ASW screening for the fleet was our role, and the longest I recall a Ripple 3 was for two weeks. That's 3 ASW Sea Kings airborne for 4 hour sorties 24 hours a day, turnround was generally a refuel and crew change in about 5-10 minutes. Turn round was dictated by the ship's requirements to maintain MLA against giving us some sort of compliance with wind limits for launch/recovery.
Aircraft were pulled for service as scheduled and replaced in the programme to maintain continuity, crew roster was briefing 1 hour prior to launch, 4 hours airborne, debrief, scran in the ACRB, off to the pit and start again in 6 hours.
Fixed wing were far more relaxed
