The Sea King helicopter, designed in the United States and manufactured under license by Agusta Westland in Britain, has been in service for more than 25 years in navies and air forces of many countries, most of them NATO members. Powered by two Rolls Royce engines, the single-rotor helicopter can fly at a maximum speed of 232 km per hour. With six flexible bag fuel tanks, the helicopter can cruise at 1,500 km. The ferry range can be extended to 1,750 km with an additional fuel tank.

The helicopter has been used for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), search and rescue operations (SAR), and airborne early warning (AEW). It could carry four torpedoes and two anti-ship missiles, either Sea Eagle or Exocet. The SAR Sea Kings are equipped with a hydraulic hoist, and the cabin can hold up to 22 survivors or nine stretchers and two medical officers. For early warning, a search water radar fitted on the helicopter can detect low flying aircraft trying to attack surface ships while flying under conventional ship-born radar cover.

A variant of the Sea King helicopter was used to transport troops for logistic support. The helicopter's total load capacity could reach 3,692 kg and it had seats for up to 28 fully equipped troops. Special dark green versions of the Sea King were used by the US Marine Corps to shuttle US presidents from the White House around the Washington area. Features detailed interiors with pilot figures, sliding doors, authentic insignia, interchangeable undercarriage, and flying and static rotor options. SH-3A, 151526 served with MX14 Squadron at Quantico Marine Corps Air Station, Maryland, in 1970.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a US Navy Sikorsky SH-3A Sea King helicopter from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 12 (HS-12) "Wyverns" then embarked upon the USS Midway (CV-41). Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Rotorspan: 10-1/4-inches

Release Date: April 2026

Historical Account: "Wyverns" - HS-12 was established on July 15th, 1977, as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Being the newest HS squadron at the time, it became the first to fly the TACNAV equipped SH-3H Sea King. That same year, the squadron sent two detachments to the USS Paul F. Foster for trials on whether the Spruance Class destroyer could operate the Sea King Helicopter. Their first carrier deployment came in 1979 aboard the USS America as part of CVW-11 in the Mediterranean. During 1980, the squadron took part in exercises while based in NAS North Island which included two detachments sent to the USS Constellation (CV-64) and USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63). A second deployment with the America and CVW-11 in 1981 followed which included the rescue of 15 shipmates at sea.

In 1982, HS-12 became the first ASW helicopter squadron to be assigned on the older Midway Class Carrier USS Coral Sea (CV-43) when they moved to CVW-14. In 1983, a world cruise from Alameda in San Francisco to Norfolk took place on the Coral Sea with HS-12 joining the ship for the only time ever. This included taking part in FLEETEX 83-1 which was also the largest ASW exercise up to that time since World War II. In November, the squadron was informed they would moving to Japan to join CVW-5 as the first ASW unit to be assigned to the Coral Sea's sister USS Midway (CV-41). On July 15th, 1984, (seven years since being established) they officially joined CVW-5. The first deployment on Midway would later come in late 1984. While Midway underwent modifications in 1986, HS-12 sent three detachments to the USS Oldendorf (DD-972).