BH.7 Wellington Mk 4

The British Hovercraft Corporation BH.7 (also known as the Wellington class) is a medium size hovercraft. It was the first quantity-production hovercraft to be specifically developed for military applications. The prototype performed its first flight in November 1969; the type underwent extensive testing by the Royal Navy. The type performed several military roles, including mine countermeasures, fisheries protection, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, border patrol, naval surveillance, and transport duties; a civilian version was also developed. Even before the first BH.7 had been completed, export orders were already being secured for the type. The Imperial Iranian Navy would be a key military operator, having placed multiple orders for models of the BH.7. It was also intended for the Wellington class to be used by civil operators.