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Shark
22 lifts the RNZAF Huey, complete with White Ensign, back
to waiting maintainers
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Photo:
LSATA Simon Hustwit
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Downed
Huey retrieved By SBLT Brendan Burchgart Shark 22, the RAN 817
SQN Sea King Helicopter attached to HMAS Manoora (CMDR Martin
Brooker) recovered a downed RNZAF Iroquis (Huey) on the Western
side of Guadalcanal late last month.
The downed Huey had suffered engine problems the previous afternoon
forcing its crew to land the aircraft on a beach on the western
side of Guadalcanal. Shark 22 and her crew arrived on the scene
at approximately 9am with the recovery crew and rigging kit for
the downed Huey.
The crew of Shark 22 then assisted the RNZAF and 176 Air Dispatch
SQN (ARA) recovery crew with the arduous process of stripping
down the Huey to a suitable weight and centre of gravity, which
would enable the Sea King to transfer her to the waiting deck
of Manoora.
With the Huey stripped of its internal seating, armour plating
and engine, the total weight of the aircraft was down to approx.
5000lbs (2200 kg) and ready for a lift to Manoora.
Back off Honiara the next day, the Kiwi Huey helicopter was returned
to its eagerly awaiting maintainers and engineers, suitably adorned
with a White Ensign (a fitting retort after recent sporting results).
The two Sea Kings of 817 SQN Det. (LCDR Anthony Savage) have proved
to be an invaluable capability so far in Op Anode.
They have been an integral part of the initial meetings with ex-militants
across the Solomon Islands and have also been instrumental in
the set up and ongoing support of four, otherwise inaccessible,
recently created police outposts and an aircraft refuelling point
on the aptly named Weather Coast.
The tactical and logistics support running score for the Sea Kings
and crews stands at over 230 hours flown, 1600 passengers including
five Aero Medical Evacuation (AME) and more than 167 tonnes of
cargo.
Included in the tonnage are more than half-a-dozen Army land rovers,
multiple pallets of rations, water, generators, diesel and now
an RNZAF Iroquois helicopter.
With the planned introduction of night vision equipment, the Sea
Kings’ role will be extended from all weather day land and sea
to all weather day/night overland and sea.
