Fixed-wing Aircraft Nimrod Mark 1 aircraft based at Kinloss and St. Mawgan flew a total of 109.25 hours on August 14, 15, and 16. The Royal Air Force Nimrod is an antisubmarine warfare, four-engine aircraft that is also used for search and rescue. It has a crew of twelve and carries eight life rafts for dropping. Its communications include double sideband, single sideband, aero very high frequency and ultra high frequency, and marine very high frequency radios. It is also equipped to receive signals from emergency location transmitters. Closing down two of its Rolls-Royce Spey 250 jet engines, it can fly for extended periods of time, and with facilities for two navigators, it often is designated as on-scene commander in search missions. The first Nimrod assumed this role early on the morning of August 14 before handing over to HMS Broadsword.
In addition, one French Atlantique flew for eight hours on August 16, and an Irish Beech King aircraft flew six sorties for a total of 18.3 hours. The total fixed-wing air time was 135.55 hours.
Helicopters Taking off at Culdrose, Royal Navy helicopters flew sixty-two sorties for a total of 195.05 hours. These were Wessex, Sea King, and Lynx helicopters. Flying from Chivenor and Brawdy, RAF Whirlwind and Sea King helicopters flew nine sorties for 17.1 hours. Irish helicopters flew two sorties for 4.2 hours. The total hours for all helicopters were 216.35.
On August 14, helicopters recovered seventy-four survivors and two bodies from yachts and life rafts. On August 17, another body was recovered.
Military Surface Vessels The Dutch frigate HNLMS Overijssel and the British fishery protection vessel HMS Anglesey participated in the search and rescue operation from the onset of the storm, late on the night of August 13, until August 16. The British frigate HMS Broadsword assumed the role of on-scene commander at 5:30 P.M. August 14 and served through August 16. Two tugs, RMAS Rollicker and Robust, participated in the operation from August 14 through August 16. Other military vessels in the search were HMS Scylla, RFA Olna, and the Irish patrol vessel Dierdre.
Nonmilitary Vessels (other than lifeboats) Commercial vessels known to have aided in the search and rescue were MV Nanna (the West German coaster that saved the survivors of Ariadne), the MV Chestree, the trawlers Sanyann, Petit Poisson, and Massingy, and a Dutch trawler carrying a side number “6.”
Lifeboats Thirteen Royal National Life-boat Institution stations in Ireland and England were called into service, the first at 10:15 P.M. August 13 and the last at 4:14 A.M. August 16. They served a total of 169.6 hours and towed in nine yachts, escorted in nine yachts, and took a doctor to a yacht.
Communications Unlike the American Coast Guard, in Britain HM Coastguard is a shore-based organization responsible for coordinating rescue services. The Land’s End Coastguard station monitors marine radio frequencies and is responsible for much of the eastern Atlantic. The Southern Rescue Co-ordination Centre, at Plymouth, kept in constant touch with the Land’s End station and coordinated navy and air force operations.