06 February 2012

UK In Action: Loading the Sea King


Photograph shows a Royal Navy Sea King Mk4 helicopter being loaded onto a Royal Air Force C17 transport plane for its journey back to the United Kingdom. The Royal Navy’s Commando Sea King helicopters completed their final mission in Afghanistan on 30th September 2011 and are now returning to the UK to prepare for further contingency operations and convert to the newer and more capable Merlin helicopter. The helicopters, crews and engineers of 845 and 846 Naval Air Squadrons who are normally based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset, have been deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Herrick since 2007. With the venerable Sea King MK4 due to be withdrawn from military service in 2016, the Royal Navy has withdrawn its small number of Commando Sea King MK4 helicopters from Camp Bastion in Afghanistan to be returned to the UK.

img from UK MoD

By: Widow 6-7

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