 75 | 1955 | |
| XG581 | har3 | wa 76 | 1955 | |
| XG582 | har3 | wa 77 | 1956 |