Most of the information contained in the table below is by courtesy of ADF Serials, to whom we offer our grateful thanks. The job would have been infinitely harder without their work!
|
Serial |
C/N | To RAN | Aircraft History |
| N16-098 (901) |
WA787 | 02/03/1975 | First Flight 30/06/74. Previously G-17-1. First RAN Sea King Delivered. Delivered 02/03/75. On board HMAS Melbourne, ‘Spithead Deployment’ 28/04/77 to 04/10/77 with HS817. Ditched in sea, 23/05/79 90 km East of Jervis Bay after tail rotor failed.Aircraft was performing an anti submarine exercise when the Observer LEUT(O) M Wright RAN reported unusual vibration and noise in the rear of the helo. Pilot elected to return to HMAS Melbourne and as the helo entered hover to land tail rotor control was lost and the aircraft crashed into the sea alongside the carrier. On striking the sea it rolled inverted and began to sink. Pilots LCDR(P) V.Battese and LEUT(P) M. Ogden escaped and winched to safety by Sea King (910). Rear crew LEUT (O) M. Wright & LSA M. Skewes picked up by ship’s Gemini boat. |
| N16-100 (902) |
WA788 | 08/04/1975 | First Flight 06/08/74. Previously G-17-2. Delivered 08/04/75.On 10 July 1989 embarked upon HMAS Stalwart where the aircraft was used to ferry the prime Minister Bob Hawke for a visit around the fleet. On 6 August 1989 the aircraft (Crewed by Pilot LEUT (P) Andy Jankowski, copilot – LEUT(P) David Moncrief, observer – SBLT(O) David Turner and aircrewman – CPO(A) Michael Skewes.) ditched, made a water landing, in the sea North of Darwin during exercise Kangaroo 89 due to an engine electrical fault which caused an engine to shut down. They successfully took off again and landed back on board the frigate HMAS Darwin. On board HMAS Kanimbla with N16-239 as part of relief operations for Boxing Day 2004 Tsunami. Crashed Fatal on 2 April 2005 whilst on relief operations on Nias Island, Indonesia. Nine Australian Defence Force members killed and 2 injured. Aircraft destroyed. |
| N16-112 (903) |
WA789 | 16/04/1975 | First Flight 16/10/74. Previously G-17-3 and G-BGHY. Delivered 16/04/75. Ditched in sea near Port Kembla 15/7/86 after transmission oil loss while conducting an Anti Submarine Exercise with HMAS Adelaide. Aircraft capsized in the swell but remained afloat for seven hours. HMAS Adelaide attempted salvage but the ship struck the fuselage and the aircraft sank. Crew all safe. |
| N16-113 (904) |
WA790 | 22/04/1975 | First Flight 24/10/74. Previously G-17-4 and G-BCHZ. Delivered 22/04/75. On 30/11/76 the aircraft ditched in the sea off Kiama after transmission failure. Helo remained afloat for 6 hours then sank during salvage attempt. Crew rescued uninjured. |
| N16-114 (905) |
WA791 | 11/07/1975 | First Flight 13/11/74. Previously G-17-5 and G-BCIA. Delivered 11/07/75. On board HMAS Melbourne at Garden Island, Sydney for filming of the Don Lane Show, late July early September 1976. In Somalia aboard HMAS Tobruk 1993. Fitted with a cabin mounted MAG 58 GMPG. Avalon Airshow 1999. Painted in Special 817 Sqn Colours 2000. Bairnsdale Airshow 2000. Participant of the border protection force on Christmas Island 06/2002 to 12/2002. Participant of Exercise Crocodile off Queensland during 09/2003 aboard HMAS Success. Served with 817 Sqn RAN, callsign Shark 05. Listed for disposal 09/2011 8982 hours Sold to the U.K Company Aerospace Logistics departing Nowra 24-25/03/2014 |
| N16-117 (906) |
WA792 | 27/01/1975 | First Flight 13/12/74. Previously G-17-6. Delivered 27/01/75. Ditched and rolled over in Sea, Shoalhaven Bight 21/10/75. Senior Pilot of Sea King acceptance flight LCDR (P) C.Daley RAN, LEUT(P) G.Rogers, RAN LEUT(O) D.Morehouse, RAN & LEUT(O) I.Misfelt rescued. Recovered 13/11/75, Remains to Naval Aviation Museum at Nowra NSW. Components used as training aids |
| N16-118 (907) |
WA793 | 18/02/1975 | First Flight 03/01/75. Previously G-17-7. Delivered 18/02/75. Delivered 02/03/75. (Which is correct?) On board HMAS Melbourne, ‘Spithead Deployment’ 28/04/77 to 04/10/77 with HS817. RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset UK. 25-28 June ’77 to participate in mass fly past for Queens Silver Jubilee celebrations, due to bad weather 07 did not take part. Exercise ‘Highwood’ 5-20 July ’77, North Sea VERTREP from RFA Stromness to HMAS Melbourne. First Sea King to undergo LOTE. Large crack found in fuselage 97? major repairs undertaken. Then the Gulf aboard HMAS Success for 2.5 years. In Timor onboard HMAS Tobruk. Participated in the largest amphibious assault since WW2, where 100+ troops and equipment were inserted into the southern coastal town of Suai. Noted with toned down markings 24/02/02. In the Gulf aboard HMAS Kanimbla during 03-04/2003 on operation Bastille/Falconer. On 13 April 2003 with L/CDR Moggach(P) RAN and crew the aircraft suffered an input coupling bearing failure in the main transmission whilst conducting a low level recce sortie over Iraq’s Al Faw peninsular. The crew managed to nurse the aircraft 18nm to a Royal Navy base at Az Zubayr where an emergency landing was made. The aircraft had 2 engines and a main rotor gearbox changed in Iraq as a result. Between the 25/2/03 and the 25/3/03 during Operations in the North Arabian Gulf, Shark 07 has flown 112.5 hours. The aircraft was also fitted with a 7.62 mm cabin mounted machine gun with 1000 rounds of link ammunition and armoured seats for the crew.
Served with with 817 Squadron as Shark 07. |
| N16-119 (908) |
WA794 | 25/03/1975 | First Flight 04/02/75. Previously G-17-8. Delivered 25/03/75. Delivered 02/03/75. On board HMAS Melbourne, ‘Spithead Deployment’ 28/04/77 until it crashed with HS817. Crashed into Sea off Cocos Islands on the night of 09/05/77. Pilot LEUT(P)WJ Stone,RAN Co pilot S/LEUT(P)JH Edwards RAN suffered slight injuries. Crashed 500 meters astern of HMAS Melbourne while making a night landing, hit water at about 80 knots and broke up. Crew rescued by HMAS Brisbane. All that was recovered of the helo was a wheel. |
| N16-124 (909) |
WA795 | 01/05/1975 | First Flight 25/03/75. Previously G-17-9. Delivered 01/05/75. Hit by two 5.56mm rounds during deployment to Bougainville on HMAS Tobruk in 1994. Crashed 30/07/95 at Bamaga near Jackie Jackie QLD. Lt H.Bus(P) USN Lt(P) G.Edminson RAN LCDR(O) N Coulch RAN & LACM J.Dutton plus 2 passengers rescued. Aircraft written off. |
| N16-125 (910) |
First Flight 08/05/75. Previously G-17-10. Delivered 18/07/75. Delivered 02/03/75. (Which is correct?) On board HMAS Melbourne, ‘Spithead Deployment’ 28/04/77 to 04/10/77 with HS817. Greenham Common Air Tatoo, Berkshire UK. 25/26 June ’77 static display. On deck HMAS Melbourne 28 June ’77 for Queens Silver Jubilee Naval Review, Lee on Solent UK. Exercise ‘Highwood’ 5-20 July ’77, North Sea VERTREP from RFA Stromness to HMAS Melbourne. Operated by 817 Sqn onboard HMS Invincible 17-21/11/83. N16-125/910 was the Success Flight aircraft during 1996 and 1997. During this time, it deployed to RIMPAC 96 before going into LOTE. Following completion of the upgrade, Success Flight and 910 then deployed on a six month South East Asian deployment in 1997. Painted in Special 75th Anniversary Markings. Served aboard HMAS Tobruk 1999. Noted with darkened markings 24/02/02. Served with 817 Sqn RAN, callsign Shark 10. Listed for disposal 09/2011 8191 hours. Sold to the U.K Company Aerospace Logistics departing Nowra 24-25/03/2014 |
||
| N16-238 (920) |
WA929 | 22/08/1983 | First Flight 07/08/83. Previously G-17-12. Delivered 22/08/83. Richmond Airshow 1988. Aboard HMAS Manoora at Nauru 16/09/01. Noted with Darkened markings 25/02/02. Participant of the border protection force on Christmas Island 12/2002 until that ceased in 2003. Images on the defence website show this aircraft involved in Operation Anode in the Solomon Islands in 2003 aboard HMAS Manoora. N16-238/920 was allotted to HMAS Manoora Flight during 2006. However following the coup in Fiji that year, the Flight transferred to HMAS Kanimbla in September for Operation Quickstep. Served with 817 Sqn RAN, callsign Shark 20. Listed for disposal 09/2011 8771 hours Sold to the U.K Company Aerospace Logistics departing Nowra 24-25/03/2014 |
| N16-239 (921) |
WA930 | 11/05/1983 | First Flight 09/03/83. Previously G-17-13. Delivered 11/05/83. Operated by 817 Sqn onboard HMS Invincible 17-21/11/83. Force landed into a paddock opposite “Manildra Mill”, Bomaderry in June 1989, after complete loss of transmission oil pressure with LEUT(P) Milns and crew. Towed by road back to HMAS Albatross. In Timor onboard HMAS Success. Avalon Airshow 2003. On board HMAS Kanimbla with N16-100 and took part in the Boxing day 2004 Tsunami relief effort. Crew of this aircraft observed smoke rising from the crash of N16-100 on Nias Island, Indonesia and flew to the scene where the two survivors were evacuated back to HMAS Kanimbla. Served with 817 Sqn RAN, callsign Shark 21. Listed for disposal 09/2011 7732 hours Took part in final Sea King flight formation prior to retirement 15/12/2011 Sold to the U.K Company Aerospace Logistics departing Nowra 24-25/03/2014. |
| N16-918 (922) |
WA878 | 06/06/1979 | Previously Royal Navy XZ918. First Flight UK 03/04/1979, Delivered RN FAA 06/06/79 under contract A12/1201 as a HAS2, later modified as HAS5 then HU5. Ditched in the Mediterranean Sea on 8/11/85 following loss of main gearbox oil when with 814 Sqdn RN. Purchased as replacement for N16-124. Went through LOTE on delivery to RAN. Delivered 25/06/96. The first Sea King to land on HMAS Manoora for first of type trials. Images on the defence website show this aircraft involved in Operation Anode in the Solomon Islands in 2003 aboard HMAS Manoora. Served with 817 Sqn RAN, callsign Shark 22. Listed for disposal 09/2011 7988 hours. Took part in final Sea King flight formation prior to retirement 15/12/2011. Sold to the U.K Company Aerospace Logistics departing Nowra 24-25/03/2014. |
