814 Naval Air Squadron: Difference between revisions
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==External links== |
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*[https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/the-fighting-arms/fleet-air-arm/helicopter-squadrons/merlin-mk2/814-naval-air-squadron 814 Naval Air Squadron] on Royal Navy website |
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Revision as of 23:53, 30 March 2018
| 814 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
| Squadron badge Squadron badge | |
| Active | December 1938 – December 1942 July 1944 – July 1970 March 1973 – December 2000 October 2001 – present |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Flying squadron |
| Role | Anti submarine warfare |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | RNAS Culdrose |
| Nickname(s) | 'The Flying Tigers' |
| Motto(s) | In hoc signo vinces (Error: {{language with name/for}}: missing language tag or language name (help)) |
| Aircraft | AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 |
| Battle honours | Atlantic (1940) |
| Website | 814 Naval Air Squadron |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Commander Brendan Spoors |
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 RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall. The squadron was formed in December 1938 and has been disbanded and reformed several times.
History
Second World War
814 Naval Air Squadron was formed in December 1938 as a torpedo reconnaissance squadron equipped with six Fairey Swordfish Mk I.[1]
West Africa
Originally embarked on aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal in January 1939, it transferred to HMS Hermes at the outbreak of the Second World War. HMS Hermes set sail for West Africa where the squadron helped search for the German cruiser Admiral Graf Spee. It also took part in the Battle of Dakar, damaging the Vichy French battleship Richelieu on 8 July 1940.[2] Heavy anti-aircraft fire meant the squadron only achieved a single hit, however the battleship was out-of-action for over a year as a result.[3] For its participation in the Battle of the Atlantic during 1940, the squadron received its only battle honour.[4]
Indian Ocean
HMS Hermes and the squadron travelled to the Indian Ocean in December 1940. The squadron went on to provide support for land forces in British Somaliland in East Africa, during which five enemy merchant ships were captured. In May 1941, the squadron provided support to the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Iraq and later provided convoy protection in the Indian Ocean. In April 1942, while the squadron was ashore, HMS Hermes was sunk by Japanese aircraft off Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) whilst transiting between Trincomalee and the Maldives. 814 NAS subsequently disbanded during December 1942 at Katukurunda in Ceylon.[1][5]
Far East
The squadron reformed at RNAS Stretton in Cheshire during July 1944, now equipped with the Fairey Barracuda Mk II, a torpedo and dive bomber. It embarked on HMS Venerable in March 1945 and headed to the Far East for patrols, although seeing no action for the rest of the war.[1][5]
Cold War
In post-war years, the squadron was equipped with the Fairey Firefly, Grumman Avenger and Fairey Gannet in the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) role on-board HMS Vengeance, receiving the Boyd Trophy for its high standard of operational efficiency in 1951.[1]
In 1960, the squadron continued in the ASW role and was equipped with its first helicopter, the Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, later replaced with the Westland Wessex HAS.1.[3] The Wessex HAS.3 was introduced in 1967, providing the squadron with its first radar-equipped helicopter. During this time, the squadron was embarked on HMS Victorious and HMS Hermes to patrol east of the Suez. In 1968, 814 NAS was again awarded the Boyd Trophy, on this occasion for achieving a high state of operational effectiveness at sea with the Wessex HAS.3. The squadron decommissioned for a second time in July 1970.[1]
Sea King
The squadron reformed at RNAS Prestwick (HMS Gannet) in Aryshire during March 1973, equipped with four Westland Sea King HAS.1 helicopters, a variant specialising in ASW. It embarked on tours of duty with HMS Bulwark and HMS Hermes, assisting with the evacuation of British citizens during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.[1] That same year the squadron received the Australia Shield for its high standard of operational readiness. The Sea King HAS.2 was introduced in 1977, making the squadron the first in the Royal Navy to operate a helicopter with passive sonar equipment. 814 NAS relocated from Prestwick to RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall on 9 April 1976 and has since remained there. By the end of 1976 the unit strength had increased to nine helicopters.[1]
The squadron became a full member of the NATO Tiger Association in 1979, an organisation with the aim of promoting solidarity between air-forces of NATO.[6]
By the time of the Falklands War in April 1982, the upgraded Sea King HAS.5 had entered service with the squadron and in August 1982 it embarked on HMS Illustrious for South Atlantic patrols. Capability was further enhanced in October 1990 when 814 NAS re-equipped with the Sea King HAS.6. This variant of the Sea King saw action with the squadron whilst operating from the carrier HMS Invincible during the Gulf War in 1991 and later in the Bosnian War and Kosovo Wars. In December 2000, the unit was decommissioned for the third time.[1][3]
21st century
The squadron was reformed in October 2001 at RNAS Culdrose, now equipped with the AgustaWestland Merlin HM1. The Merlin replaced the Fleet Air Arm's anti-submarine warfare Sea Kings and is designed to be deployed aboard ships or operate from shore in a variety of maritime roles.[3]
The squadron's Merlin's have seen operational service aboard HMS Illustrious, during the Iraq War (Operation Telic) and in the wider Persian Gulf area. In 2012 it was involved in Exercise Joint Warrior off the coast of Scotland again with HMS Illustrious.[7] 814 NAS alternates duties with 820 NAS.
During 2014, the Merlin HM1 was replaced by the Merlin HM2.
The aircraft and personnel of 829 Naval Air Squadron, also based at RNAS Culdrose, merged with 814 NAS in March 2018, creating the largest ever Merlin Fleet Air Arm squadron.[8]
Aircraft operated
The squadron has operated a variety of different aircraft and variants.[9]
- Fairey Swordfish Mk I (1938–1942)
- Fairey Barracuda Mk II
- Fairey Firefly FR.1, FR.4, Mk 5 and AS.6
- Grumman Avenger AS.4 and AS.5
- Fairey Gannet AS.4 and T.2
- Westland Whirlwind HAS.7
- Westland Wessex HAS.1 and HAS.3
- Westland Sea King HAS.1, HAS.2/2a, HAS.5 and HAS.6 (1973–2000)
- AgustaWestland Merlin HM1 and HM2 (2000 – present)
-
Fairey Swordfish Mk I torpedo bombers of the type operated by the squadron. -
A Fairey Barracuda Mk II of 814 NAS, showing the observer's window, the distinctive dive brakes, the high tail plane, and one of the lugs in which the accelerator / catapult engages. -
A Fairey Firefly AS.5 which served wuth 814 NAS, seen in 1980 during its time with the Royal Navy Historic Flight. -
A Westland Wessex HAS.3 -
A 814 NAS Westland Sea King HAS.6 seen at RAF Mildenhall in 1986. -
An AgustaWestland Merlin HM1 of 814 NAS seen arriving in 'tiger' stripes at the 2005 Royal International Air Tattoo.
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Squadron traditions and affiliations
Traditions
The squadron nickname is 'the Flying Tigers' and its badge features a tiger's head, representing its membership of the NATO Tiger Association.
Affiliations
The following organisations are affiliated with the squadron.[10]
- Devon and Cornwall Constabulary
- Fleet Air Arm Association Harlow Branch
- The Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers
- Leicester Tigers (Rugby team)
- NATO Tiger Association
- Southampton University Royal Naval Unit
- Treliske Hospital (Royal Cornwall Hospital)
References
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h "814 : History". Royal Navy. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "814 squadron". Fleet Air Arm Archive. Archived from the original on 2 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b c d "814 Naval Air Squadron". Royal Navy. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Current FAA Squadron Battle Honours". Fleet Air Arm Officers Association. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b Fleet Air Arm Archive – 814 Squadron Profile
- ^ "814 Naval Air Squadron". Nato Tigers. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Mongoose in Tigers' Claws". Royal Navy. 24 May 2012. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "829 Naval Air Squadron". Royal Navy. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 174.
- ^ "814 NAS – Affiliations". Royal Navy. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help)
Bibliography
- Sturtivant, R; Ballance, T (1994). The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-223-8.
External links
- 814 Naval Air Squadron on Royal Navy website