Air-Sea Warfare Development Unit RAF

Last updated

Air-Sea Warfare Development Unit
Coastal Command Development Unit
Coastal Command Tactical Development Unit
Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
Active1940–1970
Country Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
BranchEnsign of the Royal Air Force.svg  Royal Air Force
RoleAir-Sea Warfare Research and Development
Part of RAF Coastal Command
Insignia
Identification MarkingsP9 (1945 - 1951)
F (1951 - 1956)
Nil (1956 - 1970) [1]

Air-Sea Warfare Development Unit RAF (ASWDU) was a research and development unit of the Royal Air Force, within RAF Coastal Command, it was operational from December 1940 and disbanded in April 1970.

Contents

History

Coastal Command Tactical Development Unit

On the 22 October 1940, the Coastal Command Tactical Development Unit was formed at RAF Carew Cheriton. It was equipped with Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V, a British medium bomber aircraft, Lockheed Hudson I, an American light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft, Bristol Beaufort I, a British twin-engined torpedo bomber and Vickers Wellington IA, a British twin-engined, long-range medium bomber. [2]

The unit was short lived with this identity and after two months it lost the Tactical from the title. On the 30 December 1940, the unit disbanded but immediately reformed, redesignating as the Coastal Command Development Unit. [3]

Coastal Command Development Unit

Bristol Beaufort Mark I, N1174, of the Coastal Command Development Unit based at Carew Cheriton, fitted with ASV (air-to-surface vessel) Mark II radar, while undergoing trials. The transmitter antenna is the black object mounted under the nose; the receiver is the much larger black antenna fitted under the wing. ASV Mk.II testing on Bristol Beaufort CH15217.jpg
Bristol Beaufort Mark I, N1174, of the Coastal Command Development Unit based at Carew Cheriton, fitted with ASV (air-to-surface vessel) Mark II radar, while undergoing trials. The transmitter antenna is the black object mounted under the nose; the receiver is the much larger black antenna fitted under the wing.

For the initial radars to be effective, operational techniques and skilled operatives were required. [4] The Coastal Command Development Unit undertook service trials of all radar equipment such as ASV (air-to-surface vessel) radar for RAF Coastal Command operations. Although it had its own aircraft, it also used flying boats from RAF Pembroke Dock, [5] a Short Sunderland, a British flying boat patrol bomber, was used fitted with ASV Mk1 for the first trial, and it was soon realised the value of the CCDU, therefore, its role changed to cover both service and tactical trials of all RAF Coastal Command aircraft and equipment. [4]

In January 1941, two Vickers Wellington were used to investgate into the use of bomb and depth charges for attacks on submarines and surface vessels by night with the aid of parachute lights, and later with Leigh Lights. The unit operated out of RAF Carew Chriton for around twelve months before moving to RAF Ballykelly in December 1941. [5] Around six months later it then moved to RAF Tain, during June 1942, [6] and remained there for almost a year. [7]

In April 1943, the Unit took over RAF Dale [8] relocating from RAF Tain. [9] In September 1943, as part of the swap between the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy with Dale and Angle airfields, the Unit moved to RAF Angle [10] One of the key tests performed while at RAF Angle was to measure audibility of aircraft from submarines on the surface. [5] Utilising Leigh Light (L/L) and radar search, it carried out trials to see how close to a submarine the different aircraft types the unit used could get, before they were audibly detected. [11]

Air-Sea Warfare Development Unit

On 14 January 1945, the Air-Sea Warfare Development Unit formed at RAF Thorney Island by redesignating the Coastal Command Development Unit. [1] The role of the ASDWU was to increase efficiency in maritime operations by carrying out trials on the latest equipment. It also contributed to the development through collaboration with other research and development establishments. [12] At the end of 1944, a similar unit was set up in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) to conduct trials of equipment supplied to South East Asia Command, lasting around twelve months. [1]

The unit moved to RAF Ballykelly in May 1948 and along with the trials work it also provided aircrew training for operational squadrons. It moved to RAF St Mawgan during May 1951, and remained there for the next seven years, before returning to RAF Ballykelly in September 1958. [13] While at RAF St Mawgan it operated the Bristol Sycamore helicopter, between 1952 and 1955, for various trials. [14]

The Air Sea War Development Unit disbanded on 1 April 1970, at RAF Ballykelly, [1] when control of all trials work for the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft fleet was assumed by the Central Trials and Tactical Organisation. [12]

Aircraft operated

The Air-Sea Warfare Development Unit was equipped with numerous types and variants of aircraft: [1]

Royal Air Force Stations

The Coastal Command Development Unit [3] [5] [6] [7] [8] [10] and then the Air-Sea Warfare Development Unit, [1] [13] operated from a number of Royal Air Force stations, throughout the UK:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avro Shackleton</span> British long-range maritime patrol aircraft

The Avro Shackleton is a British long-range maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) which was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the South African Air Force (SAAF). It was developed by Avro from the Avro Lincoln bomber, which itself had been a development of the famous wartime Avro Lancaster bomber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 42 Squadron RAF</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 42 Squadron, also known as No. 42 Squadron, is a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It reformed at RAF Lossiemouth on 21 September 2023 as the Operational Conversion Unit for both the Boeing Poseidon MRA1 and Boeing Wedgetail AEW1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF St Mawgan</span> Royal Air Force station in Cornwall, England

Royal Air Force St Mawgan or more simply RAF St Mawgan is a Royal Air Force station near St Mawgan and Newquay in Cornwall, England. In 2008 the runway part of the site was handed over to Newquay Airport. The remainder of the station continues to operate under the command of the RAF. RAF St Mawgan used to have the widest military runway in the UK (300 ft) and was the home of the Cornwall Air Ambulance service and more recently 505 (Wessex) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 220 Squadron RAF</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

No. 220 Squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF) was founded in 1918 and disbanded in 1963 after four separate periods of service. The squadron saw service in both the First and Second World Wars, as a maritime patrol unit, and finally as part of Britain's strategic nuclear deterrent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF St Eval</span> Former RAF base in Cornwall, England

Royal Air Force St. Eval or RAF St. Eval was a Royal Air Force station for the RAF Coastal Command, southwest of Padstow in Cornwall, England, UK. St Eval's primary role was to provide anti-submarine and anti-shipping patrols off the south west coast. Aircraft from the airfield were also used for photographic reconnaissance missions, meteorological flights, convoy patrols, air-sea rescue missions and protection of the airfield from the Luftwaffe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 18 Group RAF</span> Former Royal Air Force operations group

No. 18 Group of the Royal Air Force was a group active from 1918 to 1919, and from 1938 to 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Angle</span> Former Royal Air Force station in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Royal Air Force Angle or more commonly RAF Angle, is a former Royal Air Force station located on the Angle Peninsula Coast, 8 miles (13 km) west of Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It was operational from 1 June 1941 to 11 July 1946, having been used by both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Talbenny</span> Former Royal Air Force station in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Royal Air Force Talbenny, or more simply RAF Talbenny, is a former Royal Air Force station located 5.6 miles (9.0 km) north west of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire and 7.9 miles (12.7 km) south west of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Carew Cheriton</span> Former Royal Air Force station in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Royal Air Force Carew Cheriton, or more simply RAF Carew Cheriton, is a former Royal Air Force station located near Carew, Pembrokeshire. It was situated 4.7 miles (7.6 km) north west of Tenby.

RNAS Dale (HMS <i>Goldcrest</i>) Former Royal Naval Air Station in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Royal Naval Air Station Dale is a former Royal Naval Air Station, located 10 miles (16 km) South West of Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It was operational between 1942 and 1948, being used by both the Royal Air Force (1942–1943) and the Royal Navy (1943–1948).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Thorney Island</span> Former Royal Air Force station in West Sussex, England

Royal Air Force Thorney Island, or more simply RAF Thorney Island, is a former Royal Air Force station located on Thorney Island, West Sussex, England, 6.6 miles (10.6 km) west of Chichester and 7.1 miles (11.4 km) east of Portsmouth, Hampshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF</span> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force during World War II formed from the personnel of the Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Ballykelly</span> Former Royal Air Force station in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Royal Air Force Ballykelly, or more simply RAF Ballykelly, is a former Royal Air Force station which opened in 1941 in Ballykelly, County Londonderry. It closed in 1971 when the site was handed over to the British Army as Shackleton Barracks. A small part of the base has been used as a refuelling point by army helicopters and small fixed-wing aircraft usually operating out of Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Aldergrove near the town of Antrim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 15 Group RAF</span> Former Royal Air Force operations group

No. 15 Group was a group of the Royal Air Force, which disbanded in 1945. It was operational in the last year of, and just after, the First World War, a reformation saw it active throughout the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF St Davids</span> Former Royal Air Force station in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Royal Air Force St Davids, or more simply RAF St Davids, is a former Royal Air Force station, near the city of St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales, in the community of Solva.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 17 Group RAF</span> Former Royal Air Force operations group

No. 17 Group RAF was a group of the Royal Air Force which was operational in the last year of the First World War, and throughout the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">745 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

745 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially active from 1943 to 1945 as a Telegraphist Air Gunner Training squadron, part of No.2 Telegraphist Air Gunner School based at R.N. Air Section Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. It reformed in April 1956 at HMS Gannet, RNAS Eglinton, Northern Ireland, as a Radar Jamming Trials Unit. It operated with four modified Grumman Avenger aircraft, undertaking a trials evaluation of the 'Orange Harvest' radar warning receiver equipment, disbanding in November 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 19 Group RAF</span> Former Royal Air Force operations group

No. 19 Group was a group of the Royal Air Force, active during 1918, and then from 1941-1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 5 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF</span> Former Royal Air Force Coastal Command Operational Training Unit

No. 5 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF, was a training unit of the Royal Air Force, within No. 17 Group RAF, which was part of RAF Coastal Command. The unit was established during August 1941 and disbanded during August 1945.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lake 1999, p. 23.
  2. 1 2 Lake 1999, p. 50.
  3. 1 2 Lake 1999, p. 49.
  4. 1 2 Ashworth 1992, p. 191.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Carew Cheriton Second World War Airfield; RAF Carew Cheriton (309962)". Coflein. RCAHMW . Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Ballykelly". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust . Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Tain". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust . Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Dale". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust . Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  9. Phillips 2006, p. 67.
  10. 1 2 "Angle". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust . Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  11. Jones 2007, p. 102.
  12. 1 2 "Air Ministry: Coastal Command Development Unit, later Air Sea Warfare Development Unit: Reports". The National Archives (United Kingdom) . Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  13. 1 2 Delve 2010, p. 49.
  14. "Air/Sea Warfare Development Unit - Royal Air Force". helis.com.

Bibliography