Historic Press Release date 18th March 08 - 845 HURRY TO HERRICK (The aim of some of the images is to demonstrate the various roles of CHF Squadrons) On March 27th 845 Naval Air Squadron opened another new chapter in their long and illustrious history when they departed their bas at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset bound for their first tour of duty in the demanding environment of Afghanistan. With only 4 months and 3 days since the squadron returned home from an almost unbroken period of service in Iraq since the invasion in 2003, the squadron regrouped, retrained and rebuilt their aircraft in order to deploy to this new arena in support of operations against the Taliban. With the increasing requirement for additional support helicopters in Afghanistan, 845 NAS has joined 846 NAS, their sister Squadron from the Commando Helicopter Force, to form part of a growing number of Fleet Air Arm assets operating in the country as part of Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) JHF (A). When it finally became clear late last year that 845 would be withdrawing from Iraq, ending their time as the longest serving helicopter squadron on Operation Telic, work to get the squadron ready to deploy began in earnest. It was clear that a considerable amount of planning and was required to ensure the squadron was not just ready to deploy within 4 months, but to ensure that everyone would be at the top of their game when they stepped off the RAF Tristar in Kandahar. Within days of returning from Iraq the first Sea King began a modification programme to both improve its performance for the hot and high conditions of Afghanistan and to enhance its capability to deliver effect on the battlefield. This resulted in the fitment of a new design of rotor blades, a high performance tail rotor, an updated Defensive Aids Suite, an improved avionics and radio suite and a new night vision goggle capability. This large package of modifications has resulted in the in the Sea King Mk 4 being re-named as the Mk4+. This work, concurrent with additional commitments, placed immense demands upon the engineers of the squadron, but working to an exceptionally tight schedule that had no margin for error, they did a sterling job to get the first batch of aircraft ready to deploy on time. The other extremely important element of preparation was that of squadron personnel. This started even before out extraction from Iraq when elements of the Squadron began survival training in Bardufoss. In early January, elements of the squadron deployed to Northern Norway to conduct a specially designed extreme cold weather flying course. Whilst it may seem strange to deploy to the frozen wastes of the Arctic Circle to conduct pre-deployment training for the desert but the re-circulating snow, mountains and brutal challenge of operating aircraft in extreme conditions provided exceptional training for Afghanistan. On their return from the Arctic there was little rest for the men of C Flight, (the first to deploy from 845 NAS) as not only did they have to familiarise themselves with the new Sea King Mk 4+ but they began their pre deployment training. This involved numerous lectures on the country, the threat, time on the range honing weapon skills and eye watering lectures from the medics on what the local wildlife can do to the unsuspecting or lazy ‘matelots’. For the aircrew there was an intense flying package designed to simulate the conditions, threats and mission pressure they were going to experience in country. This entailed a considerable amount of flying in addition to ‘crew contact drills’ designed to ensure that the aircrew knew what to do should they find themselves on the ground in Taliban held territory without support. So what’s in store for 845 NAS in Afghanistan? Well as soon as the squadron arrives in Theatre they will link up with 846 NAS, which will double the number of CHF personnel deployed in Theatre. Their primary role is to provide a support helicopter capability to the coalition forces operating in the country. This includes troop movements, force protection, casualty evacuation, mine strike evacuation and other command tasks. With 845 and 846 NASs operating as part of JHF (A), the programmed arrival of the Lynx aircraft of 847 NAS into country later this year will ensure the Fleet Air Arms position as the largest British military operator of aircraft in Theatre. Cdr Matt Briers, Commanding Officer of 845 NAS, said, “Every single member of 845 NAS has worked exceptionally hard following our withdrawal from combat operations in Iraq to ensure the squadron is ready for this new challenge. The effort required to concurrently recover aircraft from Basra, modify others to the Mk4+ standard, conduct cold climate training and prepare people for a new war has been huge. That we have achieved this has been down to the commitment of each and every member of the squadron. I am immensely privileged to command such people and know they will do a first class job in Theatre as everyone is relishing the chance to get involved and show what 845 NAS and the Commando Helicopter Force can do”.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 18:13:32 +0000
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