Wessex were first operated by the Uruguayan Navy. In 1997 the navy was negotiating a second batch of these helicopters at a very low price of adquisition. The Uruguayan Air Force showed interest on buy some at the same time and finally the Royal Air Force sold five units for the Air Force and three for the Navy. They were on service on the FAU from 1997 to 2003.
Actually the first batch of Mk2 to Uruguay Air Force was of 6, from 28th (AC) Squadron, Hong Kong, and to Uruguay Navy of 5 from 2nd Helicopter School at RAF Shawbury. After that, AF received two batches of 2 (2002) and 3 (2003). As of March 2018 they are:; 070 Air Brigade I (Carrasco Air Base) as Gate Guardian; 071 at Soriano Department, Cardona city at a public site; 072 at Carrasco Air Base, as Gate Guardian at 5th Air Squadron (Helicopters); 073 scrapped at Durazno Army Batallion as jump platform, 074 scrapped; 075 scrapped at 14th Infantry Batallion (Paradivers) as jump Platform; 076 Aeronautical museum at Carrasco Air Base; 077 scrapped at Nueva Helvecia air club, Colonia department; 078 at Aeronautical Technical School as engineer students training aid; 079 (have to be confirmed); 080 as gate Guardian at Aeronautical Technical School (the school that forms te engineers at Air Force)
Units |
| Years | Units | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 1997/07 | Escuadron Aereo 5 (Helicopteros) | Carrasco General Artigas |
List of Aircraft |
| C/N | Built | ID In this Org | In other Org | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| wa137 | 1963 | 070 FAU d/d jun97; ex RAF XR515 |  XR515: Westland Wessex HC.2, c/n WA137, f/f: 15/01/1964, del R... | |
| wa144 | 1964 | 071 FAU d/d jun97; ex RAF XR522; Gate Guardian Grupo 1 FAU at Carrasco air base | XR522: ff 22 Apr 1964, dd 1 May 1964 . 78 Sq/O by 1965, HOCF/B... | |
| wa532 | 1966 | 072 FAU d/d jun97; ex RAF XT605 | XT605: Westland Wessex HC.2, c/n WA532, f/f: 20/07/1966; del R... at 1966 Air Show | |
| wa543 | 1966 | 073 FAU d/d jun97; ex RAF XT675 | XT675: Westland Wessex HC.2, c/n WA543, f/f: 24/01/1967; del R... noted at St Mawgan air show At Bassingbourn Air Show 1978 | |
| wa541 | 1966 | 074 FAU d/d jun97; ex RAF XT673 | XT673: Westland Wessex HC.2, c/n WA541, f/f: 14/12/1966; del R... Farnborough Airshow 1970 72Sqn /AY | |
| wa546 | 1967 | 075 FAU d/d jun97; ex RAF XT678 | XT678: Westland Wessex HC.2, c/n WA546, f/f: 26/02/1967; del R... | |
| wa122 | 1963 | 076 FAU d/d 20jun02; ex RAF XR497; in service with EA5 | XR497: RAF d/d 28feb63;
SAR duty at RAF Valley with 202 Sq by... First flown by me on on 78Sqn at Sharjah. This ac was ... 202 Sqn was NEVER at RAF Valley, However 22 Sqn was noted at Leuchars BoB show visited RAF Macrihanish during Exercise NEJAT 78, whils... noted at RAF Leuchars airshow pictured (pic1) at Koksijde, Belgium noted in 22 Sq marks at Farnborough present at Farnborough Air Show 1984 visited Vokel noted at Aldergrove. visited Middle Wallop noted visiting Carlisle | |
| wa618 | 1968 | 077 FAU d/d 2002; ex RAF XV723 | XV723: Westland Wessex HC.2, c/n WA618, f/f 08jan68; del Royal... Farnborough Airshow 1970 72Sqn /AQ noted at St Mawgan air show noted at RAF Odiham 14may95 pictured as /Q 72 Sqd at North Weald Air Show noted at Aldergrove. | |
| wa536 | 1966 | 078 FAU d/d 2003; ex RAF XT668 | XT668: Westland Wessex HC.2, c/n WA536, f/f: 06/10/1966; del R... Farnborough Airshow 1970 72Sqn /AS 12 May 1989, 72 Sq / S at RAF Wyton Air Show. noted at Aldergrove. wfu and to Shawbury for storage. | |
| wa544 | 1966 | 079 FAU d/d 2003; ex RAF XT676 | XT676: RAF; 2003 to Uruguay as 079 HC.2 72 Sq / I, visited RAF Shawbury on 8 Jul 1999 | |
| wa616 | 1967 | 080 FAU d/d 2003, ex RAF XV721 | XV721: RAF Wessex HC.2 d/d 31jan68 as 72Sqn /AK at Farnborough Airshow 1970 as 18Sqn /K at Wildenrath open day 72Sqn /AK at Farnborough air show 1972 noted at Aldergrove. 24+25jul99 as 72Sqn /H at Fairford air show |
