Originally Posted by
sycamore
BastOn, what is that piece of ironmongery attached to the port u/c /rear fuselage on all the aircraft in the last pic,please..?
They were mounted on both rear struts: I've a vague recollection of something to do with an early IFF system or location display for other ASW machines whilst in the dip? IIRC, the RAN developed it further in their "Whodat" (sp?) system in the non radar equipped Wessex HAS31.
Taken from this description anything is possible!
This Westland Whirlwind is from 815 sqn off HMS ALBION, which appears to have sent her entire air wing ashore to HMAS ALBATROSS, at Nowra, during her 1959 visit.
Again, here are Kim Dunstan's notes giving details of this large and stately-looking helo:
'Westland Whirlwind: The Whirlwind HAS-7 helicopter was a British-built version of the Sikorsky ‘Chickasaw,’ produced by Westland Aircraft Ltd in the UK, and was used extensively by the Royal Navy in anti-submarine and search and rescue roles. Entering service in 1956, it had positions for pilot and co-pilot - and crew in the rear cabin. The Whirlwind had a 750 hp, Alvis Leonides Major 755, 14-cylinder, radial engine, giving it a range of 330 miles and speed of 109 mph. It was equipped with ASDIC and radar for anti-submarine work. Numerous variants were produced including one for the Royal Marines. More than 400 Whirlwinds were built and exported to many countries.
Photo: Kimberley Dunstan RAN [Ret'd], Melbourne, and kindly sent for the Unofficial RAN Centenary 1911-2011 Photostream.
And they can be seen on this shot, too:
