H.M.S. Antrim Association

Cruest

Westland Wessex HAS3 (XP142) or Humphrey

THumphryECHNICAL DETAILS

  • Role - Anti submarine helicopter
  • Manufacturers - Westland Helicopters
  • Power plant - One 1,600 shp Napier Gazelle 165 gas turbine;
  • Rotor Diameter - 56ft
  • Length - 65ft 10.5ins
  • Height - 14ft 5ins
  • Weight - 12,600lb loaded
  • Max speed - 135mph at sea level
  • Duration - 390 miles
  • Armament - Combination of 2 Mk44/46 torpedoes or 2 Mk11 depth charges

Built as a HAS1

18/06/1962 - First flight;
02/07/1962 - To AHU RNAY Fleetlands;
06/07/1962 - To 845 NAS (HMS Albion), coded J/A;
09/1965 - Arrived at NASU Culdrose;
24/05/1966 - At RNAY Fleetlands;
08/1966 - To 706NAS at Culdrose, coded 574/CU;
27/07/1967 - To Westland Helicopters Ltd for HAS3 conversion;
22/08/1969 - At NASU Culdrose;
15/09/1969 - To 814 NAS at Culdrose coded 270/H;
14/07/1970 - NASU Culdrose;
16/11/1970 - To 706 NAS at Culdrose as 570/CU;
30/06/1971 - At RNAY Fleetlands;
07/06/1973 - NASU Yeovilton;
15/07/1975 - To 829 NAS, Hampshire Flt coded 402/HA;
01/04/1976 - To 737 NAS, Fife Flt coded 404/FF;
09/01/1978 - To RNAY Fleetlands;
17/02/1978 - Back to 737 NAS as 404/FF;
17/09/1979 - To RNAY Fleetlands;
06/02/1981 - To 737 NAS at Portland coded 663/PO;
29/03/1982 - To 737 NAS Antrim Flt coded 406/AN named Humphrey operating out of Gibraltar on Operation Springtrain;
02/04/1982 - Ship ordered to the South Atlantic;
10/04/1982 - Arrived at Ascension Island by now painted in low-viz marks with code removed
22/04/1982 - Rescued Special Forces from Fortuna Glacier on South Georgia after two Wessex HU5’s crashed;
23/04/1982 - Rescued Special Forces from Geminis adrift in Cumberland Bays;
25/04/1982 - Flown by Lt/Cmdr I Stanley, depth charged Santa Fe;
21/05/1982 - Suffered splinter damage when ship attacked by Grupo 6 Daggers near entrance of San Carlos Water;
26/05/1982 - Airworthy again;
29/06/1982 - Sailed with ship from Port Howard,West Falkland for the UK;
17/07/1982 - Arrived at Portsmouth;
18/07/1982 - Flown off to Portland;
26/07/1982 - By road to FAAM and put on display in Falklands exhibition;
06/09/1994 - Taken off display, into storage;
23/06/1995 - 02/10/1995 - At Lee on Solent for 50th anniversary day;
19/03/2002 - On display in Unforgotten Falklands

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