Originally Posted by Dwardy01
The Endurance replacement would need two helos to provide mutual SAR. With the demise of the Mk 3 Lynx the organic aviation task could not be executed by the military. The Navy don't have enough Mk 8 SRU Lynx to man the Grey Fleet, Merlin is too big and expensive for the Ice Patrol task and with Seaking going in 2016 that would only leave Wildcat and the Navy is unlikely to use any of their allocated 28 in that role. No helos in Antartica has a massive effect on British Antarctic Survey tasking and ultimately a lack of influence in Antarctica.
If
Endurance had not had her flood, what would the current situation be regarding her aircraft? Why have they gone?