![]() There were some who argued the Lynx could have been replaced far more cheaply by either purchasing more Merlins, or by obtaining existing foreign equivalents such as the NH90 or Sikorsky MH-60 Seahawk. ![]() Test-firing the Sea Skua on the Aberporth Range Area, April 2006.Ĩ15 Naval Air Squadron conduct a final flypast around South West England to mark the Lynx passing out of service, March 2017. Lynx HMA.8 of the OEU launches from HMS Argyll to conduct trial Sea Skua attack on the ex-HMS Boxer, Aug 2004. Lynx HMA.8 of 815 Squadron OEU drops Stingray torpedo during trials off Portland, January 2002. ![]() HMS Gloucester’s HAS.3 Lynx prepares to land on deck, South China Sea 1998. Roof-mounted Loral Challenger infrared countermeasures, AN/ALQ-167 ‘Yellow Veil’ jammer pod and GEC Sandpiper FLIR thermal imaging camera. HMS London’s ‘special fit’ HAS.3GW Lynx during the first Gulf War 1991. Note the markings on the nose denoting the 5 Iraqi navy vessels destroyed by her Sea Skua missiles during the battle of Bubiyan, January 1991. Lynx on the flight deck of Type 42 destroyer HMS Cardiff during Operation Granby. The magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) for localising submarine contacts can be seen behind the torpedo. It could carry either 2 Mark 44/46 or Stingray anti-submarine torpedoes, 2 twin Mark 11 depth charges or 4 Sea Skua anti-ship missiles. The Lynx HAS.2 pictured here c1984 with the unapproved mixed weapons fit on show for the camera. New avionics and flotation gear were added and the main elements of this upgrade would see the aircraft serve until its retirement in 2017. A radome for Seaspray Mark III 360º radar was fitted to the nose (although the Mk III radar was never actually fitted as an economy measure). The Gem engines were improved, new BERP rotor blades and a composite tail rotor fitted. From 1992 existing airframes received a substantial upgrade to HMA.8 standard. Aircraft from HMS Cardiff, Gloucester, Manchester and Brazen used Sea Skua missiles to destroy 14 Iraqi naval vessels during 21 separate engagements that lasted over 13 hours. The Lynx played a significant part in the naval battles of the first Gulf War in 1991. In 1986 a specially modified Lynx achieved the world helicopter speed record of over 400 Km/h, which still stands today.ĥ4 surviving HAS.2 aircraft were upgraded with better engines to HAS.3 standard along with a purchase of 23 new-build HAS.3 bringing the total to 77 in service with the RN in the mid-1980s. The Lynx quickly became valued as a prime weapons system for frigates and destroyers and achieved considerable export success to navies around the world. 4 Lynx were lost on ships that were either hit or sunk but none were lost in combat. 24 Lynx were deployed in a baptism of fire during the 1982 Falklands War and using Sea Skua missiles (that had not even been fully qualified for service) knocked out at least 3 Argentine vessels. The Westland Lynx HAS.2 formally entered service in September 1976 and 60 aircraft were eventually bought for the RN. It was a giant leap in capability from the very basic Westland Wasp it replaced, being fast, agile and versatile. Here we take a look at the development history and the capability of naval variant Wildcat HMA.2 The Wildcat has been in service with the RN since 2016 and is beginning to build up a good record of success in active service.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |