Commando Helicopter Force

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Commando Helicopter Force
CHF Badge 2022 (1).png
Crest of Commando Helicopter Force
Active1997 – present
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
BranchNaval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy
TypeForce headquarters
RoleAir support to UK Commando Force
Sizec. 700 personnel
Part of
Home station RNAS Yeovilton
Nickname(s)The Junglies
Aircraft
Website Official website
Commanders
Current
commander		 Colonel Mark Johnson RM

Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) is a unit of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and an element of the Joint Aviation Command of the British Armed Forces. Its primary role is to provide Rotary-Wing support to UK Commando Force and other UK force elements in the amphibious environment. CHF uses a combination of transport helicopters based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset, England.

Contents

History

A Lynx AH7 of the type previously used by the Commando Helicopter Force Lynx Mk7 Helicopter with Soldiers.JPG
A Lynx AH7 of the type previously used by the Commando Helicopter Force

The Commando Helicopter Force was formed in 1997 to consolidate command and control of the various Fleet Air Arm and Royal Marines helicopter squadrons which supported 3 Commando Brigade under Flag Officer Naval Aviation. [1]

In 1999, CHF merged with various Royal Air Force (RAF) and Army Air Corps force elements under the Joint Aviation Command, whilst maintaining its identity as a formed unit. [2]

Elements of the force have operated in Northern Ireland (until 2002), Sierra Leone in 2000 and Bosnia; and it was an element of the amphibious force for Operation Telic, the British involvement in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, notably supporting the landings to secure the Al-Faw Peninsula. [3] CHF was also a major part of Joint Helicopter Command's contribution to Operation Herrick in Afghanistan. [4]

Following the Strategic Defence and Security Review of 2010, the decision was made to transfer all RAF Merlin HC3 helicopters to the Royal Navy under the command and control of Commando Helicopter Force. On 30 September 2014, the aircraft were formally handed over from the RAF to the Royal Navy; with the first Royal Navy Merlin squadron, 846 Naval Air Squadron, standing up concurrently and relocating from RAF Benson to RNAS Yeovilton on 26 March 2015 and 845 Naval Air Squadron doing likewise the year after. [5]

Sea King HC4 'Junglies' from 846 Naval Air Squadron insert Royal Marines into the Birrim forest Ghana during 2004 Sea King Helicopters During Excersise Western Rhumba 16-09-2004 MOD 45143592.jpg
Sea King HC4 'Junglies' from 846 Naval Air Squadron insert Royal Marines into the Birrim forest Ghana during 2004

The Merlin HC3 replaced the ageing Sea King HC4 as CHF's medium-lift transport aircraft when the Sea King HC4 retired on 31 March 2016. [6]

As part of the transfer of service, the Merlin HC3 underwent an upgrade to the HC4 standard which includes a full mid-life upgrade of the airframe and avionics; and 'marinised' or more accurately optimised the aircraft for ship-borne amphibious operations. [7]

Location

It is based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset, England; aircraft are regularly deployed with UK Commando Force, overseas and to the ships of the Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) (JEF(M)) which includes HMS Bulwark (Landing Platform Dock). [8]

Command and control

CHF is a Fleet Air Arm asset and as such remains under the Operational Command (OPCOM) of Fleet Commander, while Operational Control (OPCON) is delegated to the Joint Aviation Command, under Army Command, who will task assets in accordance with Permanent Joint Headquarters or Front Line Command requirements. [9]

Organisation

Two Commando Helicopter Force Merlin Mk3 from 846 Naval Air Squadron on exercise with Royal Marine Commando's near Harstad in Norway Two Commando Helicopter Force Merlin Mk3 helicopters on exercise in northern Norway MOD 45158523.jpg
Two Commando Helicopter Force Merlin Mk3 from 846 Naval Air Squadron on exercise with Royal Marine Commando's near Harstad in Norway

The Commando Helicopter Force has three Naval Air Squadrons with separate roles:

A Combat Service Support Squadron and Commando Mobile Air Operations Team also form part of CHF. [13]

845 and 846 NAS received Merlin Mk3/Mk3A’s to replace the retiring Sea Kings in 2014 and 2015. 846 NAS took their Merlin Mk3’s on 30 September 2014; 845 NAS followed on 9 July 2015. These are being upgraded to the Merlin Mk4/Mk4A as part of the Merlin Life Sustainment Programme (MLSP). [14] The Merlin Mk4 has a grey colour scheme, not the dark green colour of the "Junglie" Sea Kings. [15]

Concurrently, 847 NAS has come to the end of the process of upgrading to the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat. [16]

845 Naval Air Squadron

A Merlin HC4 wearing the current grey colour scheme used by the Commando Helicopter Force 845 Commando Helicopter Force Merlin MOD 45167373.jpg
A Merlin HC4 wearing the current grey colour scheme used by the Commando Helicopter Force

845 NAS operated the Westland Sea King HC4 helicopter; a variant that has been specially modified for medium-lift transport and flying in all sorts of weather conditions and terrains. 845 had at least two of it Sea Kings deployed to the Bosnian theatre since 1992. Besides Bosnia, they have operated in Albania, Egypt, Honduras, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan. 845 NAS was temporarily stationed at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire as part of the Merlin transition until it relocated back to RNAS Yeovilton on 20 June 2016. [17]

846 Naval Air Squadron

846 NAS operates with 845 NAS, but has not seen action in Bosnia, being more focused on the Northern flank of the NATO theatre. Until recently, 846 maintained a base in Northern Ireland that allowed it to become very proficient in cold weather and winter operations. However, squadron operations are not limited to northern flying conditions and it has operated in South East Asia, Australia, the United States, and Germany. Two of the squadron's aircraft were sent to Turkey following the major earthquake it suffered in November 1999. 846 NAS was temporarily stationed at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire as part of the Merlin transition until it relocated back to RNAS Yeovilton on 26 March 2015. [5]

In March 2016, 846 NAS was given the role of Maritime Counter Terrorism after the disbandment of 848 Naval Air Squadron and its Sea King HC4 helicopters. [4]

847 Naval Air Squadron

A Wildcat AH1 of the Commando Helicopter Force AgustaWestland AW-159 Lynx Wildcat AH1 - Chris Lofting.jpg
A Wildcat AH1 of the Commando Helicopter Force

847 NAS operates Wildcat AH1 helicopters, in light transport and reconnaissance roles. [16]

Decommissioned Unit

848 Naval Air Squadron

848 Naval Air Squadron was the Commando Sea King HC4 training unit for the CHF, and trained not only the aircrews but also the ground crews. In addition to the skills necessary to fly their missions, Commando Helicopter Force members are trained in small-arms use as well as tactics and survival fieldcraft. Being a naval unit that was directly tasked with supporting the Royal Marines, trainees are also schooled in shipboard and amphibious assault operations. A special unit within 848 Squadron, M Flight, was tasked with supporting the Special Boat Service (SBS) in their operations. 848 NAS disbanded in 2013 but then reformed on 1 May 2015 to continue operating the Sea Kings, maintaining operational capability within the CHF while 845 NAS converted to the Merlin, until the Sea King reached its planned out of service date on 31 March 2016. [15] [18] 848 NAS disbanded 24 March 2016. [19]

Personnel

Aircrew, recruited from the Fleet Air Arm and Royal Marines, join the force having completed training in helicopter operations under No. 1 Flying Training School [20] at RAF Shawbury. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleet Air Arm</span> Aviation arm of the Royal Navy

The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is the naval aviation component of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy (RN). The FAA is one of five RN fighting arms. As of 2023 it is a primarily helicopter force, though also operating the F-35 Lightning II carrier-based stealth fighter jointly with the Royal Air Force.

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

The Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines, British-made anti-submarine warfare systems and a fully computerised flight control system. The Sea King was primarily designed for performing anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions. A Sea King variant known as the Commando was developed by Westland to serve as a troop transport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Benson</span> Royal Air Force main operating base in Oxfordshire, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">AgustaWestland AW101</span> Multi-role helicopter family by AgustaWestland

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RNAS Yeovilton (HMS <i>Heron</i>) Fleet Air Arm main operating base in Somerset, England, United Kingdom

Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, commonly referred to as RNAS Yeovilton, is an airbase of the Royal Navy, sited a few miles north of Yeovil, in the English county of Somerset. It is one of two active Fleet Air Arm bases, the other being RNAS Culdrose. RNAS Yeovilton is currently home to the Royal Navy Wildcat HMA2, along with Army Air Corps Wildcat AH1 helicopters, as well as the Royal Navy's Commando Helicopter Force Merlin HCi3/4/4A and Wildcat AH1 helicopters.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">845 Naval Air Squadron</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

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 the United Kingdom Commando Force and wider elements of the Royal Marines. In 2012, the squadron celebrated 50 years since it was awarded "commando" status.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">846 Naval Air Squadron</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">847 Naval Air Squadron</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

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 UK Commando Force. 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> Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

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">750 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

The Royal Navy Observer School grew out of HM Naval Seaplane Training School at RNAS Lee-on-Solent as a result of a series of changes of identity and parent unit. From 1918 until 1939 the Royal Air Force was responsible for naval aviation, including training and provision of aircrew to the Royal Navy. With the return of naval aviation to the Royal Navy on 24 May 1939, the Observer School was established as 750 Naval Air Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm. During World War II the squadron moved to Trinidad to continue training aircrew. It was temporarily disbanded in October 1945. The squadron reformed in 1952 and is currently based at RNAS Culdrose, where it trains approximately 30 Royal Navy observers every year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">814 Naval Air Squadron</span> Flying squadron of the Royal Navys Fleet Air Arm

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">707 Naval Air Squadron</span> Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Squadron

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildcat Maritime Force</span> Element of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm

Wildcat Maritime Force (WMF) is a unit of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. Its primary role is to deploy the AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2, a battlefield utility, search and rescue, aerial reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW) and troop transport helicopter, to the frontline. Wildcat Maritime Force is formed of two squadrons, both based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset, England, 815 Naval Air Squadron for frontline operations and 825 Naval Air Squadron for engineer training and aircrew conversion.

References

  1. ↑ "Commando Helicopter Force". Elite Forces. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  2. ↑ "Strategic Defence Review" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 1 July 1998. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  3. ↑ Ripley, Tim (2004). Air War Iraq. Pen and Sword. p. 130. ISBN   978-1-4738-1170-6.
  4. 1 2 "Rare insight into the Royal Navy's Commando Helicopter Force". 21 February 2016.
  5. 1 2 "846 Naval air squadron returns home to RNAS Yeovilton". Global aviation Resource. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  6. ↑ "Westland Sea King HC4 Commando Retirement". Aeroresource. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  7. ↑ Waters, Conrad (2015). Seaforth World Naval Review 2016. Seaforth Publishing. p. 85. ISBN   978-1-84832-312-4.
  8. ↑ "HMS Bulwark and Merlin helicopters ready for operations in the Mediterranean". Royal Navy. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  9. ↑ "Navy Command, Senior Officers". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  10. ↑ "845 Naval Air Squadron – Royal Navy". royalnavy.mod.uk.
  11. ↑ "846 Naval Air Squadron – Royal Navy". royalnavy.mod.uk.
  12. ↑ "847 Naval Air Squadron". royalnavy.mod.uk. Archived from the original on 7 August 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  13. ↑ "Commando Helicopter Force". Fleet Air Arm Officers Association. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  14. ↑ "Janes Guide – Merlin Mk4 Upgrades". Archived from the original on 13 February 2020.
  15. 1 2 "The Past, Present and Future of the 'Junglie'". Forces Network. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  16. 1 2 "The 847 Naval Air Squadron transitions to the AgustaWestland Wildcat AH.1 helicopter Interview with Major David Sutton Royal Marines, Senior Pilot". Janes. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  17. ↑ "845 NAS Come Home". Fleet air Arm Officers Association. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  18. ↑ "848 NAS awarded the Bambara flight safety shield". fleetairarmoa.org.
  19. ↑ "It really is goodbye to the 'old girl' – Royal Navy". royalnavy.mod.uk.
  20. ↑ "RAF chief opens state-of-the-art helicopter training facilities in Shawbury". Shropshire Star. 29 February 2020. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  21. ↑ "UK MoD begins training helicopter acquisition". Flightglobal. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
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