Commando Helicopter Force
Sea King HC4 from the CHF The Fleet Air Arm's Commando Helicopter Force is made up of 4 Royal Naval Air squadrons, all based at RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset:
- 845 Naval Air Squadron (Sea King HC.4 helicopters)
- 846 Naval Air Squadron (Sea King HC.4/HAS.6)
- 847 Naval Air Squadron (Lynx AH7 helicopters)
- 848 Naval Air Squadron - training - (Sea King HC.4 helicopters)
The primary role of the CHF is to fly in support to 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines although they also support UKSF operations. One specially trained sub-unit of 848 squadron, known as M flight, support SBS Maritime Counter Terrorism operations.
Some notable CHF operations include :
- During the Falklands Conflict, Sea Kings from 846 Squadron, flying at night with newly-aquired Night Vision Goggles (NVGs), inserted SAS/SBS reconnaissance teams onto the islands ahead of the main landings.
846 Squadron helicopters inserted troops from D Squadron SAS onto Pebble Island for its raid on the Argentine airstrip there.
The SBS fast-roped from 2 846 Sqn Sea Kings when they stormed an Argentine spy ship, in the first ever helo-ship assault in history.
A single 846 Sqn Sea King attempted to insert a SAS recon team onto the Argentine mainland.
more info : Operation Plum Duff
- Royal Navy Sea Kings from the CHF delivered SBS sniper/cover teams onto the British Embassy in Kuwait City during the operation
to secure it at the end of the 1991 Gulf War.
- In late 2001, along with Chinooks from 7 Squadron, RAF, CHF Sea Kings flew SAS/SBS teams and follow up support units onto the MV Nisha cargo ship, which was suspected of carrying WMDs towards the English coast.
more info : the SBS raid the MV Nisha
(external website)
more info on the Sea King HC.4
Several Sea King HAS.6 ASW (anti-submarine warfare) helicopters have been converted into Commando transports (HAS.6(CR)) and are operated by 846 NAS .
The CHF also operate Lynx AH.7 helicopters. Owned by the Army, but flown by Royal Marines and Royal Navy pilots, the Lynx AH.7s flown by 847 NAS are used for reconnaissance, utlity and strike missions.
more info on the Lynx AH.7
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