| 723 Squadron RAN | |
|---|---|
_Airbus_Helicopter_EC135T2%252B_at_Wagga_Wagga_Airport.jpg) Royal Australian Navy EC-135T2+ | |
| Active | 1952–present |
| Country |  Australia |
| Branch | Fleet Air Arm (RAN) |
| Type | Naval Aviation |
| Role | Rotary Training |
| Garrison/HQ | HMAS Albatross (Joint Helicopter School) |
| Motto | Wings of the Albatross |
| Battle honours | Vietnam 1967–1971 Kuwait 1991 East Timor 1999 |
| Commanders | |
| Commanding Officer | Commander Samuel Dale |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Trainer helicopter | EC-135T2+ |
723 Squadron is aRoyal Australian NavyFleet Air Arm squadron. The squadron was first raised in 1952 and throughout its history has served operationally during theVietnam War, theGulf War and inEast Timor. It currently operates as a helicopter training squadron and is based atHMAS Albatross atNowra,New South Wales.
The Royal Navy's original 723 Naval Air Squadron arrived atNowra in January 1945 after travelling from the United Kingdom on the troopshipAthlone Castle. The squadron "towed drogue targets [and provided] ‘attacking aircraft’ for ship and aircraft gunnery practice, radar calibration and radar interception targets."[1] It was disbanded on May 31, 1946.
723 Squadron was first commissioned into theRoyal Australian Navy (RAN) on 7 April 1952 and was equipped with one Dakota, one Wirraway, oneSea Otter and twoSea Fury aircraft.
On 11 March 1953 the Squadron took delivery of the RAN's first helicopter, aBristol Sycamore. 723 Squadron also took delivery of the RAN's first jet aircraft, ade Havilland Vampire Mk T.34 on 18 June 1954.[2]
During theVietnam War, personnel from the squadron operated as part of theExperimental Military Unit, a joint Australian-American helicopter assault and transport unit.[3]During the squadron's history, thebattle honours "Vietnam 1967–71", "Kuwait 1991", and "East Timor 1999" have been earned.[4][5]
723 Squadron was previously equipped with 13Aerospatiale AS 350BA Ecureuil (Squirrel) and threeBell 429 helicopters. The Squadron is based atHMAS Albatross (NAS Nowra). The Squirrels were used for conversion training all pilots, observers and aircrew from fixed wing to rotary wing aircraft. The Bell 429 joined the Squadron in 2012 on lease fromRaytheon Australia and were used for multi engine training for pilots moving onto other aircraft such as theS-70B-2 Seahawk.
It is currently active as the Australian Defence Force's helicopter training squadron operating theEC-135T2+ helicopter at the Joint Helicopter School.[6]
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