The Westland Sea Lynx, especially in the Mk.88A version, which has been in service with the German Navy for 40 years, is a versatile multi-purpose helicopter. It is not only interesting for aviation enthusiasts, but also offers model builders a wealth of exciting details.
The Westland Sea Lynx (Revell Shoplink) was developed and manufactured in England. It is a true all-rounder and is mainly used for military purposes. Since 1981, it has been a permanent part of the German Navy and is deployed worldwide.
40 Years Anniversary in the Bundeswehr
In 2021, the Sea Lynx celebrated its 40th anniversary in service with the Bundeswehr. For this occasion, a special anniversary livery was designed, making the helicopter a real eye-catcher. This special paint scheme is certainly an interesting challenge for you model builders and offers the opportunity to create a unique model.
Deployment and Significance
The Sea Lynx serves the Bundeswehr as the “extended arm” of a frigate. As a “flying vanguard”, it increases the sensor range of naval ships and can also carry weapons. In addition, it is versatile for transporting personnel and material as well as for search and rescue missions within a ship convoy. An interesting historical aspect: In response to the growing submarine threat from the former Warsaw Pact, the decision was made in the early 1980s to equip the Bremen-class anti-submarine frigates with Lynx helicopters.
The Submarine Hunting of the Westland Sea Lynx
The main task of the Sea Lynx was anti-submarine warfare. Usually, two helicopters worked in a team:
- A helicopter called the “Dipper” searched for submarines with its dipping sonar. It hovered over the suspected contact and lowered its sensor into the water.
- The second helicopter, the “Pony”, carried torpedoes and waited nearby for the order to deploy.
This anti-submarine capability was particularly important during the Cold War.
Technical Details
The Sea Lynx is an impressive piece of technology. It reaches speeds of up to 300 km/h, making it a fast and efficient asset. At the Naval Air Wing at the Nordholz Naval Air Base, around 300 soldiers and civilian employees ensure that the naval helicopter is always ready for action.
Currently, the Sea Lynx is about to be replaced: The NATO helicopter NH-90 Sea Tiger is expected to have replaced the Mk88A Sea Lynx on the frigates by 2025. This marks the end of an era, but makes the Sea Lynx even more interesting for collectors and model builders.
In 60 seconds, the Bundeswehr media team provides a great overview of the helicopter here:
Missions in the Service of the Bundeswehr
In the online available documents of the Bundeswehr you can find more deployment scenarios of the Sea Lynx.
Boarding Missions
The Sea Lynx was, for example, used to bring boarding teams onto foreign ships. One of the helicopters was usually equipped with a heavy machine gun to provide covering fire for the other and the team.
Search and Rescue Missions
As a shipboard helicopter on frigates, the Sea Lynx also served as a rescue helicopter to recover persons who had gone overboard.
Transport Tasks
The Sea Lynx took on transport tasks for personnel and material between the ships of a task force.
Overseas Missions
The Sea Lynx helicopters were involved in numerous overseas deployments of the German Navy, including:
- Anti-piracy missions off the Horn of Africa
- Missions in the Mediterranean to monitor arms embargoes
Technical Challenges
In 40 years of service, there were also technical challenges to overcome:
- In 2014, the entire fleet had to be grounded temporarily due to cracks in the tail boom.
- In September 2023, the website Augengeradeaus reported that the Sea Lynx helicopters were again not airworthy due to technical problems.
Despite these challenges, the Sea Lynx has reliably served as the “extended arm” of the frigates for over four decades, significantly increasing the range, flexibility, and response speed of the ships.
YouTuber Bad Bonsai has created a great video for the 40th anniversary and the background story of the Sea Lynx, and the Naval Air Wing 5 in Nordholz has also produced a video in which former frigate captain Stefan Klatt also talks about the missions of the Sea Lynx on the replenishment ship Berlin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3hZZ837AjQ
The Westland Sea Lynx Kit in 1:32 03806
The Westland Sea Lynx Mk.88A is more than just a helicopter – it is a piece of German naval history. For you model builders, it offers a unique opportunity to recreate and preserve this history. Whether you are replicating the aerodynamic lines of the machine, building the complex cockpit, or reconstructing the special details of the 40th anniversary livery using our decals – every aspect of the Sea Lynx is its own little project that will challenge and improve your skills.
With every model you build, you preserve a piece of aviation history and at the same time create your own little masterpiece. Have fun building and let the rotors spin in your collection!
A special greeting goes out at this point to the Naval Air Wing at the Nordholz Naval Air Base in Germany, who have ensured for 40 years that the Sea Lynx remains operational and fulfills its important role in the German Navy.
The Westland Sea Lynx MK.88 model kit in 1:32 is also a tribute to its 40 years of service with the Bundeswehr. With 268 parts, experienced builders at Level 5 receive a model of the shipboard helicopter of numerous frigates, with an impressive length of 41.3 cm and a rotor diameter of 40.1 centimeters.
To the Westland Sea Lynx in the Revell Shop
Highlights
- Fine surface engravings
- Recessed panel lines
- Detailed interior with structured side walls
- Realistic cockpit with instrument panel
- Authentic seats
- Internal sonar system with equipment boxes
- Bench seat and detailed floor pan
- Nose section with large radome and antennas
- Pilot doors optionally open
- Separate side sliding doors
- Detailed landing gear
- Authentic rotor head with side support structures and pylons
- Armament: 2 torpedoes, 2 Sea Skua guided missiles, 1 heavy MG on mount
- Super decal for the special livery of the Lynx
Inspiration for Building
Here we have put together some of the most interesting videos about the Sea Lynx that we could find. Let’s start with one of the two spectacular ones:
A landing on the frigate Köln in proper North Sea weather:
At the Bundeswehr you will find a report about the technology and maintenance of the Sea Lynx with many helpful insights into the details:
A deeper insight into what it looked like at Naval Air Wing 5 in Nordholz about 12 years ago and how training was conducted there is provided by this 4-minute clip:
And here is the other spectacular shot: If you are wondering whether the Lynx can do a backward somersault, your question will be answered at this airshow: