Westland Wessex

This article is about the helicopter. For 1930s aircraft, see Westland Wessex (fixed wing).

Wessex
A Royal Navy Wessex HU.5 at Ascension Island in 1982
Role	Helicopter
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Westland Aircraft Westland Helicopters
First flight	20 June 1958
Introduction	1961
Retired	2003 (Royal Air Force)
Primary users	Royal Navy Royal Air Force Royal Australian Navy 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 (later Westland Helicopters), initially for the Royal Navy, and later for the Royal Air Force (RAF). The Wessex was built at Westland's factory at Yeovil in Somerset.

Design and development

An American-built Sikorsky HSS-1 was shipped to Westland in 1956 to act as a pattern aircraft. It was re-engined with a Napier Gazelle turboshaft engine, and first flew in that configuration on 17 May 1957. The first Westland-built Wessex XL727, designated a Wessex HAS.1, first flew on 20 June 1958, and they entered anti-submarine duties in 1961 with the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. The Royal Navy's anti-submarine examples (HAS.1, HAS.3) also used the Gazelle engine.

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 Rolls-Royce Gnome engines. These marks (HC.2, HCC.4, HU.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.

Operational history

The Wessex was first used by the RN, the RAF first used the helicopter 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.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.

Counter-insurgency operations

A crisis arose in 1962 as Brunei was not included in the newly formed Federation of Malaya and Indonesia threatened confrontation, including a continuation of the effort started by the North Kalimantan Liberation Army. By February 1964, RAF and Royal Navy Helicopters including some Westland Wessex operating from bases in Sarawak and Sabah to assist Army and Marine detachments fighting guerilla forces infiltrated by Indonesia over its one thousand mile frontier with Malaysia. In Borneo, the helicopter played a major role in fortifying the frontier and maintaining the frontier strong points by airlifting supplies in. The last Wessex HU MK5 in Borneo were operated by 845 Naval Air Commando Squadron (NACS) "B Flight" in Bario and Sepulot and were withdrawn in early October 1966 to Labuan and were embarked on HMS Bulwark en route to Australia.^{[citation needed]}

Wessex were also used in Oman to support British operations in Dhofar. Three of them transported SAS reinforcements in the Battle of Mirbat.^{[citation needed]}

Falklands War

Around fifty-five Westland Wessex HU.5s went to the Falklands War in the South Atlantic in 1982, though a few of these, sent as replacements, did not arrive until after the end of hostilities. Their prime role was the landing, and moving forward, of Rapier missile systems, fuel, artillery and ammunition.^{[citation needed]}

On 21 May 1982, 845 Squadron's Wessex HU.5s supported British landings on East Falkland. Some days later short-term SAS observation posts were inserted, with help from Wessex HU.5s, on the mountains behind Stanley.

Six of 848 Squadron's Wessex HU.5s were lost when the container ship Atlantic Conveyor was sunk. A total of nine Wessexes (eight HU.5s and one HAS.3) was lost during the Falklands campaign.

A Wessex of the Uruguayan Navy

Uruguay

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. Today, the Uruguayan Naval Aviation has a single Westland Wessex HC2 still in service. It is the last of the type flying with any air arm in the world.^{[citation needed]}

Variants

A Wessex HAS.1 at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford (UK)

A Wessex at the Australian National Mairitme Museum

Wessex HAS.1

RN utility, anti-submarine warfare, later air-sea rescue only, 140 built, some later converted to HAS.3.

Wessex HC.2

RAF Troop carrier for up to 16 troops, One prototype converted from HAS1 and 73 built.

Wessex HAR.2

RAF search and rescue conversions.

Wessex HAS.3

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 HCC.4

VVIP transport for the Queens Flight, two built

Wessex HU.5

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 HC.2 for the Iraqi Air Force, 12 built.

Wessex 53

Military transport version of the HC.2 for the Ghana Air Force, two built.

Wessex 54

Military transport version of the HC.2 for the Brunei Air Wing, two built

Wessex 60

Civilian version of the Wessex HC.2, 20 built.

Notable accidents

• G-ASWI - Bristow Helicopters. Crashed (North Sea) August 1981; no survivors

Operators

Military Operators

Australia

• Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm
  • No. 723 Squadron RAN
  • No. 725 Squadron RAN
  • No. 816 Squadron RAN
  • No. 817 Squadron RAN

Brunei

• Brunei Air Wing

Egypt

• Egyptian Air Force

Ghana

• Ghana Air Force

Iraq

• Iraqi Air Force

Oman

• Royal Air Force of Oman - Four ex-RAF HC.2s

United Kingdom

• 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
• Royal Navy 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
  • RFA Regent Flight
  • RFA Resource Flight

Uruguay

• Uruguayan Air Force
• Uruguayan Navy

Civil Operators

United Kingdom

• Bristow Helicopters

Specifications (Wessex HC.2)

Data from Westland Aircraft since 1915

General characteristics

• Crew: Two pilots (civilian type 60 Wessex cleared for single pilot operation)
• Capacity: 16 troops or 8 stretchers
• Length: 65 ft 10 in (20.07 m)
• Rotor diameter: 56 ft 0 in (17.07 m)
• Height: 15 ft 10 in (4.83 m)
• Disc area: 2,463 ft² (229 m²)
• Empty weight: 8,340 lb (3,767 kg)
• Loaded weight: 13,500 lb (6,136 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Gnome H.1200 Mk.110/111 turboshaft, 1,350 shp (1,007 kW) (limited to 1,550 shp (1,156 kW) total) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 132 mph (115 knots, 213 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 122 mph (106 knots, 196 km/h)
• Range: 310 mi (270 nmi, 499 km) with standard fuel
• Service ceiling: 12,000 ft (3,660 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,650 ft/min (8.4 m/s)

See also

Related development

• Sikorsky S-58
• Westland Whirlwind (helicopter)
  

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Mil Mi-4
  

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Allen, Patrick. Wessex. Airlife, 1988. ISBN 1-85310-050-1.
• Burden, Rodney A. et al. Falklands: The Air War. British Aviation Research Group, 1986. ISBN 0 906339 05 7.
• Harrison, Neil. "World's Biggest VTOL Carrier". Flight International, 1 May 1969, pp. 725–727.
• James, Derek N. Westland Aircraft since 1915. London: Putnam, 1991. ISBN 0 85177 847 X.
• Ovcacik, Michal and Susa, Karel. Westland Wessex: Rotary Wings Line, 1st edition 1998, 4+ Publications, Prague Czech Republic, (in English) ISBN 80-902559-0-6.
• Taylor, John W. R. (editor). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965-66. London:Sampson Low, Marston, 1965.

External links

• RAF Museum
• helis.com Wessex section