Del'd: 250 - 1961 to 1988

Westland Wessex
in
united kingdom Fleet Air Arm









Fleet Air Arm Wessex

Produced at Yeovil from late 1959, the Wessex HAS.1 was the major RN ASW platform between 1961 and 1967. It was last used in the ASW role May 1969. It remained in the training role at RNAS Culdrose until 9 Aug 1979. Excluding prototypes, 136 HAS.1s ordered, with a few completed on the line as HAS.3. 94 HAS.1s were either not converted or not available to be (eg wfu or w/o).
The Wessex HAS.3 was a much improved ASW aircraft over the HAS.1. It featured a 1600shp Gazelle Mk 165 engine with a much safer, compressed air starting system, the Type 195 sonar, a better Flight Control System and an external radome (the Camel's Hump) behind the rotor head. Some were on the line as HAS.1s and completed as HAS.3s. In total 42 HAS.1 conversions at Yeovil between 1966 and 1969 (?), excluding the 3 prototypes. The Wessex HAS.3 was in front-line service between Aug 1967 and Dec 1972, when it was replaced by the Sea King HAS.1 in the ASW role. Two were still in use on County Class Destroyers (HMS Antrim & HMS Glamorgan) in the Falklands in 1982.
The Wessex HU.5 was a development of the HAS.1, replacing its single Gazelle engine with a pair of coupled Gnome turbines The HU.5 introduced the AS.12 wire guided, anti-ship missle and GPMG door guns. In 1964, the more powerful Wessex HU.5 replaced the HAS.1 as a Commando Support Helicopter. The HU.5 was itself replaced by the Sea King HC.4 between Dec 1979 - Oct 1986 as a Commando Support Helicopter. The HU.5 was re-tasked for Search and Rescue operations and was eventually withdrawn from RN service on 31 Mar 1988.

Wessex last codes:

846 Squadron were double codes starting with V (Victor) i.e VE, VL, VK etc.
845 squadron was allocated Y (Yankie) as their Squadron code but they never wore it, so XS514 eg was known officially as (Y)L, but just carried L.
707 Squadron were W (Whiskey) later Z (Zulu) after 1982.
848 Squadron re-formed and took W (Whiskey) for the Falklands / Malvinas conflict in 1982. (Basically all the 707 Squadron aircraft became 848 Squadron overnight along with a few extras)
847 Squadron were formed for the 1982 conflict and took the code X (X-Ray)




845 Sqdn did trials with the wire guided missile which I believe was a French design while en route through the Mediterranian Sea towards the Suez canal immediately before the Borneo confrontation. I was aircrew on the HAS.1 at that time in the dual role of Radio/radar mechanic (LREM(A)) and volunteer aircrew, C.Hollins




@ (optional)     Send



  News


Restored Wessex Goes on Display

Restored Wessex Goes on Display

29-Nov-16 - The Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare completed a seven-year project to restore the 66-year-old former Royal Navy Wessex serial XM328



  Units


YearsUnitsBase
1982/84829 NASPortland Heliport
1982848 NASRNAS Yeovilton
1979/88771 NAS RNAS Culdrose
1978/81846 NASRNAS Yeovilton
BA BLMF - Camp Dragočaj
1976/77846 NASRNAS Yeovilton
BA BLMF - Camp Dragočaj
1975/88772 NASPortland Heliport
1974/76772 NASPortland Heliport
1969/81781 NASLee-on-Solent
1969/79771 NAS RNAS Culdrose
Portland Heliport
1969/72820 NAS RNAS Culdrose
1969/70829 NASPortland Heliport
1968/75846 NASRNAS Yeovilton
RNAS Culdrose
BA BLMF - Camp Dragočaj
1968/71819 NASPrestwick
RNAS Culdrose
AAC Ballykelly
1968/70826 NASRNAS Culdrose
1967/83737 NASPortland Heliport
1967/70814 NAS SG Sembawang
SG Sembawang
RNAS Culdrose
1967/70706 NASRNAS Culdrose
1967700 NASRNAS Culdrose
1966/86845 NASRNAS Yeovilton
Navy Point
Old House Creek closed 1982
Port Stanley
RNAS Yeovilton
MT Hal Far closed 1987
RNAS Culdrose
SG Sembawang
RNAS Culdrose
1966/68826 NASRNAS Culdrose
1964/85707 NASRNAS Yeovilton
RNAS Culdrose
1964/76848 NASRNAS Yeovilton
RNAS Culdrose
SG Sembawang
RNAS Culdrose
SG Sembawang
MY Nanga Gaat closed 1966
RNAS Culdrose
1964/70829 NASPortland Heliport
RNAS Culdrose
1964/69820 NASSG Sembawang
RNAS Culdrose
1963/64700 NASRNAS Culdrose
RNAS Culdrose
1963771 NAS Portland Heliport
1962/71706 NASPortland Heliport
RNAS Culdrose
1962/68737 NASPortland Heliport
1962/65845 NASRNAS Culdrose
MY Nanga Gaat closed 1966
SG Sembawang
MY Kuching
RNAS Culdrose
1961/82NATIULee-on-Solent
1961/68819 NASAAC Ballykelly
Eglinton / Londonderry
1961/67814 NAS SG Sembawang
SG Sembawang
RNAS Culdrose
RNAS Culdrose
1961/66815 NASYE Khormaksar / Aden International
SG Sembawang
RNAS Culdrose
1960/62700 NASRNAS Culdrose
RNAS Yeovilton








Helicopters for sale
Accidents
Acronyms
Airshows
Future helicopters
Flying a helicopter
Helicopter stories
TV and movies

Helicopter books
Helicopter patches
Helicopter model kits


az