Westland Wessex
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| Wessex | |
|---|---|
 A Royal Navy Wessex HU5 at Ascension Island in 1982 |
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| Type | Helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Westland |
| Maiden flight | 20 June 1958 |
| Introduced | 1961 |
| Retired | 2003 (Royal Air Force) |
| Primary users | Fleet Air Arm Royal Air Force Australian Fleet Air Arm Uruguayan Air Force |
| Number built | 356 |
| Developed from | Sikorsky H-34 |
The Westland Wessex is a British turbine-powered version of the Sikorsky S-58 "Choctaw", developed under license by Westland Aircraft, initially for the Royal Navy, but later for the Royal Air Force (RAF). The Wessex was built at Westland's factory at Yeovil in Somerset.
The name Wessex had also been used for a fixed wing light transport of 1930, a modification of the Westland IV.
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[edit] Design and development
An American built Sikorsky HSS-1 was shipped to Westland's in 1956 to act as a pattern aircraft. It was re-engined with a Napier Gazelle engine and first flew in that configuration on the 17 May 1957. The first Westland-built Wessex XL727, a Wessex HAS.1 first flew on 20 June 1958, and they entered anti-submarine duties in 1961 with the Royal Navy. Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm anti-submarine examples (HAS Mk.1, HAS Mk.3) used the Napier Gazelle engine, a turboprop engine developed into a turboshaft. This made the Wessex the first helicopter to have a free-power turbine, where the power shaft is not physically connected to the compressor shaft.
The design was adapted in the early 1960s for the RAF, and later Royal Marines, to become a general-purpose helicopter capable of troop-carrying, air ambulance and ground support roles. In contrast with the HAS.1, it used twin Bristol Siddeley Gnome engines. These marks (HC Mk.2, HCC Mk.4, HU Mk.5) had a single large exhaust on each side of the nose, the Gazelle-powered examples having a pair of smaller exhausts on either side.
[edit] Operational history
The Wessex was first used by the RAF in 1962, and did not finally retire until January 2003, being the main transport helicopter until the introduction of the Aérospatiale Puma. The bright yellow RAF machines used for air-sea or mountain rescue duties became especially famous and saved many lives.
The Navy pressed the development of the HAS.1 into the improved HAS.3, coming into service in 1967. It saw embarked service on the County Class destroyers. The HAS Mk.3 could be identified by a dorsal radome and strake extending behind the "hump".
Wessex helicopters were also used by the Queen's Flight of the RAF to transport VIPs including members of the British Royal Family, from 1969 to 1998. Those Royal helicopters were designated HCC.4 and were essentially similar to the HC.2 but with an upgraded interior, additional navigation equipment and enhanced maintenance programmes. A later version used by the Royal Marine Commandos was the HU.5.
16 former RAF Wessex HC.2 were supplied to Uruguay. The Uruguayan Navy received 5 helicopters in 1998, with the Uruguayan Air Force taking delivery of 11 helicopters in three batches from 2000 until 2003.
[edit] Variants
- Wessex HAS1
- RN utility, anti-submarine warfare, later air-sea rescue only, 140 built, some later comverted to HAS3.
- Wessex HC2
- RAF Troop carrier for up to 16 troops, One prototype converted from HAS1 and 73 built.
- Wessex HAR2
- RAF search and rescue conversions.
- Wessex HAS3
- RN anti-submarine version with improved avionics with a radome on the rear fuselage, 3 new-build development aircraft and 43 converted from HAS.1
- Wessex HCC4
- VVIP transport for the Queens Flight, two built
- Wessex HU5
- RN service troop transporter, carried 16 Royal Marines, 101 built
- Wessex HAS31
- Royal Australian Navy anti-submarine warfare model, 27 built.
- Wessex HAS31B
- Updated anti-submarine warfare model for the Royal Australian Navy.
- Wessex 52
- military transport version of the HC2 for the Iraqi Air Force, 12 built.
- Wessex 53
- Military transport version of the HC2 for the Ghana Air Force, two built.
- Wessex 54
- Military transport version of the HC2 for the Brunei Air Wing, two built
- Wessex 60
- Civilian version of the Wessex HC2, 20 built.
In RN service the armament carried was:
- Pylon mounting (selection from)
- 4 Aerospatiale SS-11
- 2 Aerospatiale AS-12 Anti-shipping missile
- 2 x 7.62 mm L7 GMPG machine guns.
- Fixed mounts
- Depth charges or lightweight torpedoes.
[edit] Accidents and Incidents
- G-ATSC - Bristow Helicopters. Ditched (North Sea) March '76 - all saved
- G-ASWI - Bristow Helicopters. Crashed (North Sea) August '81 - no survivors
[edit] Operators
[edit] Military Operators
- Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm
- No. 723 Squadron RAN
- No. 725 Squadron RAN
- No. 816 Squadron RAN
- No. 817 Squadron RAN
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- Royal Air Force
- No. 18 Squadron RAF
- No. 22 Squadron RAF
- No. 28 Squadron RAF
- No. 32 Squadron RAF
- No. 60 Squadron RAF
- No. 72 Squadron RAF
- No. 78 Squadron RAF
- No. 84 Squadron RAF
- No. 103 Squadron RAF
- No. 2 Flying Training School RAF
- Queen's Flight
- SAR Training Squadron RAF
- Wessex Operational Conversion Flight RAF
- Fleet Air Arm
- 700 Naval Air Squadron
- 706 Naval Air Squadron
- 707 Naval Air Squadron
- 737 Naval Air Squadron
- 771 Naval Air Squadron
- 772 Naval Air Squadron
- 781 Naval Air Squadron
- 814 Naval Air Squadron
- 815 Naval Air Squadron
- 819 Naval Air Squadron
- 820 Naval Air Squadron
- 824 Naval Air Squadron
- 826 Naval Air Squadron
- 829 Naval Air Squadron
- 845 Naval Air Squadron
- 846 Naval Air Squadron
- 847 Naval Air Squadron
- 848 Naval Air Squadron
[edit] Civil Operators
[edit] Specifications (Wessex HC.2)
General characteristics
- Crew: Two pilots (civilian type 60 Wessex cleared for single pilot operation in UK)
- Capacity: 16 troops or 8 stretchers
- Length: 65 ft 8 in (20.03 m)
- Rotor diameter: 56 ft 0 in (17.07 m)
- Height: 16 ft 2 in (4.93 m)
- Disc area: 2,463 ft² (229 m²)
- Empty weight: 8,304 lb (3,767 kg)
- Loaded weight: lb (kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 13,500 lb (6,123 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Gnome turboshaft, 1,535 shp (1,150 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 133 mph (212 km/h)
- Range: 480 miles (772 km)
- Service ceiling 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
- Rate of climb: ft/min (m/s)
- Disc loading: 5.5 lb/ft² (26.7 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.11 hp/lb (0.19 kW/kg)
[edit] See also
Comparable aircraft
[edit] References
- Michal Ovcacik & Karel Susa, Westland Wessex: Rotary Wiings Line, 1st edition 1998, 4+ Publications, Prague Czech Republic, (in English) ISBN 80-902559-0-6.
- Patrick Allen, Wessex,1988, Airlife ISBN 1-85310-050-1.
[edit] External links
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