Del'd: 32 - 1969 to 1982

Westland Wessex
in
united kingdom Royal Marines








Royal Marines Wessex

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. -




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  Units


YearsUnitsBase
1982847NAS Navy Point
RNAS Yeovilton
Port Stanley
RNAS Culdrose
1969/71847NASMY Kuantan / Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport
SG Sembawang
HK Kai Tak closed 1998
SG Sembawang
RNAS Culdrose




List of Aircraft


C/NModBuiltID     In this OrgIn other Org
    1969
wa172 hu.5 1964 XS498 847 Sqn Mar/Apr69 as /C
Royal Navy 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...
Royal Air Force XS498: To RAF 84 Sq /Joker by 1991
- XS498: to Air and Ground Aviation, Hixon autumn 2000. Some par...
wa281 w/o 1983 hu.5 1965 XT459 847 Sqn Mar/Apr69 as /B
Royal Navy XT459: Wessex HU.5 d/d 6 Jul 1965,  847 Sq/B-S by 1969, 846Sq...
848NAS./VB-B
noted at Greenham Common Airshow.
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
Royal Navy 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
Royal Navy 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...
Royal Air Force 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 w/o 1995 hu.5 1965 XT470 847 Sqn Mar/Apr69 as /G
Royal Navy 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 scrapped 1998 hu.5 1965 XT471 847 Sqn Mar/Apr69 as /F
Royal Navy XT471: Wessex HU.5 d/d to RN 19 Jan 1966,  Fleetlands 1976, 7...
noted at Greenham Common Air Show.
847 Sq B Flt/XW by 7 May 1982, to 848Sq D Flt/XW as att...
wa307 hu.5 1966 XT485 K 847 Sqn Mar/Apr69 as /K
Royal Navy 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 after the old men on the Muppets. Statler...
pictured (pic2) on HMS Illustrious with 772 Sq, A Fligh...
wa477 scrapped 1996 hu.5 1966 XT755 847 Sqn Mar/Apr69 as /D
Royal Navy 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
Royal Navy 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
Royal Navy 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 scrapped 2000 hu.5 1963 XS479 reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XF
Royal Navy 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
Royal Navy 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
Gunsmoke Paintball 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
Royal Navy 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
Royal Navy 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...
Royal Air Force 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
Royal Navy 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
Royal Navy 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
Royal Navy XS516: 845Sq/V-B by Aug 1966 still Sep 1968; 845Sq/U by Sep 1...
noted at Trenedak Camp.
1985 846Sqn /Q
pictured at Predannack with plenty of battle damage re...

wa187 w/o 1986 hu.5 1964 XS518 reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XP
Royal Navy XS518: Westland Wessex HU.5C, c/n WA187, f/f:?; del Royal Navy...
Royal Air Force 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
Royal Navy 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
Royal Navy 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
Royal Navy XT466: Westland Wessex HU.5, c/n WA288, f/f:?; del Royal Navy ...
noted at Greenham Common Air Show.
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
Royal Navy 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 scrapped 1997 hu.5 1966 XT475 reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XG
Royal Navy 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
Royal Navy 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 scrapped 1995 hu.5 1966 XT481 Transferred in from an 848Sq attrition reserve at Navy Point as 847 Sq/XF Jul 19...
Royal Navy 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
Royal Navy 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
Royal Navy XT486: Westland Wessex HU.5, c/n WA308, f/f:?; del Royal Navy ...
to Brize Norton JATE by Mar 1990
wa479 scrapped 1991 hu.5 1966 XT757 reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XH
Royal Navy 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
Royal Navy 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 scrapped 2002 hu.5 1966 XT764 reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XM
Royal Navy 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 scrapped 2000 hu.5 1967 XT766 reactivated 847 NAS 07may-24sep 1982 as /XS
Royal Navy 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
Royal Navy 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)

    No longer with this org.




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