The Aircraft Flotilla bids farewell to its last SH-3D ‘Sea Kings’

Today, Monday June 27th, the Aircraft Flotilla, stationed in Rota Naval Base, and more specifically the Fifth Squadron, has said goodbye to its last helicopters SH-3Ds ‘SEA KING’, the popular ‘MORSA’ (Walrus), as they have always been known in the Spanish Navy. The poignant ceremony has been presided over by the Fleet Commander accompanied by former Chiefs and crews of the Squadron.

A bit of history.

The Fifth Squadron was founded in February 1966 in order to face submarine threats with an initial strength of 94 servicemen. From then until today, twenty-eight Chiefs have commanded the Squadron and several hundred officers, non-commissioned officers and sailors have served in its ranks.

On June 29th 1966, the ‘MORSA 501’ arrived aboard the USS ‘Independence’. It was the first SH-3D of the world in its anti-submarine version, prototype of all those flying today as ASW helicopters. In total, 18 units were incorporated from 1966 to 1981, the last one of them was the helicopter that closed the assembly line of this model.

The Spanish Navy decided to introduce AEW (Airborne Early Warning) equipment to protect its Combat Group, and for this purpose selected a radar from the British firm ‘Thorn EMI Electronics Ltd’. This choice had its origin in the positive experience gained by the Royal Navy in the Falklands (Malvinas) War. Four systems were acquired, three of which were mounted on modified helicopters and the fourth on a container used as a test bed and simulator.

On May 14th 1987 the transformation of the ‘MORSA 509’ to the new AEW version was completed, providing the Navy with an important early warning capability thanks to the ‘SEARCHWATER’ radar.

On January 3rd 2001, the conversion of the ‘MORSA 515’ into an amphibious assault version was completed. Thus began the transition from the original mission of anti-submarine warfare to a new type of mission, the amphibious warfare, for which the helicopter multiplied its capabilities. In 2002, the ‘MORSA 514’ completed its conversion, closing the anti-submarine cycle, and the main mission of the Fifth Aircraft Squadron became amphibious helicopter transport, with 7 units.

From that moment on, the Fifth Squadron embarked on a new path providing the Spanish Navy with new capabilities and allowing the deployment of the ‘MORSAS’ to different international missions.

On April 12th 2013 the Squadron celebrated 100,000 flight hours, and on September 7th 2020 the replacement schedule began with the incorporation of two new SH-60F, the first pair of a total of 8 units that gradually replaced the SH-3Ds, whose last two units will be decommissioned this Monday, June 27th.

In the last months the Fifth Aircraft Squadron has been saying goodbye to its ‘MORSAS’ and last Wednesday June 22nd, during the FLOTEX-22 maneuvers in front of the beach of the ‘Sierra del Retín’ training range, which has been the scene of hundreds of operations of these aircraft, the last ‘MORSA’ took off and subsequently landed on the deck of the LHD ‘Juan Carlos I’, whose crew, and especially the Flight Service, also wanted to join in the farewell ceremony.