page_title: Westland Wessex
section_title: Variants
hierarchical_section_title: Westland Wessex / Variants
caption_attribution_description: English: Westland Wessex helicopter at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, UK
context_page_description: The Westland Wessex is a British-built turbine-powered development of the Sikorsky H-34. It was developed and produced under licence by Westland Aircraft. One of the main changes from Sikorsky's H-34 was the replacement of the piston-engine powerplant with a turboshaft engine. Early models were powered by a single Napier Gazelle engine, while later builds used a pair of de Havilland Gnome engines.
  The Wessex was initially produced for the Royal Navy and later for the Royal Air Force; a limited number of civilian aircraft were also produced, as well as some export sales. The Wessex operated as an anti-submarine warfare and utility helicopter; it is perhaps best recognised for its use as a search and rescue helicopter. The type entered operational service in 1961, and had a service life in excess of 40 years before being retired in Britain.
context_section_description: Wessex HAS.1
  RN utility, anti-submarine warfare, later air-sea rescue only, 140 built, some later converted to HAS.3.
  Wessex HC.2
  RAF Troop carrier for up to 16 troops, One prototype converted from HAS1 and 73 built.
  Wessex HAR.2
  RAF search and rescue conversions.
  Wessex HAS.3
  RN anti-submarine version with improved avionics with a radome on the rear fuselage, 3 new-build development aircraft and 43 converted from HAS.1
  Wessex HCC.4
  VVIP transport for the Queen's Flight, two built
  Wessex HU.5
  RN service troop transporter, carried 16 Royal Marines, 101 built
  Wessex HAS.31
  Royal Australian Navy anti-submarine warfare model, 27 built.
  Wessex HAS.31B
  Updated anti-submarine warfare model for the Royal Australian Navy.
  Wessex 52
  military transport version of the HC.2 for the Iraqi Air Force, 12 built.
  Wessex 53
  Military transport version of the HC.2 for the Ghana Air Force, two built.
  Wessex 54
  Military transport version of the HC.2 for the Brunei Air Wing, two built
  Wessex 60
  Civilian version of the Wessex HC.2, 20 built.
caption: A Wessex HAS.1 at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford (UK)
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