1.
LS WESSEX CHOPPER TAKES OFF ON OPERATION DUTY
8 1/2 ft

2.
MLS CHOPPERS UNDERGOING REPAIRS
11 ft

3.
MS BELVEDERE CHOPPER
13 1/2 ft

4.
MS TECHNICIANS AT WORK ON WESSEX CHOPPER
16 ft

5.
MS CHOPPER'S BLADES BEING REPAIRED
18 ft

6.
MS TECHNICIANS REPAIRING ENGINE
19 1/2 ft

7.
MS BELVEDERE CHOPPERS UNDERGOING REPAIRS IN HANGER
22 1/2 ft

8.
CU REPAIRING BELVEDERE (FOUR SHOTS)
29 ft

9.
MS MAINTENANCE WORKSHOP FOR CHOPPERS
31 ft

10.
MS WESSEX UNDERGOING REPAIRS (THREE SHOTS)
38 ft

11.
MS TECHNICIANS EXAMINING NEW ENGINE IN BOX
40 ft

12.
CU HAND TIGHTENING NUT OF NEW ENGINE
41 ft

13.
CU FACE OF TECHNICIAN AT WORK
42 ft

14.
MS NEW ENGINE BEING FIXED ONTO CHOPPER
45 ft

15.
MS TECHNICIANS AT WORK ON CHOPPER (TWO SHOTS)
49 ft



Initials CAR/VS/MK/YA/RBI



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: BRITISH ARMY HELICOPTERS NOW IN USE IN MALAYSIAN BORNEO AGAINST INDONESIAN INSURGENTS, ARE BEING MODIFIED IN SARAWAK TO A HIGHER STANDARD, FOLLOWING REPORTS THAT CERTAIN ENGINE PROBLEMS HAVE ARISEN FROM THEIR OPERATIONAL USE.

THE HELICOPTERS CURRENTLY UNDERGOING REPAIRS AT THE ROYAL AIR FORCE BASE SOMEWHERE IN SARAWAK ARE THE WESSEXS, BELVEDERES AND A FEW OTHERS. THESE PROBLEMS ARE AFFECTING ARMY OPERATIONS TO A SMALL DEGREE. THE OPERATIONAL USE INCLUDES TRANSPORTING TROOPS TO THE TROUBLE SPOTS AND BORDER OUTPOSTS IN DENSE JUNGLE WHICH ARE INACCESSIBLE BY FOOT OR OTHER AIRCRAFT.

AT THE MOMENT, MODIFICATIONS ARE BEING INCORPORATED IN THE ENGINES, AND WHEN ENGINES AT THE PRESENT IN SERVICE REACH THE END OF THEIR EXISTING OVERHAUL PERIOD, A FRESH ENGINE, MODIFIED TO THE HIGHER STANDARD, WILL BE PROVIDED.

IN THIS JUNGLE WARFARE WHICH HAS ARISEN FROM THE UNSETTLED MALAYSIA-INDONESIA DISPUTE, BRITAIN, WHO IS STRONGLY BACKING MALAYSIA, HAS BUILT UP HER MILITARY STRENGTH IN THE BORNEO TERRITORIES FOLLOWING REPORTS THAT INDONESIA IS MASSING HER FORCES ALONG THE 900-MILE BORDER. BRITISH ACTION FOLLOWS REQUESTS BY THE MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT FOR MORE ASSISTANCE.