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

815 Naval Air Squadron

815 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) is the home of the Wildcat – the Royal Navy’s latest generation Maritime Attack Helicopter; as well as the talented teams which operate and maintain the aircraft.

815

Role

Led by Commander Stuart Crombie RN, 815 NAS’ primary role is to be ready to fight and win at sea.

The Wildcat performs a wide range of roles, including fast roping, load lifting, reconnaissance, search and rescue and the delivery of Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) to those in need.

Underpinning all these capabilities is the ability to operate a helicopter from the small flight deck of a Frigate or Destroyer, undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges in aviation.

Solidarity and companionship are essential ingredients for life on a Small Ship’s Flight. The backdrop may change from one ship to the next, but the reliance and trust between the close-knit team involved in keeping a Wildcat airborne at sea provide an enduring resilience which is critical to a deployed Flight’s success.

Wildcat helicopter

Unit history

1939

Formation

815 Naval Air Squadron was born as World War Two began, formed at RNAS Worthy Down on 9th October 1939 with obsolete Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers.
1939

Formation

815 Naval Air Squadron was born as World War Two began, formed at RNAS Worthy Down on 9th October 1939 with obsolete Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers.
1940

The greatest victory

815 scored the Fleet Air Arm’s greatest victory, crippling the Italian Fleet at Taranto in November 1940 – for the loss of a single Swordfish.
1940

The greatest victory

815 scored the Fleet Air Arm’s greatest victory, crippling the Italian Fleet at Taranto in November 1940 – for the loss of a single Swordfish.
1958

Changing airframes

The squadron operated Grumman Avengers and Fairey Gannets before it converted to helicopters – the Westland Whirlwind in 1958 and the Wessex in 1961.
1958

Changing airframes

The squadron operated Grumman Avengers and Fairey Gannets before it converted to helicopters – the Westland Whirlwind in 1958 and the Wessex in 1961.
1966

Temporarily disbanded

Disbanded in 1966, but recommissioned at RNAS Yeovilton in 1981 with the Lynx HAS Mk2 as the Headquarters Squadron.
1966

Temporarily disbanded

Disbanded in 1966, but recommissioned at RNAS Yeovilton in 1981 with the Lynx HAS Mk2 as the Headquarters Squadron.
1982

In the Falklands

Falklands campaign, the Armilla patrol in the Gulf and relief operations off Lebanon, Aden and in the Caribbean.
1982

In the Falklands

Falklands campaign, the Armilla patrol in the Gulf and relief operations off Lebanon, Aden and in the Caribbean.
1990

Into the Gulf

Several Flights were involved in offensive operations in the northern Gulf, using Sea Skua missiles to knock out the Iraqi Navy.
1990

Into the Gulf

Several Flights were involved in offensive operations in the northern Gulf, using Sea Skua missiles to knock out the Iraqi Navy.
1993

The world’s largest helicopter Squadron

829 Naval Air Squadron and 815 NAS merge to become the largest helicopter squadron in the world.
1993

The world’s largest helicopter Squadron

829 Naval Air Squadron and 815 NAS merge to become the largest helicopter squadron in the world.
2013

Multi-million pound cocaine bust

815 NAS assisted the crew of Royal Navy warship HMS Lancaster as they seized a 680kg stash of cocaine being smuggled by speedboat near Puerto Rico.
2013

Multi-million pound cocaine bust

815 NAS assisted the crew of Royal Navy warship HMS Lancaster as they seized a 680kg stash of cocaine being smuggled by speedboat near Puerto Rico.
2013

Multi-million pound cocaine bust

815 NAS assisted the crew of Royal Navy warship HMS Lancaster as they seized a 680kg stash of cocaine being smuggled by speedboat near Puerto Rico.
2013

Multi-million pound cocaine bust

815 NAS assisted the crew of Royal Navy warship HMS Lancaster as they seized a 680kg stash of cocaine being smuggled by speedboat near Puerto Rico.
2014

The First Lynx retires

A XZ692 that served for 35 years and clocked up an impressive 7,325 flying hours – or 43 weeks airborne – was the first of its kind to retire.
2014

The First Lynx retires

A XZ692 that served for 35 years and clocked up an impressive 7,325 flying hours – or 43 weeks airborne – was the first of its kind to retire.
2015

Surveying destruction on Montserrat

815 Naval Air Squadron was the first to survey the devastation caused by a volcanic eruption on the island of Montserrat.
2015

Surveying destruction on Montserrat

815 Naval Air Squadron was the first to survey the devastation caused by a volcanic eruption on the island of Montserrat.
2016

Wildcat Pride arrived

The first four of 12 new Wildcats was delivered to 815 Naval Air Squadron.
2016

Wildcat Pride arrived

The first four of 12 new Wildcats was delivered to 815 Naval Air Squadron.
2017

Lifesaving support in the Caribbean

The new Wildcats saved lives in the wake of Hurricane Irma – in just seven hours of flying they made 30 landings, lift 52 personnel ashore and back, and delivered six tonnes of aid.
2017

Lifesaving support in the Caribbean

The new Wildcats saved lives in the wake of Hurricane Irma – in just seven hours of flying they made 30 landings, lift 52 personnel ashore and back, and delivered six tonnes of aid.
2017

Lifesaving support in the Caribbean

The new Wildcats saved lives in the wake of Hurricane Irma – in just seven hours of flying they made 30 landings, lift 52 personnel ashore and back, and delivered six tonnes of aid.
2017

Lifesaving support in the Caribbean

The new Wildcats saved lives in the wake of Hurricane Irma – in just seven hours of flying they made 30 landings, lift 52 personnel ashore and back, and delivered six tonnes of aid.
2021

First operational firing of the Marlet missile

HMS Defender's Wildcat conducts the first Operational firing of the new Marlet missile whilst deployed with the Carrier Strike Group (CSG).
2021

First operational firing of the Marlet missile

HMS Defender's Wildcat conducts the first Operational firing of the new Marlet missile whilst deployed with the Carrier Strike Group (CSG).
2021

First operational firing of the Marlet missile

HMS Defender's Wildcat conducts the first Operational firing of the new Marlet missile whilst deployed with the Carrier Strike Group (CSG).
2021

First operational firing of the Marlet missile

HMS Defender's Wildcat conducts the first Operational firing of the new Marlet missile whilst deployed with the Carrier Strike Group (CSG).

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