Westland Sea Lynx

The Sea Lynx helicopter is equipped with a depth-variable sonar for active and passive detection as well as Mk46 or MU90 torpedoes for attacking enemy submarines. Its crew usually consists of three soldiers: the pilot, the co-pilot, and a sonar operator. A total of 18 naval aviators are on board each frigate to fly and maintain the two helicopters.

“Dipper” and “Pony” as a team

When hunting submarines, one of the two Sea Lynx has the sonar on board to search for a target far away from the ship. Guided by the frigate to an approximate target area, this helicopter, known as a “dipper”, hovers over the probable contact and dips its sensor into the water. The second submarine-hunting helicopter, the “Pony”, carries two torpedoes and waits nearby – until it receives the order to fire its weapons.

The Sea Lynx’s secondary tasks include being on standby as a rescue helicopter to recover people who have fallen overboard. The Sea Lynx also transports personnel and material, for example between ships in a convoy. There is also the task of landing boarding teams on foreign ships. For this role, one of the two boarding helicopters is usually equipped with a heavy machine gun to provide fire support.