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Not if you follow the history of the ASW helicopter and the leap in capability that the RN achieved from 1958 to the mid / late 1970s in moving from Whirlwind HAS 7 through Wessex HAS 1 to Wessex HAS 3, to Sea King HAS 1 to Sea King HAS 2. In particular the Sea King brought a significant increase in range.

The RAN bought 27 Wessex 31A in 1962 (roughly equivalent to Wessex HAS 1). Range 262 nautical miles.
[URL unfurl="true"]https://seapower.navy.gov.au/aircraft/westland-wessex-31a[/URL]

23 were upgraded to Wessex 31B (roughly equivalent to Wessex HAS 3 capable of fully autonomous operations) in 1968- 69.
[URL unfurl="true"]https://seapower.navy.gov.au/aircraft/westland-wessex-31b[/URL]

The leap to Sea King Mk 50 not only brought another increase in capability (which then went into the RN Sea King HAS 2) but an increase in range to 500 nautical miles (925 km) as well as increased weapons carrying capability.
[URL unfurl="true"]https://seapower.navy.gov.au/aircraft/westland-sea-king-mk-50[/URL]

So fewer aircraft required to carry out the same functions.

<blockquote data-quote="EwenS" data-source="post: 736438" data-attributes="member: 4253">Not if you follow the history of the ASW helicopter and the leap in capability that the RN achieved from 1958 to the mid / late 1970s in moving from Whirlwind HAS 7 through Wessex HAS 1 to Wessex HAS 3, to Sea King HAS 1 to Sea King HAS 2. In particular the Sea King brought a significant increase in range.The RAN bought 27 Wessex 31A in 1962 (roughly equivalent to Wessex HAS 1). Range 262 nautical miles.[URL unfurl=&quot;true&quot;]https://seapower.navy.gov.au/aircraft/westland-wessex-31a[/URL]23 were upgraded to Wessex 31B (roughly equivalent to Wessex HAS 3 capable of fully autonomous operations) in 1968- 69.[URL unfurl=&quot;true&quot;]https://seapower.navy.gov.au/aircraft/westland-wessex-31b[/URL]The leap to Sea King Mk 50 not only brought another increase in capability (which then went into the RN Sea King HAS 2) but an increase in range to 500 nautical miles (925 km) as well as increased weapons carrying capability.[URL unfurl=&quot;true&quot;]https://seapower.navy.gov.au/aircraft/westland-sea-king-mk-50[/URL]So fewer aircraft required to carry out the same functions.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="EwenS, post: 736438, member: 4253"] Not if you follow the history of the ASW helicopter and the leap in capability that the RN achieved from 1958 to the mid / late 1970s in moving from Whirlwind HAS 7 through Wessex HAS 1 to Wessex HAS 3, to Sea King HAS 1 to Sea King HAS 2. In particular the Sea King brought a significant increase in range. The RAN bought 27 Wessex 31A in 1962 (roughly equivalent to Wessex HAS 1). Range 262 nautical miles. [URL unfurl="true"]https://seapower.navy.gov.au/aircraft/westland-wessex-31a[/URL] 23 were upgraded to Wessex 31B (roughly equivalent to Wessex HAS 3 capable of fully autonomous operations) in 1968- 69. [URL unfurl="true"]https://seapower.navy.gov.au/aircraft/westland-wessex-31b[/URL] The leap to Sea King Mk 50 not only brought another increase in capability (which then went into the RN Sea King HAS 2) but an increase in range to 500 nautical miles (925 km) as well as increased weapons carrying capability. [URL unfurl="true"]https://seapower.navy.gov.au/aircraft/westland-sea-king-mk-50[/URL] So fewer aircraft required to carry out the same functions. [/QUOTE]

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