HUNDREDS of eager children lined the hill and held onto their hats this morning (Tuesday) as the Royal Australian Navy Squadron 816 Seahawk landed on the acreage behind Wollondilly Public School.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The helicopter and it’s three-man crew arrived from HMAS Albatross in Nowra, just a 20 minute flight for the ten-tonne machine.
Students from Wollondilly and The Crescent School were given a tour of the anti-submarine helicopter, taught about its usage in both warfare, rescue and disaster relief and given the opportunity to ask questions.
The 816 Squadron, otherwise known as The Fighting Tigers, was first commissioned as an anti-submarine squadron in 1939. It remains based at HMAS Albatross, the home of the Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet Air Arm and operates 16 of the Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopters.
The squadron has a long and distinguished history, with Battle Honours from Malaysia, Kuwait, East Timor, The Persian Gulf and Iraq.
The Seahawk itself can reach a maximum speed of 270 kilometres per hour, can climb at a rate of 1,650 feet per minute and is equipped with the MK 46 torpedo. It’s primary role is to embark in the Australian Navy’s warships and provide anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface surveillance.