846 Naval Air Squadron

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846 Naval Air Squadron
846 Naval Air Squadron Crest.png
Squadron badge
Active
  • 1943–1945
  • 1962–1964
  • 1968–1975
  • 1978–2013
  • 2014 – present
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
BranchNaval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy
TypeFlying squadron
Role Royal Marines air support and Merlin MK4 training
Part of
Home station RNAS Yeovilton
Nickname(s)'Junglies'
Motto(s)Semper instans (Latin for 'Always threatening')
Aircraft AgustaWestland Merlin MK4/MKA
Commanders
Current
commander		 Commander Richard Bartram [1]

846 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm.

Contents

Between December 1979 and the summer of 2013, 846 Naval Air Squadron operated the Westland Sea King HC4 helicopter to provide troop transport and load lifting support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. Based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, 846 NAS stood down in the summer of 2013 and its personnel, buildings and equipment were amalgamated into 845 Naval Air Squadron.

The squadron stood up on 30 September 2014 with the AgustaWestland Merlin MK3 and it now holds the Operational Conversion Flight and Maritime Counter Terrorism Role. [2]

History

Second World War

An 846 NAS Avenger from HMS Trumpeter in flight, 1944-45. Avenger 846 Squadron RN in flight 1944-45.jpg
An 846 NAS Avenger from HMS Trumpeter in flight, 1944–45.

846 Naval Air Squadron was established in April 1943 at the Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island, United States. It was equipped with 12 Grumman Avenger I torpedo bombers. Two months later the squadron embarked on the escort carrier HMS Ravager and was transferred to the UK. Before being assigned to HMS Tracker in January 1944, four Grumman Wildcat V fighters were added to 846 NAS. HMS Tracker was first assigned to convoys going to Gibraltar, then to Murmansk. On the latter voyage, aircraft from 846 NAS attacked eight German U-boats.

HMS Tracker was damaged in June 1944 in a collision with the Canadian frigate HMCS Teme (K458) while forming part of the naval screen for the D-Day landings, and the squadron disembarked to RAF Limavady airfield, Northern Ireland, joining 15 Group RAF Coastal Command. A month later 846 NAS was assigned to HMS Trumpeter, mainly laying mines off Norway until September 1944.

In December a detachment was formed and transferred to HMS Premier for a few days. The remainder of 846 NAS operated from HMS Trumpeter or RNAS Hatston in Orkney up to May 1945. On 4 May 1945, twelve Avenger and four Wildcat aircraft of the squadron took part in Operation Judgement, Kilbotn, the last air-raid of the war in Europe. The fighter flight was disbanded after the end of hostilities in Europe.

846 NAS was then assigned to the 4th Carrier Group and should deploy to the Far East aboard the fleet carrier HMS Illustrious. However, a change of plans led to the squadron becoming a trials unit. It was renumbered 751 NAS and was disbanded at Machrihanish, in September 1945. [3]

Borneo

846 NAS was reformed in 1962 as a Commando squadron equipped with the Westland Whirlwind HAS.7. It was deployed to Borneo aboard the commando carrier HMS Albion and flew in support of actions against guerrillas during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. British Army units gave 846 NAS the nickname 'Junglies' in Borneo, which the squadron has kept until today.

A Wessex HU5 of 846 NAS, Norway, 1981. WessexHU5 846Sqn Norway1981.jpeg
A Wessex HU5 of 846 NAS, Norway, 1981.

After returning for the Far East, 846 NAS was disbanded again, only to be reformed in 1968 at RNAS Culdrose. This time the squadron was equipped with the Westland Wessex HU.5. The squadron deployed aboard the dock-landing ship HMS Fearless and conducted cold weather trials in Norway. In May 1972, the squadron was relocated to RNAS Yeovilton as the Wessex Headquarters and Trials Squadron. In February 1979 the squadron was deployed aboard the commando carrier HMS Bulwark. In December of the same year 846 NAS started to convert to the Westland Sea King HC.4.

Falklands War

In April 1982, 846 NAS embarked aboard the carrier HMS Hermes as part of the Royal Navy task force in the Falklands War. During the war 846 NAS Sea King's flew over 2800 hours, completed 10,000 individual troop moves and transported more than 81,600 t of freight.

In 1983, detachments were deployed aboard the carriers HMS Hermes and HMS Invincible. Between November 1983 and March 1984, a detachment of three Sea Kings was deployed aboard HMS Fearless and RFA Reliant to the coast of Lebanon supporting British troops involved in peacekeeping operations in Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War and took part in the eventual withdrawal of British troops and the evacuation of civilians from Beirut, airlifting 521 civilians on 10 March 1994. The squadron was awarded the Boyd Trophy for these operations. [4]

Gulf War

A Sea King of 846 NAS lifting load during exercise "Ocean Wave '97". LOADLIFT.JPG
A Sea King of 846 NAS lifting load during exercise "Ocean Wave '97".

In 1990, 846 NAS took part in the Gulf War. In six weeks the squadron flew a total of 1200 hours in support of Allied ground forces. After the end of hostilities the squadron moved to northern Iraq to assist with humanitarian relief for the Kurds. An element of 846 NAS also remained in theatre post Gulf War to assist with mine clearance operations, alongside an element from 845 NAS. These aircraft were then deployed to Bangladesh aboard RFA Fort Grange to assist with the relief effort after the 1991 Bangladesh Cyclone as part of Operation Manna.

Yugoslav Wars

In January 1993, 846 NAS was deployed until March aboard the carrier HMS Ark Royal to the Adriatic as part of UN operations in Yugoslavia. [5] Shortly after returning to the UK the squadron was deployed to Northern Ireland to replace 707 NAS to provide support to security forces. It returned to the Balkans to provide air support for Multi-National Division-SW (SFOR), which was then commanded by the British, in Bosnia. This deployment lasted until 2002. [6] [7]

Afghanistan

Since 2007, the 10 Sea King HC4/HC3i helicopters of 846 NAS were committed to the Kandahar and Helmand provinces in Afghanistan in support of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. [8]

Present day

A Merlin MK3 previously operated by 846 NAS. 846 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON CONDUCTS DEMO ROLES MOD 45159610.jpg
A Merlin MK3 previously operated by 846 NAS.

846 NAS re-equipped with the AgustaWestland Merlin MK3 on 30 September 2014 at RAF Benson. [9] The squadron moved back to its usual home of RNAS Yeovilton in March 2015. As of 12 March 2019 846 NAS had received the first of its Merlin MK4 helicopters, marking another major step in the transition from Royal Air Force to Royal Navy dominance in the Commando warfare role. [10]

Affiliations

Aircraft operated

The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions: [12]

Battle honours

846 Naval Air Squadron has received the following battle honours:

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westland Sea King</span> Military helicopter, 1969-present

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RNAS Yeovilton (HMS <i>Heron</i>) Royal Naval Air Station in Somerset, England, United Kingdom

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">849 Naval Air Squadron</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk)</span> Royal Naval Air Station in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commando Helicopter Force</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">700 Naval Air Squadron</span> Military unit

700 Naval Air Squadron is an experimental test squadron in the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">845 Naval Air Squadron</span> Military unit

845 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. Part of the Commando Helicopter Force, it is a specialist amphibious unit operating the AgustaWestland Commando Merlin HC4 helicopter and provides troop transport and load lifting support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. In 2012, the squadron celebrated 50 years since it was awarded "commando" status.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">847 Naval Air Squadron</span> Military unit

847 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. It operates AgustaWestland Wildcat AH.1 helicopters and provides armed reconnaissance and light transport support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. Along with 845 and 846 naval air squadrons, it forms part of the Commando Helicopter Force. The squadron was re-formed from 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron on 1 September 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">848 Naval Air Squadron</span> Military unit

848 Naval Air Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. It operated the Westland Sea King HC.4 helicopter and previously provided advanced flying training to pilots for the other squadrons in the Commando Helicopter Force. The squadron was based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset and was decommissioned on 24 March 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">815 Naval Air Squadron</span> Military unit

815 Naval Air Squadron is a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm squadron flying the AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2 helicopter and is the Navy's front line Wildcat Naval Air Squadron. The squadron is based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset. The squadron is capable of carrying out multiple roles such as: counter-narcotics, anti-piracy, Above Surface Warfare (ASW), search and rescue, disaster relief and flying and engineering training. In the early 2000s, the Navy said that the squadron was largest helicopter squadron in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">829 Naval Air Squadron</span> Military unit

829 Naval Air Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. Before it was decommissioned in March 2018, it operated the AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 helicopter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">820 Naval Air Squadron</span> Military unit

820 Naval Air Squadron is a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm carrier-based squadron flying the AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 in an Anti-Submarine role from RNAS Culdrose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">814 Naval Air Squadron</span> Military unit

814 Naval Air Squadron or 814 NAS, nicknamed the Flying Tigers, is a squadron of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. It is currently equipped with the AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 anti-submarine warfare helicopter and is based at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose in Cornwall. The squadron was formed in December 1938 and has been disbanded and reformed several times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">824 Naval Air Squadron</span> Military unit

824 Naval Air Squadron is a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm squadron based at RNAS Culdrose and currently operating the AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 Operational Conversion Unit. It trains aircrew in Anti-Submarine warfare and Airborne Surveillance and Control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">737 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

737 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially active during 1943 as an amphibious Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron. Reactivated in 1944 it operated as an ASV Training Unit until 1945. It was active again between 1949 and 1957. From 1959 it was the Anti-Submarine Warfare school at RNAS Portland. It operated Westland Wessex HAS.3 rescue helicopters from their land base at RNAS Portland, Dorset.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">744 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

744 Naval Air Squadron is a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially active in 1943, based in Nova Scotia. A second 744 NAS was formed, in early 1944, in Northern Ireland, for Merchant Aircraft Carrier training, meaning the first iteration was re-designated 754 NAS. The squadron's primary focus turned to Anti-submarine warfare training, which then further developed into trialing new submarine detection technology, ending in 1956. In 2018 it reformed as the Mission Systems and Armament Test and Evaluation Squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">748 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

748 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially formed, at RNAS St Merryn, as a Fighter Pool Squadron, before becoming No. 10 Naval Operational Training Unit. The squadron moved to RNAS Henstridge in February 1944 and then onto RNAS Yeovilton in the March. In September 1944, 748 NAS moved to RNAS Dale, in Wales, remaining for just under twelve months, before moving back to RNAS St Merryn in August 1945, where it disbanded in February 1946. During its existence, the squadron was equipped with numerous aircraft and various marks, operated by the Fleet Air Arm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">751 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

751 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially active as an Observer Training Squadron from 1939 to 1944 as part of No.1 Observer School. 751 NAS formed at RNAS Ford in May 1939. Ford was attacked and bombed, in August 1940, and the following day the squadron relocated to RNAS Arbroath. Twelve months later it moved to RNAS Dundee, remaining there until disbanding at Dundee in May 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">759 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

759 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was created on November 1st, 1939 and was disbanded on December 24, 1969. It was initially intended as a Telegraphist Air Gunner Training Squadron but became a Fighter School and Pool Squadron in 1939, at RNAS Eastleigh. It operated out of RNAS Yeovilton from 1940 to 1946, as part of the Naval Air Fighter School. In 1943 a detachment operated out of RNAS Angle, working with 794 NAS and known as the Naval Air Firing Unit. It was again the Naval Air Fighter School upon reformation in 1951 and disbandment in 1954, firstly at RNAS Culdrose and then moving to RNAS Lossiemouth, in 1953. The squadron reformed again, this time at RNAS Brawdy in 1963, as the Naval Advanced Flying Training School, before finally disbanding in 1969.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ "846 Naval Air Squadron". Royal Navy. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ↑ http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/training-recruits-air-crew-ready-tackle-terrorism/story-25772049-detail/story.html%5B%5D
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 June 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ↑ "Boyd Trophy for 846 Sqn". Air Pictorial . 47 (8): 288. August 1985.
  5. ↑ "House of Commons – Hansard Debates for 15 Apr 1993". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . House of Commons. 15 April 1993. col. 718.
  6. ↑ Webpage
  7. ↑ "Air Support Changes to MND-SW". nato.int. 18 July 2002.
  8. ↑ "Royal Navy Sea Kings – Flying Over Afghanistan for Two Years" . Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  9. ↑ "Royal Air Force hand over Merlin to Royal Navy". Royal Navy. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  10. ↑ "846. Eskadra wróciła do Yeovilton". Konflikty.pl. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  11. ↑ Affiliations
  12. ↑ Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 267.

Bibliography

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