Westland Wasp

Additional fuel tankage was installed in the cabin floor, and both the tail boom and main rotor blades were foldable to allow stowage in the small hangars fitted to the first generation helicopter-carrying escorts.It was fitted with a winch above the starboard rear door, and also had the capacity to carry underslung loads from the semi-automatic cargo release unit mounted under the fuselage.With a crew of two (Pilot and Missile Aimer/Aircrewman) and the capacity to seat three passengers, Wasp was useful for short-range transport missions, and for casualty evacuation with room for one stretcher fitted across the rear cabin area.Later modifications included the ability to carry the Nord SS.11 wire-guided missile, with the fitting of the Aimer's sight in the left cockpit roof, and the installation of large inflatable emergency floats in sponsons on either side of the cabin to prevent capsizing of the top-heavy aircraft in the event of ditching.The Wessex and a Lynx HAS.2 from HMS Brilliant then attacked it with depth charges, a Mk 46 torpedo, and also strafed it with General Purpose Machine Gun.The Wasp came into service with the Royal Malaysian Navy quite late, compared to the other nations who procured the aircraft when it joined the RMN on 8 April 1988.The first four of an eventual nineteen Wasps were purchased by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) in 1966, being immediately assigned to the new Leander-class frigate, HMNZS Waikato.The Royal Netherlands Navy 860 Naval Air Squadron received 12 Wasp helicopters between November 1966 and June 1967, operated from Van Speijk-class frigates as AH-12As and flown in the ASW role.
First Wasp at the SBAC show 1962, a month before the first flight
Wasp from HMS Galatea landing personnel on Aldabra atoll, Indian Ocean (1970)
Wasp HAS.1 (AH-12A) of the Dutch Koninklijke Marine , 1967
Westland Wasp HAS.1
A Brazilian Wasp hovering over USS Mahan , in 1977.
Royal NavyUnited KingdomManufacturerWestland HelicoptersRoyal New Zealand NavyRoyal Netherlands NavyRoyal Malaysian NavySaro P.531British ArmyWestland ScoutSaunders-Roe Skeeterfrigatesubmarinestand-off weaponWestland WessexnavalisedcasteringditchingHMS GalateaAldabra700(W) Intensive Flying Trials Unit829 Naval Air Squadron706 NAS703 NAS845 NAS848 NASWestland LynxARA Santa FeHMS AntrimHMS Brilliantdepth chargesMk 46 torpedostrafedGeneral Purpose Machine GunHMS PlymouthHMS EnduranceSouth GeorgiaRothesay-classEurocopter FennecLeander-classHMNZS WaikatoArmilla PatrolPersian GulfNo. 3 Squadron RNZAFflypastAnzac-classHMNZS Te KahaKaman SH-2 SeaspriteKoninklijke MarineHNLMS Karel DoormanVan Speijk-classDe Kooy AirfieldBrazilianIndonesianSouth AfricanNAS JuandaTribal-classGearingAllen M. SumnerNiterói-classYsterplaatPresident-classBrazilBrazilian NavyIndonesiaIndonesian NavyMalaysiaNetherlandsUSS MahanNew ZealandSouth AfricaSouth African Navy700W Naval Air Squadron703 Naval Air Squadron705 Naval Air Squadron706 Naval Air Squadron771 Naval Air Squadron845 Naval Air Squadron848 Naval Air Squadron860 Naval Air Squadrongate guardianJuanda Naval Air StationSurabayaRoyal New Zealand Air Force MuseumChristchurchRNAS Yeovilton829 NASFleet Air Arm MuseumEndurance FlightImperial War Museum DuxfordThe Helicopter MuseumBoscombe Down Aviation CollectionRolls-Royce Nimbus 103turboshaftPower/massWE.177L7 GPMGSaunders-Roe P.531Aérospatiale Alouette IIAérospatiale Alouette IIIKamov Ka-15TonbridgeWestland AircraftWessexDreadnoughtLimousineLysanderPterodactylWallaceWalrusWapitiWidgeonWoodpigeonWyvernYeovilCOW Gun FighterF.7/30InterceptorWagtailWeaselWelkinWestburyWhirlwindWizardApacheCommandoDragonflyGazelleMerlinSea KingSuper LynxWestminsterBrazilian Naval AviationH-1 (I)H-1 (II)H-2 (II)American designation systems