Sea King Mk.41 German Navy Deutsche Marine Helicopter

German Navy / Deutsche Marine
Westland Sea King Mk.41

sea king mk.41 westland naval helicopter german navy deutsche marine sar hubschrauber 68x

10/22

Units (23):

Serials / markings:
89+50 / 89+51 / 89+52 / 89+53 / 89+54 / 89+55 / 89+56 / 89+57 / 89+58 / 89+59
89+60 / 89+61 / 89+62 / 89+63 / 89+64 / 89+65 / 89+66 / 89+67 / 89+68 / 89+69
89+70 / 89+71
(note 89+61 was written off after a test flight 1974 and replaced by another 89+61)

assigned to: Marinefliegergeschwader 5 (MFG 5)
Homebase: Fliegerhorst Nordholz, Niedersachsen (main operating base)

The Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines (derived from the US General Electric T58), British-made anti-submarine warfare systems and a fully computerised flight control system. The Sea King was primarily designed for performing anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions.

A dedicated search and rescue (SAR) version, the HAR3, was developed for the RAF Search and Rescue Force. The type entered service in 1978 to replace the Westland Whirlwind HAR.10. A 16th helicopter was ordered shortly after, and following the Falklands War of 1982, three more examples were purchased to enable operation of a SAR flight in the islands, initially from Navy Point on the north side of Stanley harbour, and later from RAF Mount Pleasant. In 1992, six further helicopters were ordered to replace the last remaining Westland Wessex helicopters in the SAR role, entering service in 1996. The six Sea King HAR3As featured updated systems, including a digital navigation system and more modern avionics.

Westland also manufactured SAR versions of the Sea King for the Royal Norwegian Air Force, the German Navy and the Belgian Air Force. On SAR variants, the cabin was enlarged by a stretch of the fuselage behind the door; another key feature, used for additional flotation in the unusual event of a water landing, inflatable buoyancy bags were housed inside the aircraft's sponsons. Upgrades and changes made to SAR Sea Kings include the addition of radar warning receivers, a cargo hook for the underslung carriage of goods, and the redesigning of the cockpit for compatibility with night vision goggles.

The German Navy placed an order for 22 Sea King Mk.41s on 20 June 1969 as a replacement for the Grumman Albatross flying boat in the Search and Rescue Role. This was the first export sale for the Westland Sea King, and was the first dedicated Search and Rescue Sea King variant, with an enlarged cabin and more fuel. The German Sea Kings had similar radar and navigation equipment to the HAS.1, but was not fitted with sonar. The 22 Sea Kings were delivered between April 1973 and September 1974, equipping Marinefliegergeschwader 5 (MFG 5) (Naval Air Wing 5). An additional Sea King was delivered in April 1975 to replace one destroyed in a gale. The surviving Sea Kings were upgraded between 1986 and 1988, adding the capability to carry Sea Skua anti-ship missiles, which required the addition of a Ferranti Seaspray radar in a nose radome.

The 21 remaining Sea Kings are tasked to a variety of roles including SAR, transport, disaster relief, tactical land-sea transport, evacuation, surveillance, reconnaissance and naval support. The main base is Nordholz, although units are always stationed at Heligoland Airfield and Warnemünde, and sometimes at Borkum Airfield. The helicopters are scheduled to be replaced by the NH-90 NTH Sea Lion.

Sea King Mk.41
Search and rescue version of the Sea King HAS.1 for the German Navy, with longer cabin; 23 built, delivered between 1973 and 1975. A total of 20 were upgraded from 1986 onwards with additional Ferranti Seaspray radar in nose and capability to carry four Sea Skua Anti-ship missiles.

Characteristics (Sea King HAS.5):
Crew: 2-4
Length: 55 ft 10 in (17.02 m)
Height: 16 ft 10 in (5.13 m)
Empty weight: 14,051 lb (6,373 kg)
Gross weight: 21,000 lb (9,525 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 21,400 lb (9,707 kg)
Main rotor diameter: 62 ft 0 in (18.90 m)
Main rotor area: 3,020 sq ft (281 m2)
Cruise speed: 112 kn (129 mph, 207 km/h) (max cruise at sea level)
Range: 664 nmi (764 mi, 1,230 km)
Rate of climb: 2,020 ft/min (10.3 m/s)
Powerplant: 2 x Rolls-Royce H.1400-2 Gnome turboshaft engines, 1,660 shp (1,240 kW) each

source: wikipedia

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sea king mk.41 westland naval helicopter german navy deutsche marine sar mfg-5 insignia 08

MFG 5 insignia on a Sea King Mk.41

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