Thanks, everyone. The SK ditching was in the Caribbean, night CASEX when one engine went quiet at 0100, and it more or less auto ditched. The crew floated around happily in Sea State 1, nicely anchored by the sonar, as the cable cut didn't! I was airborne in another SK, being directed hither and thither by Flyco with threats of dire retribution if I went too close and tipped it over
Eventually a ship's diver floated alongside the ditched machine with a set of bolt croppers from our (my!!) survival kit. Needless to say, when the sonar cable was cut through they had taken on so much water that a S/E take off was out of the question, so after hours they eventually shut down, only to turn turtle in the gentlest of swells
The day only got better, as Ark came alongside to attempt to lift 051 with a crane. The ship's divers wrapped the lifting strop around the main rotor mast, effectively wrecking all the pitch links, etc, and demolishing a blade as it was rolled upright. The weight of water put the crane constantly in the red, so a diver punched holes in the fuselage to let the water out. By now it was nearly midday, and tempers were fraying slightly. As the cab eventually came out of the water, a smoke float in the cabin went off, which led some fishead to turn the fire hose on the fuselage, complete with foam. Quite ineffective, but so what!!
The final fun was when the black hand gang got into the cabin after recovery, to start salvaging the black boxes. A fresh water tank was set up to flush the boxes after removal, and prior to spraying with WD40. One P.O. gave a (very expensive) box to an AB, with the words "go and dunk this". Said AB was back in 30 seconds, which led the PO to query why he had been so quick. "Well, it only takes 10 seconds to walk to the deck edge and dump it in the ocean....."
Also, the signal from Fleetlands not to cut any wiring looms arrived about 1 hour too late to save the main loom... but the machine was totally rebuilt, and flew for many a year after. Probably still flying now?
Gainsey, the ship destruction was off Perth W.A., courtesy of a sub launched torpedo. We provided the Wescam for the filming, from 5 nm away.
Seafuryfan,
No problems.
