Westland Sea King
From The Black Vault Encyclopedia Project
The Westland Sea King is a license-built version of the Sikorsky helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with British Rolls-Royce Bristol Gnome engines, along with British made anti-submarine warfare systems and a fully computerised control system. The Westland Sea King was also designed for a wider range of missions than the Sikorsky Sea King.
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General history
The first flight of the Westland Sea King, a Mk. 1, took place on 7 May 1969, with the first production aircraft entering Royal Navy service that same year. The basic ASW Sea King has been upgraded numerous times, becoming the HAS. Mk 2, 5 and 6, the latter of which has been replaced by probably the most advanced ASW helicopter currently in the world, the Westland Merlin.
Other versions of the Sea King have also been produced. The HC.Mk 4 variant is still in service and remains an important asset for amphibious assaults. It is capable of transporting 28 fully equipped troops with a range of 400 miles (640 km). Some Mk. 5s of the ASW Sea King were adapted for Search and Rescue or SAR.
One of the most vital variants of the Sea King is the ASaC (Airborne Surveillance and Area Control), formally known as Airborne Early Warning (AEW). The AEW capability had been lost when the Fairey Gannet was withdrawn after the last of the RN's Fleet carriers, HMS Ark Royal, was decommissioned in 1978. During the Falklands War a number of warships were lost, with casualties, due to the lack of an indigenous AEW presence - the RAF Shackleton AEW.2 proposed fleet cover was too unresponsive and at too great a distance to be practical. The first of this Sea King variant came into operational service in 1985, being deployed by No. 849 Squadron FAA. The current ASaC Sea King is the Mk. 7, which is deployed on the RN's aircraft carriers.
A dedicated Search and Rescue version (Sea King HAR3) was developed for the Royal Air Force, and the first of 15 entered service from September 1977 to replace the Westland Whirlind HAR10. In 1992 six further aircraft were ordered to replace the last remaining Westland Wessex helicopters in the Search and Rescue role. The six (Sea King HAR3A) had updated systems and digital engine control.
Users
The Westland version has been exported to Australia, Belgium, Egypt, Germany, India, Norway, Pakistan and Qatar. The last Sea King to be built by Westland was at Yeovil in 1990 and the last of the Royal Navy Sea King ASW helicopters was retired in 2003, being replaced by the Westland Merlin HM.1. The ASaC or AEW variant is expected to be replaced in time for the two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. The types in contention is a Merlin derivative, a V-22 Osprey variant or a derivative of the E-2C Hawkeye. The HC4 commando variant is also expected to be replaced within the next decade along with SAR variants. 330 were produced in total.
Australian Experience
The Sea King Mk.50 replaced the Westland Wessex HAS.31 as the RAN's ASW helicopter from 1974. A typical fit included Racal ARI 5955/2 lightweight radar, Racal Navigation System RNS252, Racal Doppler 91, ADF Bendix/King KDF 806A and Tacan AN/ARN 118. All serving Mk50 airframes were upgraded to Mk50A standard, through a mid-life extension. In 1995, the AQS-13B sonar was removed and since then, the Sea King's main role changed to maritime utility support. During the first five years of operation, a number of aircraft were lost due primarily to a loss of main gearbox oil.
The future of the Fleet Air Arm's Sea King fleet is in question after what is speculated to be mechanical failure (investigation pending) caused a Sea King providing humanitarian aid in Indonesia in April, 2005, to crash. The crash resulted in the deaths of nine Australian military personnel. Australian Sea Kings played an integral part in the relief effort for the December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, particularly in Indonesia's Aceh province where they delivered medical teams and aid supplies from Royal Australian Navy ships.
Operational history
Falklands War
The Sea King proved her remarkable versatility and endurance during the Falklands War, performing mainly anti-submarine search and attack, also replenishment, troop transport and Special Forces insertions into the occupied islands. On 23 April 1982, a Sea King HC4 was ditched while performing a risky vertical replenishment mission, at night, while operating from the flagship HMS Hermes.
Another Sea King was lost, again from ditching into the sea, due to a systems malfunction. All of the Sea King's crew were rescued. Five days later another Sea King, again from Hermes, crashed into the sea due to an altimeter problem; all crew were rescued.
One of the most mysterious events of the war occurred on 17th May, when a Sea King HC Mk4 landed at Punta Arenas, Chile and was subsequently destroyed by its crew. The three crew later gave themselves up to Chilean authorities. They were returned to the UK and were given gallantry awards for the numerous dangerous missions that they had undertaken.
One of the most tragic accidents during the Falklands War came on 19 May. A helicopter had been transporting SAS troops to HMS Intrepid from Hermes and was attempting to land on Intrepid. A thump was heard, and the Sea King dipped and crashed into the sea, killing 22 men. However, nine survived this accident, but only after jumping out of the Sea King just before the helicopter crashed. Bird feathers were found in the debris of the crash, which appeared to suggest that this accident was the result of a bird, though this theory is debated. The SAS lost 18 men in that crash, their highest number of casualties on one day since World War II. The Royal Signals lost one man and the RAF one man.
Gulf War I and II
The Sea Kings during the 1991 Gulf War had a limited role, compared to their wide ranging task during the Falklands War. Its roles included air-sea rescue, inter-ship transporting duties and transporting Royal Marines onto any suspect ships that refused to turn around during the enforced embargo on Iraq.
During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Sea King ASaC Mk7 from 849 NAS operated off the flagship of the Royal Navy Task Force HMS Ark Royal. Sea King HC Mk4s also deployed from HMS Ocean (operated by 845 NAS) landing the lead invasion forces on the Al Faw peninsula, as well as Sea King HAS Mk6 from RFA Argus (operated by No. 820 NAS).
On March 22, 2003, two AEW Sea Kings from 849 NAS operating from Ark Royal collided over the Persian Gulf, killing six Britons and one American.
During the Gulf Wars the Sea Kings provided logistical support, transporting Royal Marines from their off-shore bases on Ark Royal, Ocean and other ships on to land in Kuwait.
Balkans
The Sea King participated in the UN's intervention in Bosnia, with Sea Kings operated by No. 820 NAS, No. 845 NAS. The Sea Kings from 820 NAS were deployed from Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships Fort Grange and Olwen. They provided logistical support, rather than the ASW role that the Squadron was geared towards, ferrying troops as well as supplies across the Adriatic Sea. They performed over 1,400 deck landings, flying in excess of 1,900 hours. The Sea Kings from 845 NAS performed vital casualty evacuation and other tasks. Their aircraft were hit numerous times, though no casualties were incurred.
During NATO's intervention in Kosovo, a British led operation, Sea Kings from No. 814 Squadron FAA, operated aboard HMS Ocean and RFA Argus and also on destroyers and frigates. They provided search and rescue (SAR), as well as transporting troops and supplies.
Variants
- Sea King HAS.Mk 1 - The first basic ASW Westland Sea King. First flew in 1969.
- Sea King HAS.Mk 2 - Upgraded ASW variant. Some were later converted for AEW (Airborne Early Warning) duties.
- Sea King AEW.Mk 2A - Originally HAC2s but were later converted for the AEW role after shortcomings in that role were revealed with tragic consequences during the Falklands War.
- Sea King HAR.3 - Search and Rescue variants. The first SAR Sea Kings were produced for the Royal Norwegian Air Force and the German Navy. In UK service with 22 and 202 Squadrons of the RAF.
- Sea King HAR.3A - Updated SAR variant for the Royal Air Force.
- Sea King HC.Mk 4 - Commando variant. Is capable of transporting 28 fully equipped troops.
- Sea King Mk.41 - SAR variant for the Federal German Navy, 23 built.
- Sea King Mk.4X - Two helicopters for trials at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough.
- Sea King Mk.42 - ASW variant for the Indian navy, 12 built.
- Sea King Mk.42A - Uprated ASW variant for the Indian navy, 3 built.
- Sea King Mk.42B - Anti-ship model for the Indian navy.
- Sea King Mk.42C - SAR variant for the Indian navy.
- Sea King Mk.43 - SAR variant for the Royal Norwegian Air Force, 10 built.
- Sea King Mk.43A - Uprated SAR version for the Royal Norwegian Air Force.
- Sea King Mk.43B -
- Commando Mk.1 - Assault and troop transport helicopter for the Egyptian air force.
- Commando Mk.2 - Assault and troop transport helicopter for the Egyptian air force.
- Sea King Mk.43A - Upgraded SAR variant for the Royal Norwegian Air Force.
- Commando Mk.2A - Assault and troop transport helicopter for the Qatar Emiri Air Force.
- Sea King Mk.45 - ASW variant for the Pakistan navy, 6 built.
- Sea King Mk.45A -
- Commando Mk.2B - VIP transport helicopter for the Egyptian air force.
- Sea King Mk.47 - ASW variant for the Egyptian navy, 6 built.
- Commando Mk.2C - VIP transport helicopter for the Qatar Emiri Air Force.
- Commando Mk.2E - Electronic warfare version for the Egyptian air force.
- Commando Mk.3 - Anti-ship version for the Qatar Emiri Air Force.
- Sea King Mk.48 - SAR variant for the Royal Belgian Air Force, 5 built.
- Sea King Mk.50 - Multi-role model for the Royal Australian Navy, 10 built.
- Sea King Mk.50A & B -Upgraded multi-role model for the Royal Australian Navy.
- Sea King HAS.Mk 5 - Upgraded ASW variant and later converted for SAR (Search and Rescue) duties.
- Sea King HAR.Mk 5 - Search and rescue version for Royal Navy.
- Sea King HAS.Mk 6 - Upgraded ASW variant.
- Westland Sea King AEW 7 - Upgraded AEW variant.
- Westland Sea King ASaC7 - AEW7s uprated for the ASaC role
References
- John Chartres, Westland Sea King: Modern Combat Aircraft 18, first edition 1984, Ian Allen, Surrey UK, ISBN 0711013942.
External links
Copyright
"Original data received from Wikipedia on April 11, 2006. Credit given to original authors can be seen Here."
