While preparations continue for the transfer of the entire Merlin HC.3/3A fleet from the RAF to the Fleet Air Arm HC.4 in a fully marinised form, an agreement was reached with AgustaWestland to partially marinise 7 HC.3 airframes as the FAA Sea King HC.4 fleet was running down to withdrawal on 31 Mar 2016.
The interim HC.3 or iHC.3 will be fitted with an automatically folding rotor head, a strengthened undercarriage with longer travel for deck operations, steel deck-mooring points and an avionics upgrade to bring it closer to the HM.2 model already in FAA service.
The first iHC.3 flew from Yeovil in Apr 2015. The remaining 6 examples are due for delivery by 1 Apr 2016.
The interim HC.3 or iHC.3 will be fitted with an automatically folding rotor head, a strengthened undercarriage with longer travel for deck operations, steel deck-mooring points and an avionics upgrade to bring it closer to the HM.2 model already in FAA service.
The first iHC.3 flew from Yeovil in Apr 2015. The remaining 6 examples are due for delivery by 1 Apr 2016.
News |
Merlin in Norway for Exercise Clockwork
09-Mar-19 - Royal Navy’ 845 Naval Air Squadron Mk3A Merlin helicopters in Norway for Commando Helicopter Force annual winter training during arctic exercise Clockwork #WinterTraining
Royal Navy Merlin Deployed Aboard French Mistral
05-Apr-17 - For the first time, two Merlins helicopters from Royal Navy 845 NAS are assigned to the French assault ship Mistral throughout her six-month deployment to the Indian and Pacific Oceans
846 Squadron Female Pilot Named in Awards
17-Jun-16 - Royal Navy 846 Naval Air Squadron Junglie Merlin pilot Lieutenant Natalie Grainger named one of the country’s top 100 rising stars in the female-only We Are The City awards.
Royal Marines Merlin iMk3 Aboard HMS Ocean
29-Mar-16 - Transferred from the RAF, the green Merlins HC.3i (interim) of 846 Naval Air Squadron joined Britain’s flagship HMS Ocean for amphibious training. They replaced the recently retired Junglie Sea King| More News ... |  |
|---|---|
Units |
| Years | Units | Base |
|---|---|---|
| 2015- | 846 NAS | RNAS Yeovilton RAF Benson |
| 2015- | 845 NAS | RNAS Yeovilton RAF Benson RNAS Yeovilton |
List of Aircraft |
| C/N | Built | ID In this Org | In other Org | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50049 | 1999 | ZJ118 hc.3i Nov15 HC.3i type asg 846Sqn |  ZJ118: RAF 50049/RAF02 f/f 14jun99 at Yeovil ZJ118: First visit to RAF Benson by Merlin HC.3, flown by A&AE... ZJ118: 28 Sqn /B | |
| 50099 | 2000 | ZJ121 hc.3i HC.3i type; visit to Gibraltar, with ZJ129. | ZJ121: noted at Valence. RAF; 2007 28Sqn./E pictured (pic1) at Yeovil | |
| 50141 | 2000 | ZJ126 hc.3i Apr15 HC.3i type asg 846Sqn | ZJ126: RAF 50141/RAF10 in June 2009 /K 28/78Sqn. pictured (pic2) with 78 Sq/K markings on std side in t... | |
| 50167 | 2001 | ZJ129 hc.3i HC.3I type; visit to Gibraltar with ZJ121. | ZJ129: RN; 01may05 as 28Sqn /N pictured (pic1) at Abingdon 2007 28Sqn /N ZJ129: May18 /N conv to HC.4 completed for delivery to 845 NA... 03sep18 pictured (pic2) winching exercise with HMS Que... | |
| 50169 | 2001 | ZJ130 hc.3i pictured (pic2) as 846Sq /O at RNAS Yeovilton during Air Day 2016 | ZJ130: HC.3 type 28Sqd./O at Rotterdam RAF; 2007 28Sqn./O 28/78 Sq/O by Oct 2009. Part of 1st detachment of RAF M... pictured (pic1) as /O at RIAT 2013 RAF Fairford | |
| 50173 | 2001 | ZJ131 hc.3i final Merlin delivered from RAF Benson to 845 NAS at Yeovilton. ZJ131/P on 16 Ju... | ZJ131: RAF Merlin HC.3 28Sqn./P; 11may07 pictured (pic1) at E... 1419 Flt /P by Jun 2009; returned to UK to MDMF Culdros... | |
| 50177 | 2001 | ZJ132 hc.3i Royal Navy HC3i;
/Q RNAS Yeovilton | ZJ132: RAF Merlin HC.3; 06 pictured at Abingdon Air Show | |
| 50187 | 2001 | ZJ135 hc.3i pictured (pic2) as 846Sq /T at RNAS Yeovilton during Air Day 2016 | ZJ135: RAF HC3, pictured (pic1) at RAF Benson | |
| 50191 | 2001 | ZJ136 hc.3i Dec15 HC.3i type asg 846Sqn | ZJ136: RAF HC.3 d/d 29apr02 as /U pictured (pic1) at RAF Benson. | |
| 50195 | 2002 | ZJ137 hc.3i Jan16 HC.3i type asg 846Sqn | ZJ137: RAF 50195/RAF21.; 2003 28Sqn./W |
No longer with this org.
