| By Dave Taskis |
| Initial order for 10 Mk43 Search and Rescue Sea Kings honoured by Westland with construction at Yeovil and deliveries during 1972. Operated by 330 Skv (qv). Further small orders for the Mk43A and Mk43B followed. Despite budget cuts in Norway, a replacement programme with the NH-90 is scheduled (2004) to commence in 2005.  Royal Norwegian Air Force Sea Kings carry the Rescue lettering (Redningstjeneste) prominently on the white and dayglo-orange painted airframes. 330Skv co-operates closely with the Kystvakt (Norwegian Coast Guard). Mk43B based on the UK RN HAS.5 with ASW equipment replaced by a specific avionics fit for R Nor AF operations. A large, dorsal mounted Telephonics RDR 1500B radar aft of the main rotor, nose mounted Telephonics RDR 1300C radar on the port quarter, a FLIR Systems Inc FLIR 2000F forward looking infra-red sensor, improved navigation systems and the main gearbox Emergency Lubrication System (ELS). To extend the reliability of the Mk.43 Sea Kings, 3 ex RAF HAR.3A (ZH540, ZH543, ZH544) were acquired for sacrifical spares during Nov 2015 and stored at Sola and Kjeller, until the replacement AW101 Srs 612s are introduced to service, around 2018/19. To be replaced by AgustaWestland AW101 from 2017 |
Units | |
| Years | Units | bold : Current base of the Unit |
| 1972 | Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy) Norwegian Sea King Training Cell | RNAS Culdrose |
| 1972/ | 330 skvadron | Ørland |
List of Aircraft | Help Us | |
| C/N | Mod | Built | ID In this Organisation | In other Org | |||
 | wa 746 | mk43 | 1972 | 060: Mk43. DD to R Nor AF 1972, to 330 Skv by Apr 1991. Updated t+ | |||
| wa 747 | mk43 | 1972 | 062: Mk43. dd 1972 to R Nor AF. | |||
| wa 748 | mk43 | 1972 | 066: Mk43. dd 1972 to R Nor AF. 330 Skv by Jul 1990 still Oct 199+ | ||||
wa 749  | mk43 | 1972 | 068: Mk43. dd 1972 to R Nor AF. At Kjevik as instructional airfra+ | ||||
| wa 750 | mk43 | 1972 | 069: Mk43. dd 1972 to R Nor AF; 02apr88 crash on a rescue mission+ | |||
| wa 751 | mk43 | 1972 | 070: Mk43. dd 1972 to R Nor AF. 330 Skv by Mar 1987. Updated to M+ | ||||
| wa 752 | mk43 | 1972 | 071: Mk43. dd 1972 to R Nor AF. 330 Skv by Jun 1994. Updated to M+ | |||
| wa 753 | mk43 | 1972 | 072: Mk43. dd 1972 to R Nor AF; w/o 30apr77 | ||||
| wa 754 | mk43 | 1972 | 073: Mk43. dd 1972 to R Nor AF. 330 Skv by Jun 1990. Updated to M+ | ||||
| wa 755 | mk43 | 1972 | 074: Mk43 f/f 30sep72, d/d 1972 to R Nor AF;
330 Skv by Jun84;
Up+ | ||||
| wa 874 | mk43a | 1979 | 189: Mk43. 330Skv by Oct 1994 | |||
| wa1005 | mk43b | 1990 | 322: Mk43B. ff as ZH566, to R Nor AF as 322. | ||||
| wa1012 | mk43b | 1995 | 329: Mk43B. ff as ZJ162, dd May 1996 to R Nor AF as 329. | ||||
| wa1013 | mk43b | 1996 | 330: Mk43B. ff as ZJ163, dd Oct 1996 to R Nor AF as 330. | ||||
| wa1010 | har.3a | ?: acquired for sacrifical spares for RNoAF Mk.43 fleet ? |  ZH544: HAR.3A 22 Sq A Flt by Jul 1999 22 Sq A Flt by Aug 1999 RAF in 2007 22Sqn. C Flt. 30aug10 pictured (top) at Bude Lifeboat Day 24jul13 pictured (bot) as 22 Sqn Sierra 170 at RNAS Cul+ retired from RAF service, to Gosport 26 Nov 2015. - ZH544: Jul17, Although it was reported at the time of its reti+  -: 01nov17 ZH544 flew for the first time in 2 1/2 years af+ | |||
 | wa1006 | har.3a | 1995 | ZH540: acquired for sacrifical spares for RNoAF Mk.43 fleet, to Sol+ | ZH540: HAR.3A 22 Sq A Flt by Jul 1999 RAF; 29apr11 22 sq B Flt from Wattisam made a flypast + 01mar14 at Morriston Hospital, Swansea retired from RAF service, to Fleetlands 17 Aug 2015. | ||
| wa1007 | har.3a | 1995 | ZH541: to Norway Dec 2015, as a source of spares | ZH541: RAF Boscsombe Down by Jul 1995;22 Sq A Flt (Chivenor) by Fe+ 22 Sq B Flt by Aug 1999 22 Sq B Flt (Wattisham) by 2003; 22Sq A Flt by 2004, 22+ Fleetlands; 22 Sq A Flt/V by Oct 2009, replacing ZH542. | |||
| wa1009 | har.3a | ZH543: acquired for sacrifical spares for RNoAF Mk.43 fleet, to Sol+ | ZH543: RAF HAR.3A; 11feb10 pictured with 22 Sqd at RAF Northol+ HMF St Mawgan by Aug 1999 retired from RAF service, to Fleetlands 18 Aug 2015. | |||
