The Westland Commando Mk2 is known as the Sea King HC.4 in Fleet Air Arm service. Orders were placed in Jul 1978 and the first operational HC.4 with Gnome H1400-2 engines, was delivered to RNAS Culdrose on 3 Dec 1979 for 846 Squadron.
Modifications to the basic Sea King HC.4 airframe to keep up with recent operational experience have included replacing the original 6 bladed tail rotor for a 5 bladed one, new Carson main blades partly to combat leading edge degradation by dust, internal improvements and a port door gun. Airframes with all of these are known as the HC4+.
Towards the end of 2009, after years of media criticism of inadequate numbers in the UK Helicopter forces for the jobs they were being asked to perform, it was announced that the Commando Sea Kings would be retired and be replaced by ex RAF Merlin, initially as is, and then later (c 2017) by conversions to a fully marinised model (ie no new builds). The larger Merlin lift would result in a smaller fleet with fewer active crews, achieving the same result while saving money.
During mid Feb 2019, the UK MoD presented the Norwegian Government with a Sea King HC.4 as a Gate Guardian at Bardufoss, to mark 50 years since the commencement of the annual UK Exercise Clockwork, where British Forces deploy to Norway, as part of its commitment to the NATO Northern Flank.
Units
| 2015-2016 | 848 Squadron848 NAS |
| 1995-2013 | 848 Squadron848 NAS |
| 1990-1991 | 848 Squadron848 NAS |
| 1988-1995 | 772 Squadron772 NAS |
| 1984-2015 | 845 Squadron845 NAS |
| 1983-1995 | 707 Squadron707 NAS |
| 1979-2013 | 846 Squadron846 NAS |
Platforms
| LH Ocean class |
| L Albion class |
