W. Gazelle

SERIAL	MARK	SQUADRON	SHIP	NOTES
XX392/B	AH.1			Noted at Luqa on 11.09.75. Gazelle was from Dieppe Flight of 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron, and had arrived from a RN ship visiting Grand Harbour. (Information courtesy John Visanich.)

W. Lynx

SERIAL	TYPE	SQUADRON	SHIP	NOTES
_____/466/AT			Argonaut	In Malta for the 50th anniversary of the awarding of the George Cross. See in Red Arrows 1992 Display page.
?			Diamond	Entered harbour on 07.11.18.
?			Sutherland	Ship was in harbour between 30.07.18 and 03.08.18.
XZ245/422/SU	HAS3GMS		Sutherland	Made three flights during the afternoon of 17.06.03. F/f 28.03.78, d/d 17.05.78
XZ245/422/SU			York	Visited Luqa on 25.10.05.
XZ245/405/LO	HAS.3		London	19.02.93. arrived from Cyprus and departed on the 24th to Gibraltar enroute to UK where it was due to undergo a refit and re-equip with a Sea King in place of its Lynx.
XZ255/375/SM	HMA8		Somerset	Noted on 22.06.14.
XZ725/412	HMA8		Cornwall (F99)	c/n 190. Ship visited Malta between 02-05.02.07.
XZ678	AH7			Noted on 30.11.11.
XZ691/416/LA	HMA.8		Lancaster	In harbour between 11-14.05.10.
XZ691/DF-454	HMA.8SRU		Defender	HMS Defender was in Grand Harbour between 01-05.12.14. Lynx was seen at MIA on 1st December.
XZ692/363	HMA.8SRU		Exeter	D89. In port between 21-23.11.05. Accompanied HMS Illustrious for CHOGM 2005 meeting. F/f 08.06.79, d/d 11.07.79.
XZ724/PD	W. Lynx HAS.3GMS		Portland	Helicopter photographed on ship on 11.10.03. F/f 23.07.80, d/d 05.04.80. W/o on 08.12.04 when helicopter was scrambled after two sailors on board the HMS Montrose claimed they heard cries for help coming from the water off the Cornish Coast. Contact with the helicopter was lost. The mangled remains of the helicopter were discovered by an unmanned submarine in 85 meter-deep waters, 20 miles off Lizard Point. Four crew members killed.
XZ729/426	HMA.8SRU		Portland	Ship entered harbour on 19.06.09. F/f 29.10.80, d/d 11.11.80.
XZ731/332/LP	HMA8SRU		Liverpool	10.06.11. Also seen on 05.08.11, 14.09.11 14.09.17.
ZD256/328/BV	HAS.3GM		Brave	01.08.94 Flew into Luqa airport to collect mail and pick up journalists. F/f 09.11.82, d/d 02.12.82. W/o 23.09.98 when the helicopter flew into the South China Sea off Southern Singapore during a night surface exercise which included engaging targets while operating off HMS Griffon. The helicopter sank, and the salvage operation was carried out by the Royal New Zealand Navy. The pilot escaped with minor injuries, but the observer was killed.
ZD259/407/YK	HMA.8DAS	815		Noted at airport on 22.03.04.
ZD259/425/KT	HMA.8DAS		Kent	Visited Malta between 20-24.06.06.
ZD259451/DA	HMA.8DAS		Daring	At least one visit on 16.02.14. c/n 286.
ZD259/RM-474	HMA.8SRU		Richmond	Seen at Luqa on 31.03.15. c/s NAV474.
ZD565/361	HMA.8SRU	815	Norfolk	Entered on 12.04.02 to participate in the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the awarding of the George Cross to Malta. Ship was open to the public on the 13th & 14th. F/f 10.01.85, d/d 28.01.85.
ZD565/365	HMA8DAS	815	Argyll F231	c/n 316. Ship visited Malta between 20-25.03.08.
ZD566			Montrose F236	Ship visited Malta between 13-16.07.07.
ZF562	HAS.3GM	815	Brave	February 1999. Ship open to the public, helicopter exhibiting a various range of weaponry. F/f 23.08.88, d/d 07.09.88.
ZF562/MR-444	HMA.8		Montrose	HMS Montorse was in Malta from at least 03-08.03.14. Helicopter noted at MIA on 3rd March.
ZF562/452/DT	HMA.8			Noted on 13.12.15, believed based on HMS Dauntless.
ZF562	HMA.8			Seen at MIA on 09.10.16, brought over by an RAF C-17, ZZ177, c/s RRR6496. Believed departed Luqa on the 15th.
ZZ375	Wildcat		Argyll	Ship was in harbor between 03-07.03.19
ZZ380			Diamond	Ship was on a two-day visit between 13-14.09.17. Actual helo type AW159.
ZZ414	HMA2		Duncan	Brief visit to Luqa on 24.04.19. Another 3 flights on 09.06.19, and a brief visit on 19.09.19.
ZZ518			Daring	Seen on 10.09.16, using c/s NVY523. Ship berted in harbour between 12th-16th.
ZZ522				c/s Navy 522, same day arrival/departure on 03.06.16. Again seen on 11.10.16 from HMS Diamond.
ZZ529	HMA.2		Defender	Seen on ship in grand Harbour on 23.08.19, and again between 23-26.09.19. Another visit between 07-11.03.20.
ZZ533	HMA2			Noted on board ship in harbour on 18.11.17. Actual helo type AW159.

Agusta/Westland EH-101 Merlin

SERIAL	VARIANT	SQUADRON	SHIP	NOTES
ZH824	HM.1		Northumberland (F238)	Noted on board ship during port call between 25-29.04.13.
ZH836	HM.2		Bulwark	Seen at Park 7 on 23.11.15. Seen again on the 29th. Arrived from ship, which spent some in harbor.
ZH839/266	HM.1	814		Noted on at Luqa on 21.05.08. Believed operating from HMS Illustrious.
ZH841	HM.1		Westminister	Arrived as Navy 502 on 14.03.11. Seen at Park 7 on 23.11.15.
ZH841/501	HM.1		Bulwark	Arrived on 06.06.15, c/s NVY812. Again seen at Park 7 on 23.11.15, which spent some in harbour. Ship, was on a six week deployment in the Mediterranean, the UK Government having been asked by its Maltese counterpart to assist in the security for the EU migrant conference and the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
ZH843	HM.1			One day visit on 20.07.16.
ZH848/503/B	HM.1		St. Albans	In harbour between 18-22.07.10
ZH849	HM.1		Sutherland	Ship visited Malta between 04-09.12.12
ZH850			Bulwark	Noted on board ship.
ZH852	HM.1		Somerset	Photographed on board ship on 12.02.12. Departed on the 15th.
ZH854/CU-415				Noted on ships’ deck on 22.02.08. Ship unknown.
ZH856/10	HM.3		Ocean	Seen on 15.09.14. HMS Ocean, along with other ships was taking part in exercise Cougar 14 in the Mediterranean and the Gulf.
ZH857/CU	HM.1		Bulwark	Arrived on 07.06.15 as a medevac flight, c/s NVY813
ZH863			St. Albans	Photographed on board ship. Dep Grand Harbour on 22.11.11.
ZH864/268	HM.1	814		Noted on at Luqa on 21.05.08. Believed operating from HMS Illustrious.

W. Sea King

SERIAL	TYPE	SQUADRON	SHIP	NOTES
XV647/144/TG	Sea King			Noted at Luqa on 26.02.75.
_____/143/TG	HAS.2		Tiger	In Grand Harbour on 10.04.77.
XV665/143				Observed on 19.12.75. Ship?
XV667/145/TG	HAS.2		Tiger	At RAF Luqa on 14.02.74. F/f 14.07.70, d/d 06.08.70, w/o 12.12.74 when the aircraft lost part of the main rotor blade and ditched into the Bay of Biscay and sank while operating from HMS Tiger. Crew escaped, aircraft not recovered.
XV668/62				Ship?
XV669/410/BL	HAS.1		Blake	Seen at Luqa on 27.06.74. F/f 12.08.70, d/d 03.09.70, w/o 31.03.76 when aircraft ditched into the English Channel off Portland Dorset during a sortie from HMS Blake, to A2659, then A2602, Fleetlands.
XV695/142/TG	HAS.2		Tiger	In Grand Harbour on 10.04.77.
XV696/411/BL	HAS.1		Blake	Seen at Luqa on 27.06.74. f/f 18.01.71, d/d 04.02.71, to G.I. Gosport, Hampshire.
XZ573/141/TG	HAS.2		Tiger	In Grand Harbour on 10.04.77.
XV713/412	HAS.1		Blake	Seen on ship in port on 29.06.74.
XV714/413	HAS.1		Blake	Seen on ship in port on 29.06.74.
ZA169/515/CW	HAS6		Cornwall (F99)	c/n 190. Ship visited Malta between 06-09.06.03.
ZE427/K	HC.4	845	Illustrious	Visited on 01.11.12, c/s Commando 1. HMS Illustrious visited Malta between 19-23 November.
ZE427/K	HC.4		Bulwark	Noted on 08.09.14, c/s Navy 672.

W. Wasp

SERIAL	TYPE	SQUADRON	SHIP	NOTES
?			Danae	Ship entered harbour on 19.08.72.
_____/430	HAS.1		Achilles	Logged at RAF Luqa on 25.01.74.
_____/431	HAS.1			Logged at RAF Luqa on 08.01.70.
_____/450/SS	HAS.1		Sirius	At RAF Luqa 23.11.71.
_____/452	HAS.1			Photographed overflying RAF Luqa in formation with 456 and 466, dated 1969.
_____/465	HAS.1		Juno	At RAF Luqa 22.05.72.
XS544/456	HAS.1		Yarmouth	At RAF Luqa 18.02.74. d/d 06.04.64, w/o 26.08.76.
XS545/452	HAS.1			Ship? Photographed at RAF Luqa during Lime Jug 70. d/d 04/64, to AES Lee-on-Solent 07.12.80 for GI as A2702, scrapped circa 1993.
XS564/466/AT	HAS.1			Possibly from frigate HMS Argonaut. Other Wessex helicopters seen, during Lime Jug 70, were coded “D”, “E”, “K”, “P” and “Q”. d/d 21.05.64, to G-17-22, to Brazilian Navy as N-7038.
XS565/445	HAS.1			Logged at RAF Luqa on 05.11.77. Ship unknown. d/d 04.06.64, scrapped PEE Foulness Island during 1989.
XT414	HAS.1		Naiad	At RAF Luqa on 25.10.65.
XT422/326	HAS.1		Arrow	Helicopter seen at RAF Luqa on 06.03.78. d/d 1967, scrapped 1990 Burgess Hill.
XT424/465	HAS.1	829	Juno (F52)	Noted on 12.03.74. (Aircraft information courtesy of John Visanich, from his Malta Airport Movements Facebook page.)
XT434/436	HAS.1			Logged at RAF Luqa on 28.10.72. Ship unknown. d/d 05.07.65, to Lee-on-Solent on 23.03.88 as A2723, Apprentice School, Fleetlands 07.01.92 as A2643, Everett Aero, Sproughton Suffolk 02/08, Real Aeroplane Collection, Breighton 27.07.09, registered as G-CGGK 30.09.09, to Breighton, N. Yorkshire.
XT436/431	HAS.1			Logged at RAF Luqa on 05.11.77. Ship unknown. d/d 04.10.65, believed perished Detmold 1995.
XT438/442			Zulu	Seen on 07.11.68 at RAF Luqa.
XT441/433	HAS.1		Euryalus	At RAF Luqa on 21.12.71. Again seen during Feb 1972. Helicopter visited RAF Luqa on the 9th. d/d 28/03/1966, w/o 03/02/1979, to A2703, scr. Predannack 07/1991
XT785/462		829	Rothesay	13.11.87. Entered Grand Harbour with HMS Euryalus and HMS Bristol. d/d 08/12/1966, to Malaysian Navy as M499-01, pres. Pekan Museum, Malaysia
XT790/442	HAS.1		Zulu	At RAF Luqa 06.06.72. d/d 25/05/1967, to Malaysian Navy as M499-09 08.92, to technical school Nibong Tebal, Malaysia for G.I.
XT791/433	HAS.1	829	Euryalus	Dartmouth Training Squadron, entered Grand Harbour with HMS Rothesay and HMS Bristol on 13.11.87. Wasp was airborne photographing ship’s entry. d/d 21/06/1967, d/d 08/1992 to Malaysian Navy, to spares New Zealand?
XT792/425/BC	HAS.1		Bacchante	Jan 1972. d/d 11/07/1967, to G-17-8, to Brazilian Navy as N-7041
XT792	HAS.1			Helicopter transported by road from Grand Harbour to RAF Luqa on 13.10.77, and loaded on board RAF C-130 XV187. Ship unknown.
XT794/427	HAS.1		Ashanti	Mar 1972. Helicopter visited RAF Luqa on several occasions. d/d 05.10.67, w/o 13.04.84.
XV627/475	HAS.1	829	Hermoine	Logged at RAF Luqa between 23.12.69 and 02..01.70. d/d 04.07.68, to G.I. Detmold, presumed scrapped.
XV634/464	HAS.1		Danae	Observed on ship in harbour on 19.08.72. d/d 04/02/1969, to spares use New Zealand
XV638/474	HAS.1		Mohawk	In Grand Harbour on 10.04.77. d/d 03.10.69, to Air Movements School, Brize Norton in 1984 for G/I AS 8836M, scrapped at High Wycombe during 1991.

W. Wessex

SERIAL	MARK	SQUADRON	SHIP	NOTES
00/_____			Glamorgan	Ship entered harbour on 06.10.72. Wessex helicopter participated in a SAR operation between 7-8th, together with two Nimrods and a 41 Commando Group Sioux helicopter. noted on 27.10.72.
_____/A/V-Q	HU.5	848		Logged at RAF Luqa on 15.05.72.
_____/437/RS	HU.5		RFA Resource	Logged at RAF Luqa on 08.11.77. HMS Ark Royal was in Grand Harbour at the time.
_____/V-L/A	HU.5		Albion	Apr 1972. Helicopter visited RAF Luqa on the 18th.
XM327/411/BL	HAS.3		Blake	At RAF Luqa on 07.05.72. d/d 1961, scr. Warsash College 1986.
XM328/400/L	HAS.3		Glamorgan	At RAF Luqa on 18.04.77.
XM837/411/BL	HAS.3		Blake	At RAF Luqa on 28.12.71. Previously on HMS Norfolk. d/d 1961, w/o 12.06.82.
XM837/407/NF	HAS.3		Norfolk	Helicopter landed at Luqa on 27.10.75. (Information courtesy John Visanich.)
XM844/413	HAS.3	820	Blake	At RAF Luqa on 22.05.71 and 22.05.72. d/d 26.05.61, w/o 13.12.76.
XM871/410/BL	HAS.3		Blake	At RAF Luqa on 28.12.71. Previously on HMS Norfolk. d/d 20.06.61, w/o 21.08.75.
XM919/400/GL	HAS.3		Glamorgan	Oct 1972. Helicopter visited RAF Luqa on the 16th. d/d 09.10.61, to Yeovilton for G.I. 25.01.82, scrapped 09.01.84.
XM923/989/D				Noted at Luqa on 03.05.63.
XP137				Observed on 19.11.74, but location, i.e. RAF Luqa or onboard ship in harbour not confirmed. Ship?
XP140/410/BL	HAS.3		Blake	At RAF on 28.12.71. Previously on HMS Norfolk. d/d 02.07.63, to Chilmark 04.04.84 for G.I. as 8806M, scrapped 1993.
XP140/407/NF	HAS.3		Norfolk	At RAF Luqa on 02.03.71, 05.10.71 and 28.12.71. This helicopter would ditch in the sea off Malta on 06.01.72. See Military Accidents page.
XP142/404/FF	HAS.3		Fife (D20)	Noted departing Luqa on 21.10.76. (Aircraft information courtesy of John Visanich, from his Malta Airport Movements Facebook page.)
XP151	HAS.1		London	Seen at RAF Luqa, “late 1965”.
XP151/047	HAS.1	SAR Flight	Ark Royal	Helicopter noted doing engine runs on the carrier in Grand Harbour on 07.11.78. (Information courtesy John Visanich.)
XP157/405/LO	HAS.1		London	Apr 1972. Helicopter visited RAF Luqa on the 12th. d/d 28.11.62, to A2680, scrapped Hartley Whitney 07/00.
XP158/247				Landed at RAF Luqa on 16.10.74. Ship?
XS120	HAS.1			Noted, probably at RAF Luqa, on 06.09.65. Ship unknown.
XS120			Eagle	At RAF Luqa on 08.08.66.
XS122	HAS.3			Noted, probably at RAF Luqa, on 06.09.65. Ship unknown.
XS149/403/FF	HAS.3		Fife	Photographed at RAF Luqa, during October-Nov 70 during exercise Lime Jug 70. Also participated in the air show held at Ta Qali on 3rd October.
XS149/03/DV	HAS.3			At RAF Luqa on 27.05.71. d/d 18.10.63, preserved THM Weston-super-Mare.
XS496/V-R	HU.5	848	Fearless	Oct 1972. d/d 04.06.64, to Lee-on-Solent on 24.03.88 for G/I as A2763, to AESS Gosport 04.10.95 as A2674.
XS511/V-P	HU.5	848	Fearless	Oct 1972. d/d 01.10.64, to AES Lee-on-Solent on 22.09.86 for G/I as A2750 to AEES Gosport on 04.11.95 as A2660. To Tangmere Museum W. Sussex during 2004 for display.
XS514/H	HU.5			c. 1971
XS516/J	HU-5	845	Hermes	Landed at Park 5, on 20.04.77.
XS867				Noted on 02.09.65, probably at Luqa.
XS869/26/H	HAS.1		Hermes	Noted at Luqa on 07.03.70.
XT450/VD	HU-5			Noted at Luqa on 24.10.76. (Information courtesy of Godfrey Mangion, from his Aviation MT Facebook page.)
XT451/J	HU.5		Albion	Noted at RAF Luqa on 30.10.70. d/d 04/65, scr. Shawbury 04/94.
XT456/N	HU.5	845	Fearless	First seen at Luqa on 07.02.72, but ship on which it was based unknown. Again at Luqa on 07.06.74. Ship was in harbour until the 20th.
XT460	HU5			Photographed at Ghajn Tuffieha barracks on 21.10.76.
XT465/V-R/VL	HU.5	846		Noted at Luqa on 20.10.76. (Aircraft information courtesy of John Visanich, from his Malta Airport Movements Facebook page.)
XT470/L	HU.5	845	Fearless	At Luqa on 07.06.74. Ship was in harbour until the 20th. d/d 06/12/1965, perished Netheravon 05/1995.
XT473/B/V-Q	HU.5	848		Noted departing from Park 4 at Luqa on 10.09.73, in company with XT761. Lost during the Falklands war at South Georgia on 22.04.82 whilst serving with 845 Squadron. (Information courtesy John Visanich.)
XT480/468/RG	HU.5		RFA Regent.	Photographed at RAF Luqa during Lime Jug 70. Seen again from the RFA Regent (772 Flight), now coded 436, on 20.04.77. d/d 04/1966, to A2617, to A2603, to East Midlands Aeropark, to Rednal Paintball.
XT484/469/RS	HU.5		Resource	At RAF Luqa on 23.03.71. d/d 02.06.66, to AES Lee-on-Solent on 03.07.86 as A2742 for G/I, to AEES Gosport 01.05.95 for G.I. as A2655
XT484/437	HU.5		Resource	Also noted at Luqa on 23.02.73. Overflew HMS Ark Royal as the carrier entered Kalkara Creek, Grand Harbour on 05.10.74. (Information courtesy John Visanich.) Landed at RAF Luqa on 18.10.74.
XT485/V-T	HU.5		Bulwark	Departed from Luqa on 24.05.75, in company with XS489/V-K. (Information courtesy John Visanich.)
XS489/V-K	HU.5		Bulwark	Departed from Luqa on 24.05.75, in company with XT485/V-T. (Information courtesy John Visanich.)
XT755/V-D	HU.5	848	Fearless	Oct 1972. This helicopter overflew the ship as she was leaving Grand Harbour. d/d 05.07.66, to No.1 SoTT Halton 22.01.91 for G/I as 9053M, to Phoenix Aviation Bruntingthorpe 1993, scr. 01.96
XT759/V-N	HU.5	848	Fearless	Oct 1972. d/d 08.66, to G.I. Fleetlands, broken up
XT761/B/V-U	HU.5		Intrepid	Departed from RAF Luqa on 10.09.73, in company with XT473. d/d 20.10.66, to AES Lee-on-Solent 12.04.88 for G/I as A2767, to AEES Gosport 06.11.95 for G/I as A2678, to Historic Flight, Yeovilton, Somerset 2006. Helicopter returned to air worthy status on 15.02.19 as G-WSEX.
XT765/V-N/VL	HU.5	846		Noted at Luqa on 20.10.76. (Aircraft information courtesy of John Visanich, from his Malta Airport Movements Facebook page.)
XT767/V-R	HU.5	848		Noted at Luqa on 07.04.75. (Information courtesy of John Visanich.)

Westland Whirlwind

Having reformed with the Whirlwind HAS.22, 845 squadron, deployed on Ocean and Theseus in April 1956 to partake in the fleet review and engage in various training exercises with the Royal Marines in the vicinity of Malta.

On 29.10.56 helicopters from 845 squadron night stopped, but how many is not known.

The following month, the entire squadron disembarked from HMS Theseus and operated from Ta Qali airfield from 10.11.56, departing back to the ship on 23.11.56.

Unknown at this time if the ship actually entered Grand Harbour or sailed in the vicinity.