Hajo L. Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 Welcome to my current what-if project. When the German Navy realized that the NH-90 would take too long and cost too much until it would enter service, it decided to drastically change it´s helo-fleet. To afford the buy and maintenance of the MH-101, it sold all of it´s 21 Seakings and 22 Sea Lynx. With only one type of helo left, it was clear that this one had to become a jack-of-all-trades to fulfill all the roles the German Navy needed: Anti-Surface Warfare (formely supported by the Lynx) Anti-Submarine Warfare (Lynx) Boarding Ops (Lynx, Seaking) Frigate Support (Lynx) SAR (Seaking) MedEvac (Seaking) Transport (Seaking) SOF-Support (Seaking) The bigger size of the Merlin also meant that the older frigates of the Types F-122 and F-123 had to abandon their helo-capacity (it would be too large to fit in the hangar), while the F-124 had to change their hanger-entrance to deal with the MH-101. (on a sitenote: The F-124 even has to change their hangar-doors to support NH-90 Operations! The MH-101 Merlin is now capable to fulfill all the above mentionend roles, and can be seen here in a ASW/ASuW-configuration with Torpedos and Sea Skua-missiles. A FLIR has been added unter the right nose-section to enable the Merlin for SAR and Recon-Ops in bad weather/night. OK, serious: IF the German Navy would really do this, I´d really start worrying about the mental health of every officer in their staff. The helo is far too big, even the NH-90 would not fit on the older Frigates F-122 and F-123. And sending those ships out without helo would limit their capabilities a lot. But it´s a neat WHIF however. :) HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nev Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 That's cool. Be sure to share it on the What If forums - we likeses Merlins precioussssss Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ice225 Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 It´s huge! ;) How did you build the FLIR? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted October 19, 2008 Author Share Posted October 19, 2008 I robbed the FLIR off of a AH-6-sprue.... Compared to the actual ones the Seakings have it´s a bit too small and has a different shape. HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 Yeah, now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout! Pretty cool! Sure looks good in those colours! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted November 2, 2008 Author Share Posted November 2, 2008 Sorry, no pictures from the building process, but the result: The left side is my favorite, I copied the style of camoflage that can be seen on the Marineflieger Seakings. So the camospots are quite "big" and the pattern itself is quite clear. Decals are all out of my spare-box, I also looked it up and found that the 66+ numbers in the german armed forces have not been reserved or used so far for aircraft. HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kingoalie Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 It looks great in those colors! Good job! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 Outstanding! Very, very nice! Gotta build one like that someday, too! B) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ice225 Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 That´s a nice one! And now a cyclone! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
merlin101 Posted November 2, 2008 Share Posted November 2, 2008 WOW!! If only the Germans would buy some!! Neet scheme to, Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hajo L. Posted November 3, 2008 Author Share Posted November 3, 2008 If we´d buy some we´d also need to buy a new set of frigates that could support these big birds... HAJO Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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