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Organisation / Units & Squadrons
845 Naval Air Squadron
Organisation / Units & Squadrons

845 Naval Air Squadron

845 Naval Air Squadron provides support and effect from the skies, with a complement of over 230 personnel who operate and maintain the Merlin Mk 4 and Mk 4A helicopters in support of 3 Commando Brigade.

Merlin Mk2

Role

Whether their helicopters are delivering vital water supplies as part of humanitarian operations or providing support from the skies in times of conflict, 845 Naval Air Squadron is well-equipped and well-prepared for a huge range of challenges.

They have seen active service in the Falklands, Kuwait, and the Gulf, and supported the UK’s humanitarian responses to the Philippines and Caribbean after natural disasters.

The 845’s ‘R2’ (five-day) response capability is regularly exercised with no notice to crews. They took part simulated Arctic emergency in summer 2017, during which aircrew and support personnel rapidly deploy to Norway.

845

Capability

845 is a Naval Air Squadron, part of the Commando Helicopter Force. Founded in 1943 as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron. Transferring to helicopters 845 were the first to conduct Anti-Submarine duties in the 1950’s before developing vertical assault during the Suez Crisis and Aden.

The nickname ‘Junglies’ was bestowed by the troops 845 supported in the Jungle campaign of Malaysia and Borneo in the 1960’s – a reputation fiercely defended since. Their motto is ‘Audio Hostem’ – which means ‘I hear the enemy’ a nod to their ASW past.

Find the Squadron on twitter: 845NAS

Merlin helicopter

Crew

Squadron personnel maintain a high state of readiness and are ready to deploy anywhere in the world at short notice to provide tactical mobility and aviation support from either the sea or the land.

  • Tactical Mobility, including Littoral (Ship to Shore) Strike, Air Assault and the Tactical Insertion and Extraction of troops and equipment in direct support of the Future Commando Forces.
  • Extreme Weather Operations – Ready to fly and maintain aircraft in all environments, from the Arctic in Norway to the deserts of Oman.
  • Secondary Roles - Joint Personnel Recovery (JPR), Deployed Search and Rescue (DSAR), and Non-combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO), Counter-Narcotics Operations, Maritime intra-Theatre Lift (MiTL).

Unit history

1943

Early days in the Far East

The squadron was originally formed in February 1943 Flying Grumman Avenger torpedo bombers, earning Battle Honours in East Indies 1944-45 and Burma in 1945.
1955

The first anti-submarine helicopter squadron

845 rebanded in 1955, and started using Westland Whirlwinds in 1957, the Fleet Air Arm’s first anti-submarine helicopters.
1962

The ‘junglies’

The squadron disbanded in 1959 before reforming in 1962 to see immediate action in the jungles of Brunei and Borneo, gaining the nickname the ‘Junglies’.
1970

Northern Ireland

845 spent much of the 1970s and early ’80s supporting the security and peacekeeping mission in Northern Ireland.
1982

Falklands

845’s helicopters were also sent to the South Atlantic in 1982 and earned Battle Honours in the Falklands.
1991

Gulf War

Another invasion half a world away saw the squadron earn its next battle honour during the international effort to drive Saddam Hussein’s forces out of Kuwait.
1992

Peacekeeping

From 1992 until 2005, 845 were present in the former Yugoslavia supporting UN/NATO peacekeeping – they were the longest-serving unit in theatre.
2003

Returning to the Gulf

The squadron returned to the Gulf to oust Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq. Once the dictator had been toppled, the Sea Kings remained in the country.
2008

Afghanistan

After improvements and upgrades to the Sea Kings, and with the mission in Iraq over, 845 was sent to Afghanistan in March 2008.
2013

Aid to the Philippines

The Royal Navy and Royal Marines helped over 50,000 people following Typhoon Haiyan. 845’s Sea Kings played a key role.
2014

Welcoming the Merlins

25 ‘green’ RAF Merlin Mk3s were to be upgraded to become Fleet Air Arm craft fit to carry the Royal Marines into battle. They will be commissioned in 2018.
2015

New Merlins fly over Vegas

The glitzy backdrop of the Las Vegas skyline provided an unforgettable background for a training exercise with the US Air Force Pavehawks.
2017

Lifesaving support

Deployed to the Caribbean in the wake of Hurricane Irma. Worked as part of Operation Ruman, Merlin Mk.3 helicopters delivered tonnes of vital aid.
2018

70% of the squadron is now Arctic trained

The 845 was ready to fly and maintain craft in wind, snow and temperatures down to -30°C.
2018

QE deployment

Merlin Mk.4 Commando Helicopters deployed on HMS Queen Elizabeth; the first mass embarkation of amphibious assault aircraft.
2019

Baltic Protector 19

845 deploy as part of the NATO deployment to the Baltics, exercising in the littoral environment with partner nations in the Baltic States.
2020

Atlantic Patrol Tasking (North)

Three aircraft deploy onto RFA Argus to conduct counter narcotic operations in the Caribbean in support of the US Coastguard.
2021

OP FORTIS

Providing essential DSAR, JPR, and MiTL to the Carrier Strike Group over 9 months.
2022

Cold Response

Deployed to the icy tundra of the Arctic Circle as part of Joint Helicopter Command, training to operate closely with our NATO allies and fight in austere conditions

Follow the 845 Naval Air Squadron on X

@845NAS
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