History_of_War_43_2017

WESTLAND LYNX
The swift, versatile Westland Lynx helicopter has performed in multiple
roles for the armed forces of many countries during the last 40 years
During the mid-1960s, the British
military turned its attention to the
Westland WG 13, a multipurpose
civil and naval utility helicopter.
Military observers believed the
type might perform well as a replacement for
the Westland Wasp and Scout helicopters
then in service and possibly outperform an
alternative, the American-built Bell UH-1
Iroquois. In 1967, Britain and France signed an
agreement to develop helicopters, and French
manufacturer Aérospatiale joined Westland with
a 30 percent stake in the development of the
widely successful design that became known
as the Westland Lynx.
The fi rst fl ight of the Lynx took place on
March 21, 1971, and it was accepted for
service with the British armed forces six years
later. Both battlefi eld and naval variants were
developed while the fast and agile type set
several helicopter speed records, including
a 1986 mark at 400.87 kilometres per hour,
establishing the Fedération Aéronautique
Internationale airspeed mark, which has stood
for three decades. The Lynx is also considered
the world’s fi rst aerobatic helicopter, capable of
performing loops and other manoeuvres while
fl ying with the Blue Eagles aerobatic team of
the British Army and the Royal Navy’s helicopter
display team, the Black Cats.
More than 100 examples of the Lynx AH.Mk
1 entered service with the British Army and
Royal Marines in 1977. These were upgraded
at least twice, serving as the primary anti-tank
air assets and in ground support roles for both
services, eventually equipping at least 11
squadrons. The Lynx is capable of transporting
up to ten fully equipped combat troops in its
transport role as well. Until its retirement in
the spring of 2017, it served as the Royal
Navy’s primary anti-ship and anti-submarine
helicopter, also performing air-sea rescue and
reconnaissance missions. In 1994, a total of
38 previous versions were upgraded to the
standard Lynx HMA.Mk 8.
“THE LYNX IS ALSO CONSIDERED THE WORLD’S FIRST
AEROBATIC HELICOPTER, CAPABLE OF PERFORMING
LOOPS AND OTHER MANOEUVRES”
WESTLAND LYNX SPECIFICATIONS
COMMISSIONED: 1977 ORIGIN: UK/FRANCE
LENGTH: 15.16 METRES RANGE: 528 KILOMETRES
ENGINE: 2 X ROLLS-ROYCE GEM TURBOSHAFT CREW: 2 OR 3
PRIMARY WEAPONS – NAVAL: 2 X TORPEDOES OR 4 SEA SKUA
ANTI-SHIP MISSILES OR 2 X DEPTH CHARGES
PRIMARY WEAPONS – ATTACK: 2 X 20MM CANNON, 2 X CRV7
ROCKET PODS, 8 X TOW ANTI-TANK MISSILES
SECONDARY WEAPONS: 7.62MM GENERAL-PURPOSE MACHINE
GUNS; .50-CALIBRE BROWNING; AN/M3M MACHINE GUN
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