| While the unit airframes still wore ROYAL NAVY titles, 10 Wessex HU.5 served with 847 Squadron initially in the Far East, from Mar 1969 in the Commando assault role, until it disbanded in May 1971. 21 Wessex served briefly in 1982 during the Falklands War, airframes were drawn from the RN pool and the numbers shown above are included (double counted) with the totals for the Royal Navy Wessex.  The Wessex NEVER served with the Royal Marines although some Royal Marines did fly them on occasions. You will know that the Royal Marines only operated small helicopters such as Sious, Scout, Gazelle and Lynx under the title of 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron (3 CBAS). Up to 1982 3 CBAS a/c were flown by Non Officer (SNCO) ranks such as Sgt RM and were crewed by RM JNCO's (Cpls) and Marines who acted as air gunners in some cases. Reformed in 1983 to come under the banner of the the Royal Navy as 847 NAS. This meant the end of SNCO and JNCO aircrew. They would be flown by RN and RM Officers only. The 847 NAS mentioned in Mar 1969 were simply part of the routine FAA list of Sqns and whilst operating to transport Royal Marines in the Commando role were never operated by that corps. - |
Units | |
| Years | Units | bold : Current base of the Unit |
| 1982 | 847NAS | Navy Point RNAS Yeovilton Port Stanley RNAS Culdrose |
| 1969/71 | 847NAS |  Kuantan / Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport Sembawang Kai Tak SembawangRNAS Culdrose |
List of Aircraft | Help Us | |
| C/N | Mod | Built | ID In this Org | In other Org | |
| 1969 | |||||
| wa172 | hu.5 | 1964 | XS498: 847 Sqn Mar/Apr69 as /C |  XS498: Wessex HU5C. d/d to RN 1964, 848Sq/T-A by 1965, 845Sq,+ 848Sqn./VC-B visit jan79 confirmed coded VL/WQ 707NAS allocated to a reformed 848 NAS D Flt to replace losses+ 848Sq /ZK landed on mv Astronomer in Plymouth Sound 7 J+ Returned via Devonport late July 1982 and transferred b+ in my flying log as 84Sqn RAF Akrotiri to HMS Sultan (AESS Gosport) as G.I A2641; to Predannac+ XS498: To RAF 84 Sq /Joker by 1991 - XS498: to Air and Ground Aviation, Hixon autumn 2000. Some par+ | |
| wa281 | hu.5 | 1965 | XT459: 847 Sqn Mar/Apr69 as /B | XT459: Wessex HU.5 d/d 6 Jul 1965, 847 Sq/B-S by 1969, 846Sq+ 848NAS./VB-B 845Sq /B, despatched via chartered Belfast C.1 from Yeo+ embarked RFA Tidespring on 14 May 1982 at Ascension Isl+ 845Sq D Flt/(Y)B May 1982, to 845Sq C Flt/(Y)B Jun 1982+ 845Sq / (Y)D by May 1983, crashed and w/o 7 Nov 1983 at+ at Park Aviation yard (Faygate) by Feb 1988. Gone by Oc+ | |
 | wa290 | hu.5 | 1965 | XT468: 847 Sqn Mar/Apr69 as /H | XT468: Wessex HU.5 d/d to RN 31 Oct 1965, 847 Sq/H-S by 1969+ 02dec68, I flew this airframe whilst appointed to 845NA+ 848Sqn./VL-B visit 848NAS./VL-B 845Sq/D, visited RMB on 19-20 Feb 1982 845Sq /D, despatched via chartered Belfast C.1 from Yeo+ Was airborne when mv Atlantic Conveyor was sunk by Exoc+ 1985 772Sqn /LS-628 772Sq/628-PO by 1987; RNAY Wroughton, to AES Lee-on-Sol+ 09 pictured at Predannack airfield |
| wa291 | hu.5 | 1965 | XT469: 847 Sqn Mar/Apr69 as /E | XT469: RN Wessex HU.5; d/d Nov 1965, 848Sq/E-A by Apr 1967; + 848 Sq/VE-A by Jun 1971, 848 Sq/VE-B by Sep 1973; 772 + mid70s, 2 recruitment adverts appeared in the Daily Mir+ At Bassingbourn Air Show 1978 Jun78 as 772Sq /PO-14 pictured (pic1) at Portland noted at RAF Brize Norton coded 514-PO with 772NAS 22jul79 still coded 514-PO with 772NAS 772 Sq/624-PO by Mar 1982; 847 Sq B Flt/XN 6 May 1982.+ to 771Sq 1 Aug 1982 to Wroughton store by Sep 1982 to 16MU Stafford as G.I. 8920M 10 Dec 1986 still Jan 19+ XT469: to RAF as /8920M;
17jul92 pictured (pic2) preserved at + - XT469: 22aug09 at Newton-with-Scales Lancashire, in a small co+ 22nov13 Its on e-bay for £12500 Dec14 at Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight. Initially in a yar+ 21sep15 is for sale on Ream Salvage for 11000,00£ 21oct16 still at Isle of Wight. Local newspaper County + Jul18 still at Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight. A lovely ‘+ |
| wa292 | hu.5 | 1965 | XT470: 847 Sqn Mar/Apr69 as /G | XT470: Wessex HU.5 d/d to RN 6 Dec 1965, 847 Sq/G-S by 1970,+ jan79 coded B/VB 846Sqn 845 Sq/A, part of disembarking shuttle from HMS Invinci+ 845Sq/(Y)A damaged (aboard HMS Fearless ?). Offloaded H+ 845Sq/(Y)A, RNAY Wroughton, to AAC 7REGT Netheravon 10 + | |
wa293  | hu.5 | 1965 | XT471: 847 Sqn Mar/Apr69 as /F | XT471: Wessex HU.5 d/d to RN 19 Jan 1966, 847 Sq/F-S by 1969+ | |
| wa307 | hu.5 | 1966 | XT485: K 847 Sqn Mar/Apr69 as /K | XT485: Royal Navy d/d to RN 2 Jun 1966 as HU.5. 847 Sq/K-S by 1969 847 Sq/K-ST by Dec 1970 (from RFA Stromness) 848Sq/VT-A by Jun 1971, 848Sq/VT-B by sep 1971 still Se+ 848NAS./VT-B at Valkenburg Named "Waldorf" (pic) after the old men on the Muppets.+ pictured (pic2) on HMS Illustrious with 772 Sq, A Fligh+ |
| wa477 | hu.5 | 1966 | XT755: 847 Sqn Mar/Apr69 as /D | XT755: 848Sq/D-A by Aug 1967, 847Sq/D-S by 1969, 848 Sq/VD-A b+ 848NAS./VD-B Yeovilton store by Aug 1982; 845Sq/V by Jun 1984; RNAY+ to 1 SoTT Halton as G.I. 9053M 22 Jan 1991 still Jul 19+ To Phoenix Aviation by Oct 1993, scr. Bruntingthorpe J+ | |
| wa482 | hu.5 | 1966 | XT760: 847 Sqn Mar/Apr69 as /A | XT760: Wessex HU.5 d/d 10 Oct 1966, 847 Sq/A-S by 1969, 846Sq/+ jan79 confirmed coded B/V-S 846Sqn To RNEC Manadon as /418 on 25 Jun 1991. To ETS-CU 6 May 1992, to AES Lee-on-Solent 16 Dec 1992 + | |
| wa483 | hu.5 | 1966 | XT761: 847 Sqn Mar/Apr69 as /J | XT761: Wessex HU.5 d/d to RN 20 Oct 1966; 845Sq/J-A by 1969; Nov 1970 with 847 NAS / J-S, took part in cyclone relie+ 848NAS./VU-B 771 Sq, participated in Fastnet Yacht Race rescue 13-14+ 771Sq/521-CU by Mar 1982; 847 Sq May 1982; 845Sq D Flt + present in static display at IFoS 98. pictured (pic1) at RNAS Culdrose to Culdrose by Jul 2015 to Higher Purtington by Jun 2017 for restoration to fly+ - G-WSEX: UK private from Mar18; still painted as XT761 in Rescu+ 16nov18 Restoration progress, rotors turning (as XT761)+ Restoration progress: 15 Feb 2019, first flight (as XT7+ pictured (pic2) as XT761 at Higher Purtington after he+ , pictured (pic3) G-WSEX at RNAS Yeovilton 2019 weari+ Wessex HUS.5 pictured (pic4) at RAF Cosford Air Show 2+ pictured (pic5) at RIAT 2022 |
| 1982 | |||||
| wa153 | hu.5 | 1963 | XS479: reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XF | XS479: Royal Navy f/f 17 Nov 1963, d/d 3 Dec 1963 to RN. 1st production H+ at Valkenburg 772Sq/623-PO noted visiting on 18 Mar 1982 8819M at RNAY Wroughton by Oct 1982 RAF Brize Norton with Joint Air Transport Establishment+ to Hanningfield Metals, Stock by Mar 1997, scr. 2000. | |
| wa162 | hu.5 | 1964 | XS488: reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XK | XS488: Westland Wessex HU.5, c/n WA162, f/f:?; del Royal Navy + 707Sq/X-CU by Jan 1965; 707Sq/T-CU by Dec 1966, still J+ noted at Edinburgh. 845Sq/E-H by Sep 1973; crashed 1 nm NW of Ose, Gratan+ Repaired at Weston by summer 1979; 772Sq/625-PO by Aug + 771Sq Aug 1982; RNAY Wroughton by Sep 1982 to 1 SoTT Halton (9056M) by Jan 1991, still Jul 1992 (g+ to Wattisham by Apr 1996 to 9056M, G.I. Gosport /XK-F by Apr 2003; still Apr 200+ pictured (pic1) at HMS Sultan/Gosport XS488: 21sep13 at a residential address in Shropshire Airframe has been extensively patched during BDRT and t+ |
| wa175 | hu.5 | 1964 | XS506: reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XE | XS506: Westland Wessex HU.5, c/n WA175, f/f:?; del Royal Navy + May 1991, stripped for spares at Shawbury - XS506: bare hulk left Hanningfield Metals by Nov 1994 |
| wa176 | hu.5 | 1964 | XS507: reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XU | XS507: dd 27/08/1964, 707Sq/W-CU by 1965, still Jun 1967 still+ Cat 4 damage 04Aug78 with airframe hours of 3132:05; Re+ 847 Squadron Coded XU noted RNAS Yeovilton 07May82; 707+ pictured (pic2) running on the deck of RFA OLNA, operat+ pictured (pic3) zaps showing the first ever deck landin+ pictured (pic4) at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) op+ XS507: ex FAA Wessex HU.5. To 606Sq (Royal Aux AF) for Helico+ May 2011 pictured with 606 (Chiltern) Sq RAFR at RAF Be+ |
| wa183 | hu.5 | 1964 | XS514: reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XA | XS514: RN; HU.5 type; Delivered 03Nov64; 845Squadron 06Jan69; + 845 Sq/M-B by May 1971. Damaged during tornado at RAF L+ 1985 845Sqn /L 27 pictured as instructional airframe with the Air Eng+ |
| wa184 | hu.5 | 1964 | XS515: reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XB | XS515: built as Wessex HU.5 d/d 4 Nov 1964, 845Sq/Q-H by Sep 1+ 1985 846Sqn /N At Mildenhall Air Fete 85 13-14 July at Fairford | |
| wa185 | hu.5 | 1964 | XS516: 07may-24sep 1982 reactivated 847 NAS as /XD | XS516: 845Sq/V-B by Aug 1966 still Sep 1968;
845Sq/U by Sep 1+ 1985 846Sqn /Q pictured at Predannack with plenty of battle damage re+ |
| wa187 | hu.5 | 1964 | XS518: reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XP | XS518: Westland Wessex HU.5C, c/n WA187, f/f:?; del Royal Navy+ XS518: to RAF mid 1984. crashed into sea in Limassol Bay with + | |
| wa192 | hu.5 | 1965 | XS523: reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XJ | XS523: Westland Wessex HU.5, c/n WA192, f/f:?; del Royal Navy + RN Wessex HU.5 noted at HMS Daedalus RNAS Lee-on-Solen+ | |
| wa278 | hu.5 | 1965 | XT456: reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XZ | XT456: Westland Wessex HU.5, c/n WA278, f/f:?; del Royal Navy + 707Sq/N by Aug 1965; 845Sq/N-B by Sep 1965 still May 19+ 845 Sq/N by May 1971. Damaged during tornado at RAF Luq+ 845 Sq/N-H by Sep 1973; Culdrose store by Jun 1976; 846+ jan79 coded B/VA 846Sqn NASU VL in Nov 1983; to 8941M, G.I. at RAF Aldergrove b+ | |
| wa288 | hu.5 | 1965 | XT466: reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XV | XT466: Westland Wessex HU.5, c/n WA288, f/f:?; del Royal Navy + to RNAY Wroughton Dec 1982; to 8921M 2 SoTT RAF Cosford+ to Weeton Barracks for embark / deplaning training, unt+ to A2617, to HMS Sultan Gosport /XV by Dec 1997 still J+ to Whittington Barracks as Gate Gauardian late 2009, go+ Dec17 at Spey Bay Salvage awaitng uplift to Morayvia fo+ - XT466: at Morayvia, Kinloss and being repainted | |
| wa294 | hu.5 | 1965 | XT472: reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XC | XT472: 845Sq/G-H by Sep 1973, 845Sq/(Y)M by Jul 1979, 847 Sq/X+ To Helicopter Museum W-s-M, by 24jul93 pictured preserved at International Helicopter + 22 Sep 2018 in open storage / XC, minus folding tail ou+ |
| wa297 | hu.5 | 1966 | XT475: reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XG | XT475: Westland Wessex HU.5, c/n WA297, f/f:?; del Royal Navy + at 1971 Yeovilton Air Day jan79 707NAS coded VL/WN | |
| wa302 | hu.5 | 1966 | XT480: reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XQ | XT480: Westland Wessex HU.5, c/n WA302, f/f:?; del Royal Navy + 707 NAS Regent Flt / 468-RG until at least May 1972. Regent Flt / 436-RG by Dec 1973 1977- asg 772 NAS at RNAS Portland 772 Sq / 436-TP Tidepool Flt, visited HMS Drake on 17 M+ 22jul79 coded 436-RS with RFA Resource assigned to RFA Regent by Jun 1980 after service in Falklands with 847 NAS, to Wroughton u+ to Fleetlands as instructional airframe guarding the gate at Fleetlands, until Dec 2002. Dec12 at Rednal, Shropshire. Part of a Paintballing Sit+ | |
| wa303 | hu.5 | 1966 | XT481: Transferred in from an 848Sq attrition reserve at Navy Point+ | XT481: d/d 4 May 1966 as HU.5;
707Sq/Z by Jul 1971;
848Sq/VQ + allocated to a reformed 848 NAS D Flt to replace losses+ RN HU.5 noted at RNAS Culdrose Air Day coded 522-CU wi+ 845Sq Garrison Det/XF Sep 1982, returned to UK Nov 1982+ to Predannack Nov 1992, wearing /XF. Still there by Ma+ | |
| wa304 | hu.5 | 1966 | XT482: reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XL | XT482: d/d 5 May 1966 to RN as HU.5; To Culdrose 8 Jun 1966, 7+ RN HU.5 noted at RNAS Culdrose Air Day coded 527-CU wi+ 771 Sq, participated in Fastnet Yacht Race rescue 13-14+ pictured coded /ZM 781Squadron (ex 707Sqn) at RNAS Lee+ |
| wa308 | hu.5 | 1966 | XT486: XR reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XR | XT486: Westland Wessex HU.5, c/n WA308, f/f:?; del Royal Navy + to Brize Norton JATE by Mar 1990 |
| wa479 | hu.5 | 1966 | XT757: reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XH | XT757: Westland Wessex HU.5, c/n WA479, f/f:?; del Royal Navy + dd to Fleetlands store 21 Jul 1966, NATIU 1973-1974, 84+ RNAY Wroughton by Mar 1983; AES Lee by Sep 1984 as G.I.+ | |
| wa481 | hu.5 | 1966 | XT759: reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XY | XT759: Westland Wessex HU.5, c/n WA481, f/f:?; del Royal Navy + RN HU.5 noted at RNAS Culdrose Air Day coded 529-CU wi+ | |
| wa486 | hu.5 | 1966 | XT764: reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XM | XT764: Westland Wessex HU.5, c/n WA486, f/f:?; del Royal Navy + RNSPT/PT by May 1972 still by Aug 1976, RNSPT/RN by Dec+ to Detmold and as BAOR 4 REGT training aid, until 1994. to Gutersloh as training aid until c Mar 1999, after Ar+ stored at Gutersloh by Jun 1997. to A2694, to HMS Sultan Gosport by May 1999, scr. Gospo+ | |
| wa488 | hu.5 | 1967 | XT766: reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XS | XT766: Westland Wessex HU.5, c/n WA488, f/f:?; del Royal Navy + 848NAS./VE-B 22jul79 coded 512-PO with 772NAS 771 NAS / 822-CU; RNAY Wroughton until c Dec 1990 to 1 SoTT Halton by Jan 1991 until Nov 1992 to St Athan (9054M) for BDRT by Nov 1993 to AESS Gosport (A2620) by Apr 1997 | |
| wa555 | hu.5 | 1967 | XT773: reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XT | XT773: Westland Wessex HU.5, c/n WA555, f/f:?; del Royal Navy + del into long term storage, spending time between Fleet+ 22jul79 coded 510-PO 772NAS to Abingdon (9123M) for BDRT Oct 1991, still Feb 1992 to St Athan for BDRT by Jun 1992, still Jan 1994 to Shawbury by , on its side by Sep 2012. RN; dump (9123M) | |
