Westland Wessex HAS.3
Westland Helicopters · United Kingdom · first flew 1964 · helicopter
The Wessex HAS.3 is the definitive Royal Navy anti-submarine mark, upgraded with improved search radar and dipping sonar to hunt Soviet submarines.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 14.74 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Extra hump fairing aft of the main rotor mast housing upgraded Doppler and search radar electronics
- Dipping sonar cable and winch on the port side — distinguishes it from transport marks
- Overall grey and white Royal Navy colour scheme with no cabin windows on the sonar operator station
Against the HC.2, the HAS.3 shows a prominent dorsal electronics hump behind the rotor mast, a sonar winch on the port side, and a grey-and-white naval finish. The HC.2 is olive or yellow with no sonar equipment.
Specifications
- The Westland Wessex HAS.3 has a length of 14.74 m (48 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17.07 m (56 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 212 km/h (132 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed from the HAS.1, the HAS.3 introduced a redesigned nose housing a more capable radar and a prominent dorsal fairing over electronics upgrades. It entered service in 1967 and formed the mainstay of small-ship anti-submarine flights through the Cold War.
Variants
The HAS.3 succeeded the HAS.1 and HAS.3 (interim) in the anti-submarine role; the parallel HC.2 and HU.5 were twin-engine troop-carrying marks serving entirely different roles.
Where you'll see it
The HAS.3 served with the Fleet Air Arm from frigates, destroyers and carriers, hunting Soviet submarines across the North Atlantic. It was phased out as the Westland Lynx and Sea King took over the role in the late 1970s.
Related aircraft
- Westland Wessex HU.5
- Westland Wessex HC.2
- Westland Sea King
- Westland Sea King HAS.1
- Brantly 305
- Hughes XV-9A
- Westland/Agusta Sioux AH.1
- Aérospatiale SA 330A Puma
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.