Fleet Air Arm
Association of Australia
Westland Sea King Mk50A Helicopter
Sea King Mk50A
Manufacturer: Westland Aircraft Ltd
Type: initially, carrier-borne anti-submarine, search and rescue helicopter; currently maritime utility transport
Delivered: 12 helicopters, 1974-83
Length: 22.15 metres
Height: 5.13 metres
Width: 18.9 metres (rotors spread)
Weight: 9,525 kg
Speed: 230 kph
Range: 925 km
Crew: 4 (2 pilots, tactical coordinator, aircrewman)
Engines: two Rolls Royce Gnome gas turbines
Weapons: two Mk46 torpedoes or two Mk11 depth charges; one 7.62 machine gun
The Fleet Air Arm operates seven Westland Sea King Mk50A helicopters. Ten were delivered to Australia in 1975, to replace the Westland Wessex as the RAN's anti-submarine warfare helicopter. An additional two arrived in 1983.
The Sea King Mk 50A is an all-weather twin engine multi-role helicopter
designed by Sikorsky in the USA and built under licence by Westland Helicopters at Yeovil in the UK.
It is crewed by two pilots, a tactical co-ordinator (observer) and an
aircrewman.
All aircraft have been upgraded to Mk50A standard on completion of the life of type extension (LOTE) project.
The LOTE program replaced many of the aging avionic systems within the Sea King so the aircraft are available to the fleet until at least 2015.
The aircraft were used in the anti-submarine warfare and submarine training
role until 1995 when the AQS-13B sonar was removed from service. Since that
time, the Sea King's primary role has been maritime utility support.
Secondary roles include ASW weapons carrier, anti-surface warfare, troop
transport and sea-air rescue.
The Sea King is currently embarked in HMAS Success and periodically embarked in HMA Ships Tobruk, Kanimbla and Manoora.
During 2003, Sea King helicopters saw active service in the Gulf conflict and were deployed to the Solomon Island peace-keeping operations.
See also:
Sea King in anti-submarine mode;
or
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