The Seaking and Lynx from RNAS Yeoviton are frequent visitors to the Salisbury Plain training area both on exercise and training flights. Detailed at the bottom of this page are some of the SQNs seen.
All text taken from the Navy website at http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operations-and-support/establishments/naval-bases-and-air-stations/rnas-yeovilton/naval-air-squadrons/
Please click on the Lynx below for the Royal Navy helicopter photos.
815 Naval Air Squadron provides fast, agile Lynx helicopters for the frigates and destroyers of the Royal Navy. It is based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset, and is the largest helicopter squadron in the world, as well as one the oldest squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm. The Squadron operates both the Mk3 and the Mk 8 Westland Lynx. The Squadron consists of a Headquarters (responsible for tactical doctrine, aircrew flying checks, maintenance support and parenting of embarked flights) and 26 Small Ship's Flights that operate from the Type 22 and Type 23 Frigates, and Type 42 Destroyers. Additionally, 2 Lynx Mk 3 aircraft embark for Antarctic patrols in HMS Endurance.
702 Naval Air Squadron is based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset and operates the Westland Lynx HAS3 and HMA8. The primary purpose of the Squadron is to provide training for aircrew and maintenance personnel on the Maritime Lynx, to fit them for service in Ship’s Flights. In support of this task, 702 NAS has a complement of around 160 aircrew and maintainers. The Squadron trains in excess of 20 aircrew and 115 maintainers annually, whilst also conducting refresher courses for a further 30 aircrew.
845 Naval Air Squadron primarily provides 3 Commando Brigade of the Royal Marines with tactical troop transport and load lifting helicopters. Together with all elements of the Commando Helicopter Force it is based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset. 845 NAS operate the Sea King Mk 4 which has a clear cabin space to minimise weight and to maximise the size of cargo carried. It is capable of carrying underslung loads of up to 6000 pounds such as 105mm guns, Land Rovers and air defence missile systems. 26 troops can be accommodated in the cabin. On the Squadron’s return from Iraq, the Sea King Mk 4 required upgrading to enable it to operate in Afghanistan. So within days the first Sea King began a modification programme to both improve the aircraft’s performance for the hot and high conditions of Afghanistan and to enhance its capability to deliver effect on the battlefield. This meant fitting a new design of rotor blades, a high performance tail rotor, an updated Defensive Aids Suite, an improved avionics and radio suite to detect and deter anti-aircraft radar, missiles and guns and a new Display Night Vision Goggle capability. This large package of modifications resulted in the Sea King Mk 4 becoming the Sea King Mk4+. This work, concurrent with Pre-deployment Training and other commitments, placed immense demands upon the engineers on 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 aircraft ready to deploy on time. The Squadron can perform many other secondary roles. These include: Search and Rescue, Casualty Evacuation, Special Forces operations, Humanitarian operations, Ground force suppression, Abseiling, Parachuting, Assistance in Combat Search and Rescue.
846 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) is one of four 'Junglie' Squadrons based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset. Equipped with 10 Sea King Mk4 Commando helicopters the Squadron is primarily dedicated to the support of 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines. The nickname 'Junglie' evolved during the Borneo Campaign of 1963-66, as it was within the Indonesian jungle that the Squadron demonstrated how versatile naval helicopters can be. Since then 846 NAS have repeatedly proved their ability to deliver troops with the speed and mobility in inhospitable terrain that is essential to Commando operations.
847 NAS Formed in 1995, and traditionally a war-fighting unit, the principal task of 847 NAS is to provide armed reconnaissance and direction of supporting arms capability, primarily in support of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines (3 Cdo Bde RM) on deployments worldwide. 847 NAS is part of the Commando Helicopter Force and is a unique unit within the UK Armed Forces. A fully-fledged Royal Navy Squadron, it is equipped with Army-owned Lynx Mk7 helicopters, which are operated by Royal Marines and Royal Navy pilots. Based at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton in Somerset the Squadron spends a large proportion of each year on deployments around the world. 3 Cdo Bde's combat power and ability to strike the enemy in depth is greatly enhanced by 847 NAS.
848 NAS. The Royal Navy Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) enjoys a reputation for high standards of professionalism and flexibility and this is in no small part, attributable to the exacting and thorough instruction given by 848 Naval Air Squadron (NAS). During its 55 year history, 848 Squadron has been disbanded and reformed several times but now has a more permanent standing, having been made the Commando Helicopter Training Squadron, based at the Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton. With a complement of one hundred ratings and thirty officers, the Squadron is responsible for the instruction of up to sixty pilots and aircrewmen each year. Operating the Sea King Mk 4, pilots undertake Advanced Flying Training - how to handle emergencies and how to fly with sole reference to instruments -before crewing up with the aircrewmen, taken from Royal Navy Ratings and Royal Marines, to learn how to operate the aircraft in a tactical environment during operational flying training. The Squadron also trains more than one hundred and fifty helicopter maintainers annually before sending them to the front line. Aircrew and maintainers receive military and amphibious training and are taught how to operate in the field and from the deck of a ship. 848 NAS is also committed to numerous UK maritime operations and airborne support for the Royal Marines.
All text taken from the Royal Navy website at
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