847 Naval Air Squadron

847 Naval Air Squadron
Active	1960s 1982 1995-Present Day
Country	UK
Branch	Royal Navy
Type	Land based squadron
Role	Commando Support
Part of	Fleet Air Arm/Commando Helicopter Force
Garrison/HQ	RNAS Yeovilton
Motto	Ex Alto Concutimus (Latin: "We Strike From On High")
Equipment	Westland Lynx AH7
Battle honours	Sumatra 1944

"3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron" redirects here

847 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. It operates the Westland Lynx AH7 helicopter and provides armed reconnaissance and light assault support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. The squadron was previously known as 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron, from which it re-formed on 1 September 1995.

The squadron is based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, a Royal Naval establishment, with helicopters drawn from an Army Air Corps pool and flown by Royal Marines and Royal Navy pilots.

Operations in the Far East in the 1960s

The squadron served with distinction in support of the Royal Marines during 1960s in the Far East initially (1963) with the Whirlwind HAS.7 and later with the Wessex HU5.

Falklands War

847 Naval Air Squadron was reformed to take part in the Falklands campaign in 1982, operating 14 Westland Wessex HU.5 helicopters with Royal Naval personnel recruited mainly from RNAS Yeovilton. The aircraft were transported from the United Kingdom to the South Atlantic aboard RFA Engadine and the Atlantic Causeway.^{[Note 1]}

Landing in the April, 847 NAS initially operated from San Carlos and provided much needed air support to UK forces. After the unofficial surrender of Argentine forces, 847 NAS relocated to Navy Point, a headland directly opposite the town of Port Stanley, where it took up residence in what had previously been used as support and storage buildings for Royal Naval expeditionary vessels in previous years. 847 NAS remained in the Falklands until September 1982, providing much needed air support to UK Forces and Island Locals alike and even moving the odd head of livestock!

847 NAS was one of the longest serving units to see action in the Falklands war, spending some 6 months on the islands in total, and leading some members of the squadron to refer to the unit as "84-who?" The squadron was disbanded immediately after returning to the UK in the September 1982.

1995 to the present

847 NAS reformed at RNAS Yeovilton with Royal Marine pilots and REME ground crew on 1 September 1995, from 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron as a tactical support unit for the Royal Marines Commandos with Lynx and Gazelle helicopters (Gazelles since withdrawn). The squadron has been active in Sierra Leone and in Kosovo. The most significant delpoyment of recent years was to Operation Telic in Iraq. In May 2006 a Lynx was shot down over Basra killing 5 service personnel onboard including 847's commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Darren Chapman. Along with 845, 846 and 848 naval air squadrons, the squadron forms part of the Commando Helicopter Force.

It is stated that several of its Lynx Helicopters are part of the Response Force Task Group.^[1]

External links

• Royal Navy website - 847 Squadron
• 847 Squadron page at the Helicopter History website

Notes

1. ^ Atlantic Causeway was sister ship to Atlantic Conveyor, which was hit and fatally damaged by an Exocet missile during the war.

References

1. ^ http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/operations/auriga/index.htm