Beefer,
In terms of footprint and downwash, Merlin is almost the same as Chinook, so it doesn't really fit into the medium bracket i guess you're talking about - Puma 2 is probably the more sensible suggestion ?
James,
Yes, 14 Chinook for 38 SK4 in terms of pure numbers doesn't go, but in terms of lift capacity it probably evens out. At MSL, you'd be lifting a company in 4 or 5 airframes. Merlin would be 7 or 8. How many Sea Kings would that take ? Genuine question.