Merlin helicopter

[Daryl J.]

Ok, let be the first to admit I know virtually nothing about helicopters.   

But:


How about a Merlin with ground support capabilities like the Harvest Hawk Hercules.   
Or one that can jam communications.
Or an anti-shipping role.

[LemonJello]

Graft a pair of Hind wings or ESS pylons onto the Merlin for all kinds of external hardpoints for Hellfire, Brimstone, Hydra, etc. for the mud-mover/anti-vehicle mission.

[kitnut617]

Umm!  AEW , AWAC  ---



I'll get it finished one day  ------   

[GTX_Admin]

As explained elsewhere, I plan to do my 1/48 one in ADF markings similar to the MRH90s.  I will probably do it in the RAN variant though:

[GTX_Admin]

Some inspiration:




And correct me if I am wrong, but that looks like a Merlin in flight over the two Canberra Class LHDs:

[Jeffry Fontaine]

How about totally fictional Australian Marine Corps markings.  What ever that would be.  Maybe a Kangaroo with globe and anchor?

[jschmus]

Italian Navy Merlins can be armed with the Marte 2 antiship missile, and the Danes have ordered ECM gear for theirs, so you're not too far off the mark.

[Rickshaw]

How about totally fictional Australian Marine Corps markings.  What ever that would be.  Maybe a Kangaroo with globe and anchor?

For many years there has been an ongoing debate about the reorganisation of the Australian Army along the lines of the USMC's "expeditionary force".   This has caused some wags to call it the "Royal Australian Army Marine Corps".  I did a RAMC (Royal Australian Marine Corps) V-22 sometime ago.  As to a badge, I suspect it would be a variation on either the RAN's:



Or the Army's Rising Sun:



Perhaps with as you mention, a globe and anchor, in the background.   Perhaps apophenia or someone else might like to have a go?

[elmayerle]

Similar to the USMC logo, but with a rising sun instead of a globe?  You'd have both the rising sun from the army and the RAN's anchor as well as a "tip o' the hat" to the USMC.

[Rickshaw]

If it could be worked in some way, I'd suggest a anchor with the Rising Sun surmounting it.  However, I can't really imagine how it could very good.  I don't really see the need for a Globe.

[Volkodav]

As explained elsewhere, I plan to do my 1/48 one in ADF markings similar to the MRH90s.  I will probably do it in the RAN variant though:

Well the Merlin was a contender for the additional troop lift requirement, in part to operate from the planned amphibs, but dropped apparently because some in Army aviation were already angling to replace the existing Blackhawk fleet with an additional batch of the wining contender for which the Merlin would not have been suitable.  A little forethought on the Sea King replacement and the RANs need for an improved anti submarine capability could have potentially seen a dozen transport configured ordered for the additional troop lift role, six to replace the Sea Kings and another dozen, this time ASW to serve on the planned four AWD/DDGs (which of course would have been designed to operate a pair of them each).  The Blackhawks would have been replaced with Lima or Mike Blackhawks, or perhaps even Sierras, while the remaining Seahawks and the cancelled Super Sea Sprites were replaced by Romeos.