| 820 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Squadron badge | |
| Active | Royal Air Force 1933–1939 Royal Navy
|
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron |
| Role | Carrier-based:
|
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Home station | RNAS Culdrose |
| Mottos | Tutamen et ultor (Latin for 'Safeguard and avenger') |
| Aircraft | AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 |
| Engagements | |
| Battle honours | SeeBattle honours section for full list. |
| Website | Official website |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Commander Al ‘Conchita’ Woodward, RN |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge Description | White, two bars wavy blue in base a flying fish also blue (1937) |
| Identification Markings |
|
| Fin Carrier/Shore Codes |
|
820 Naval Air Squadron (820 NAS), also referred to as 820 Squadron, is a carrier-basedFleet Air Arm (FAA)naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’sRoyal Navy (RN). It currently operates theMerlin HM2 in two capacities, either foranti-submarine warfare or forairborne surveillance, and control, to protect theUK Carrier Strike Group, with a shore base atRNAS Culdrose.
Originally part of the Royal Air Force (RAF), the squadron was active on two separate occasions from 1933 to 1946, particularly during theSecond World War. From 1933 to 1937, the squadron operatedFairey III,Fairey Seal,Blackburn Baffin, andBlackburn Shark within the RAF. By the time it transferred to the Royal Navy in 1939, it was utilisingFairey Swordfish, subsequently re-equipping withFairey Albacore, and later withFairey Barracuda andGrumman Avenger. After the war, it operated withFairey Firefly, had another engagement with Grumman Avenger, and then withFairey Gannet. In the late 1950s, it transitioned to helicopters, flying theWestland Whirlwind. It was reformed in 1964 with theWestland Wessex and in 1972 made the transition to theWestland Sea King. In 2003, it transitioned to the AgustaWestland Merlin.
820 Squadron was formed on 3 April 1933 atRAF Gosport, Hampshire, by the merger of two independent Royal Air Force naval units, 450 and half of 445 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flights, where it initially operated withFairey III aircraft.[1] The squadron's first assignment on its formation was to carry out spotter-reconnaissance duties for theaircraft carrierHMS Courageous. They were later re-equipped withFairey Seals andBlackburn Sharks, eventually receivingFairey Swordfish in autumn 1937.[2]
The squadron was reassigned in November the following year to the new aircraft carrierHMS Ark Royal. The squadron operated fromArk Royal for the next three years, initially on anti-submarine duties, but later as surface search and torpedo-attack aircraft[2] and like all of the Royal Air Force's Fleet Air Arm squadrons, it was taken over by theAdmiralty on 24 May 1939.[3]
The squadron went withArk Royal to the Atlantic, and by April 1940 they were supportingAllied operations during theNorwegian campaign, where they bombedVaernes airfield. After thewithdrawal from Norway,Ark Royal and the squadron moved to the Mediterranean in June. Aircraft from 820 squadron were involved in attacking the French fleet atMers-el-Kébir, and later theBattle of Dakar, as well as attacks atCagliari. They were also active during theBattle of Cape Spartivento, as well as coveringconvoys to Malta.
820 Squadron's next major engagement was the hunt for the GermanbattleshipBismarck. Aircraft from the squadron were able to disableBismarck's steering gear with atorpedo hit, allowingBismarck to beengaged and sunk.[2][4]
In June 1941 the squadron leftArk Royal, and in November that year returned toIceland aboardHMS Victorious. The Swordfish were then replaced withFairey Albacores. 820 Squadron then embarked aboardHMS Formidable in February 1942, and sailed withFormidable to serve in theIndian Ocean. The squadron was then active in theBattle of Madagascar, followed byOperation Torch, the Allied landings inNorth Africa. During these operations, aircraft from the squadron sankU-331, which had earlier sunk the battleshipHMS Barham.Formidable and the squadron remained in the Mediterranean to provide support for theAllied landings at Sicily andSalerno. The squadron then returned to the UK in November 1943 and disbanded atRNAS Donibristle.[2]
The squadron was quickly reformed however, and equipped with 12Fairey Barracudas was initially based atRNAS Lee-on-Solent as atorpedo bomber/reconnaissance squadron. They were assigned toHMS Indefatigable in June 1944 and saw action as part ofOperation Mascot on 17 July andOperations Goodwood in August, the attempts to sink theTirpitz in theKåjorden inAlta Municipality inNorway.[2] The operations failed to cause significant damage toTirpitz.
In September 1944, the squadron disembarked to re-equip with twenty-oneGrumman Avenger Mk.I, which were soon replaced by Grumman Avenger MK.II, before re-embarking onIndefatigable on 21 November for transit toCeylon.[4] The Avengers provided to the FAA were supplied through Lend-Lease agreements, commencing in 1943. Up until January 1944, the British designation Tarpon was utilised; following this period, the original American name was reinstated as part of a collaborative effort among Allies to standardise designations. The Tarpon I (later known as Avenger I) served as the British counterpart to the US Navy TBF-1. Avenger II was the equivalent to the TBM-1.[6]
As a component of the 2nd Naval Strike Wing, which also consisted of849 Squadron, the squadron participated in a series of successful raids during the first half of 1945, targeting the oil refineries atPalembang onSumatra, as part ofOperation Meridian, followed by operations against the airfields of the Sakashima Gunto islands from March to May 1945.[7]
After joining the 7th Carrier Air Group in June 1945, the squadron conducted attacks on targets within the Japanese home islands, including numerous locations in theTokyo area, continuing its operations untilVictory over Japan Day. The squadron was disbanded in March 1946.[8][2]
820 Squadron was reformed atRNAS Eglinton (HMSGannet),County Londonderry, in July 1951 as an anti-submarine unit, equipped with eight Firefly AS.5s.[9] TheFairey Firefly Mk. 5 became the most widely produced variant among the later Firefly models and signified the onset of the Firefly's modification for diverse specialised functions, with the creation of subvariants such as the FR.5, developed forfighter-reconnaissance, the NF.5, fornight-fighting, and the AS.5, which was customised foranti-submarine patrol, although the distinctions among these were primarily internal.[10]
The Mk.6, designated AS.6, was specifically designed for anti-submarine warfare and served as the primary anti-submarine aircraft for the Fleet Air Arm until the mid-1950s.[11] In December, these replaced 820 Squadrons AS.5s, and the squadron embarked on theIllustrious-classaircraft carrierHMS Indomitable in January 1952 for a Mediterranean cruise, which was followed by an exercise. In August, the squadron transferred to theColossus-classlight fleet carrierHMS Theseus for another exercise, conducting intensive night flying operations in the Mediterranean during October and returned home from Malta at the end of that year. A month later, it re-deployed to the Mediterranean back aboard HMSIndomitable, but returned home again in May to take part in theCoronation Review flypast atSpithead on 15 June 1953.[9][2]
820 Squadron re-equipped with eight Avenger AS.4s at RNAS Eglinton in February 1954. In 1953, while presenting the Navy Estimates in theHouse of Commons, it was announced that the Grumman Avenger would return to service with the Royal Navy. The primary aim of the Avengers was to improve anti-submarine operations. Under the USMutual Defense Assistance Program, a total of 100 post-war Avengers were supplied, specifically the TBM-3E variant used by theUS Navy. The AS.4 aircraft underwent extensive modifications to comply with British standards.[12] In July the squadron was once again Mediterranean-bound, this time in thelead ship of herclassHMS Centaur. In February 1955, the aircraft flew home in stages fromHal Far, viaCagliari,Cuers andBordeaux toRNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMSDaedalus), Hampshire, thence to RNAS Eglinton.[13]
In March 1955, the squadron re-equipped at RNAS Eglinton with nine Gannet AS. 1s, with which it embarked in theCentaur-class light fleet carrierHMS Bulwark in September for an exercise. TheFairey Gannet, which was introduced in 1955, emerged as a crucial component of the Fleet Air Arm's capabilities for carrier-based anti-submarine warfare. It was the first aircraft globally to incorporate a dual airscrew-turbine system, merging the advantages of a twin-engine layout with the ease of a single-engine setup. Importantly, the Gannet was the first in the FAA to combine both search and strike operations, featuring a generous weapons bay and a sizable retractable radar scanner.[14] After completion of work up it joined HMSCentaur in January 1956 for a spell in the Mediterranean before sailing through the Suez Canal for service in the Far East, during which it visited India, Pakistan and Malaya. Returning through the Mediterranean, the squadron disbanded on arrival on 15 May 1956.[13]
The decision was made to convert 820 Squadron as ahelicopter squadron.[2]
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The squadron was re-established as the second anti-submarine helicopter unit at RNAS Eglinton in January 1958, equipped with eight Whirlwind HAS.7 helicopters. TheWestland Whirlwind represented the British modification of the AmericanSikorsky S-55 helicopter. The HAS.7 was the last version of this aircraft utilised by the Fleet Air Arm, powered by a BritishAlvis Leonides Mk.5engine. This model was specifically designed for primary operations in anti-submarine warfare, distinguishing it as the first British helicopter solely dedicated to such missions. It was equipped with sophisticated technology, including radar and dippingAsdic, to improve its submarine detection capabilities.[15][2]
These were decreased to six prior to their embarkation in theAudacious-class aircraft carrierHMS Eagle in May, subsequently transferring directly to sister shipHMS Ark Royal the following month for a period in the Mediterranean. Shortly after their incorporation into theCentaur-class light fleet carrierHMS Albion in August, the aircraft engines began experiencing overheating issues, and subsequently, the squadron was prohibited from flying over the sea due to aircraft losses. By the end of the year, the ship departed for the Far East, and while inHong Kong, new engines were installed. In early 1959, visits occurred in New Zealand and Australia[13][15] before returning toSingapore, where the squadron was disbanded atRNAS Sembawang in May 1959.[16]
The squadron was re-established in October 1959, once more equipped with six Whirlwind HAS.7s and was officially commissioned atRNAS Culdrose (HMSSeahawk), Cornwall, on 3 November. It then embarked in HMSArk Royal in March 1960 for operations in the Mediterranean. In August, the ship returned to home waters for exercises before disembarking the squadron at RNAS Culdrose, where it was disbanded upon arrival on 3 October.[13]
The squadron was re-formed in 1964, and equipped with eight Wessex HAS.1 helicopters, with which they served as an anti-submarine squadron aboard theAudacious-classaircraft carrierHMS Eagle.[2] Developed as a substitute for the Westland Whirlwind within the FAA, theWestland Wessex was based on the AmericanSikorsky S-58. It was the inaugural helicopter commissioned by the FAA that was specifically designed from the beginning to function as an anti-submarine warfare aircraft. It featured anautomatic pilot and was capable of operating in all weather conditions, both during the day and at night.[17]
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They were upgraded to the Wessex HAS.3 in May 1969, when they were transferred to theTiger-classlight cruiser, converted to a helicopter and command cruiser,HMS Blake.[13] The HAS.3 variant exhibited greater power compared to the HAS.1. A notable external characteristic was the hump located behind the rotor head, which was part of an advanced radar system, leading to its nickname 'the camel'. Additionally, it was the inaugural FAA helicopter to implement helicopter in-flight refuelling (HIFR), allowing it to receive fuel from a ship while in the air.[18]
In February 1970, the cruiser departed for theFar East, continuing on to Australia in May. It returned home in December, with aircraft being assigned at different intervals throughout 1971 to ships of theRoyal Fleet Auxiliary, before reuniting with HMSBlake in July for a trip to the United States. Following stops inBarbados,Tenerife, andGibraltar in November, the ship proceeded to theMediterranean for several weeks before coming back in January 1972.[13]
TheWestland Sea King was capable of conducting missions lasting four hours and could survey an area four times larger than the Wessex. Built on the foundational airframe of the AmericanSikorsky S-61B, the Sea King was equipped with a power-folding, five-bladedmain rotor, a retractable undercarriage and a boat-type hull withsponsons. The prototype made its inaugural flight on 8 September 1967 and went into operational service in February 1970.[19]
In December 1972 the squadrons aircraft were upgraded with the Sea King HAS.1, a variant focused onanti-submarine warfare (ASW), followed by the HAS.2 version and then the HAS.5 in December 1980.[2] The HAS.2 variant could be externally differentiated from its predecessor by its six-bladedtail rotor, and its power plant was upgraded to a 1,660 shpRolls-Royce Gnome.[20]
820 Squadron was the inaugural FAA unit to receive the Sea King HAS.5, which was deployed on thelead ship of herclassHMS Invincible and became operational in June 1981. Equipped with more advanced technology than its earlier models, the HAS.5 could be recognised externally by a largerradome positioned above the fuselage. It featured aDecca 71 radar, Sea Searcher radar, an enhancedtactical air navigation system, and LAPADS (lightweight acoustic processing and display system) that operated in conjunction with signals from Jezebel passivesonobuoys;[21] on 6 March 1981 the squadron suffered a tragedy when two of its aircraft had amid-air collision, five of the eight crew members were killed.[22]
In April 1982 the squadron remained embarked for theFalklands War. During the conflict the squadron flew over 4,700 hours, with HMSInvincible spending 166 days continuously at sea, setting aworld record for continuous carrier operations.[2] The squadron transferred tosister shipHMS Ark Royal in late 1985.
The Sea King HAS.6 introduced enhancements to the fundamental airframe and the primary transmission system, in addition to more advanced ASW sonar andmagnetic anomaly detection (MAD) systems, along with the capability to deploySea Eagleanti-ship missiles.[23] The squadron was re-equipped in February 1990 with the HAS.6 and on board HMSArk Royal were dispatched to the Eastern Mediterranean on 10 January 1991, with the intention of transiting theSuez Canal, so they would be in theRed Sea forOperation Granby the British military operations during the 1991Gulf War. However, the war started before they could transit the Suez Canal and instead HMSArk Royal, remained in the Eastern Mediterranean for the duration of the conflict.
In January 1993, 820 Squadron were dispatched aboard theOl-class"fast fleet tanker"RFA Olwen and the lead ship of herclassRFAFort Grange to support the British forces inBosnia as part ofOperation Grapple. There the squadron was used to ferry men and supplies. 820 Squadron returned to Bosnia in 1994, this time aboard HMSArk Royal.
With the later decommissioning of HMSArk Royal, the squadron joined sister shipHMS Illustrious and by 1996 was in the eastern Atlantic, followed by a round the world deployment in 1997.[2]
With HMSIllustrious in refit from 1998, 820 Squadron operated out ofRNAS Culdrose on anti-submarine training exercises, followed with periods embarked on ships of theRoyal Fleet Auxiliary. They rejoined HMSIllustrious in 1999 and participated in relief operations inMozambique, aboard theFort Victoria-classreplenishment oilerRFA Fort George and forOperation Palliser inSierra Leone.[2]
820 Squadron was originally scheduled to disband in December 2002; however, this was delayed to enable the squadron's deployment to the Gulf aboardRFA Argus in January 2003 forSearch and Rescue (SAR),Casualty Evacuation (Casevac), and personnel transfers duringOperation Telic, which was the invasion of Iraq. After returning to the United Kingdom in May, the Sea Kings were retired in June, and the squadron was officially disbanded.[24]
820 Squadron was reformed from 824A Flight in September 2003, subsequently equipping itself withAgustaWestland Merlin HM1 helicopters designed foranti-submarine warfare in October.[24] Further training periods followed, as well as a Search and Rescue effort in October 2004 to aid the stricken Canadian submarineHMCS Chicoutimi, which had been disabled after suffering a fire and flooding off the west coast ofIreland.[2] Over the following years, 820 primarily operated fromRoyal Fleet Auxiliary vessels, engaging in operational deployments to both theMiddle East and theCaribbean. In August 2007, the squadron took over from 814 Squadron atSeeb, Oman, for a year dedicated to Maritime Surveillance Operations. Following a five-month deployment aboard theLanding Platform Helicopter amphibious warfare vesselHMS Ocean, which started in February 2009, the squadron returned to Seeb for an additional period beginning in early September, and then moved toMusannah in March 2012, where it remained until relieved by 814 Squadron in April 2013.[24]
The squadron has continued to carry out exercises aboard Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels, as well as participating in military operations. It is based at RNAS Culdrose and operates the AgustaWestland Merlin HM.2.[25] Training is performed by824 NAS and front line duties are shared with814 NAS. During 2014, 820 NAS was temporarily assigned to theCommando Helicopter Force until the two main troop carrying squadrons fully convert to the Merlin HC.4.820 NAS is also known as the "Queen's squadron" and will be the main squadron to operate on theQueen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier.[26] Three Merlins from 820 NAS were deployed offRFA Argus as theUK's response towards the 2014 Ebola virus.[27] 820 NAS will be permanently attached to HMSQueen Elizabeth's air group.[28] On 3 July 2017, a Merlin Mk.2 helicopter of 820 NAS became the first aircraft to land on HMSQueen Elizabeth, piloted by 26-year-old Lieutenant Luke Wraith from Yorkshire.[28]
In 2020, 820 NAS assumed responsibility for all Merlin HM.2 operations from the Royal Navy's carriers, when it took over the Airborne Surveillance role from849 NAS. This will see a number of its aircraft installed with the Crowsnest system, consisting of a new version of theSearchwater radar combined with Cerberus mission system in a kit installation. This is to allow the system to be installed in any Merlin airframe.[29][30] The system achieved initial operating capability in July 2023. In September, five Merlins from 820 Squadron, two in the AEW configuration, embarked on HMSQueen Elizabeth for her "Operation FIREDRAKE" deployment in northern European waters.[31]
In 2025, the squadron embarked with the Royal Navy'scarrier strike group on Operation Highmast deploying to the Indo-Pacific region. Nine of the Merlin HM2s from the squadron were specifically assigned toPrince of Wales, six in the ASW role and three in the AEW role with the Crowsnest system having reached full operating capability.[32]
The squadron has operated a number of different aircraft types, including:[33][2][34][35]
The following thirteenBattle Honours have been awarded to 820 Naval Air Squadron:
820 Naval Air Squadron was assigned as needed to form part of a number of larger units:[49]
List ofcommanding officers of 820 Naval Air Squadron:[8][33]
1933 - 1943
1944 - 1946
1951 - 1956
1956 - 1957
1958 - 1959
1959 - 1960
1964 - 2003
2003 - present
Note: Abbreviation (A) signifies Air Branch of the RN or RNVR.[52]
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