NAVY NEWS, APRIL 2008 13
To the ends of the earth
THE end of March was the
immense demands upon the engi- members of C Flight on return modify others to the HC4+ stand- theatre alongside 846 NAS will
start of something new for
neers on the squadron. from Norway, as they plunged ard, conduct cold climate training double the number of CHF per-
Commando Helicopter Force
“But working to an exceptional- headfirst into pre-deployment and prepare people for a new war sonnel on Op Herrick, operating
squadron, 845 NAS, who left
ly tight schedule that left no mar- training, learning about the coun- has been huge. as part of the Joint Helicopter
their home base of Yeovilton
gin for error, they did a sterling try in which they would soon be “That we have achieved this has Force (Afghanistan).
job to get the first batch aircraft operating. been down to the commitment The Lynx aircraft of 847 NAS
behind to head out for the
ready to deploy on time.” “This involved numerous lec- of each and every member of the are programmed to join their Sea
first time to the dry moun-
And it was not just the machin- tures on the country, the threat, squadron. King cousins in CHF later this
tains of Afghanistan. ery that had to be prepared for the time on the range honing our He concluded: “I am immense- year, meaning that the Fleet Air
The Sea Kings of 845 have new environment, as the men and weapon skills and eye-watering ly privileged to command such Arm will be the largest British
joined with their sister squadron women of 845 NAS had barely talks from the medics on what people and know they will do a military operator of aircraft in
846 in the landlocked nation to returned to British shores before the local wildlife could do to the first-class job in theatre as every- theatre.
take on the support helicopter role they packed their bags and headed unsuspecting or lazy matelots,” one is relishing the chance to get ● (top) The aurora borealis is a
for the coalition forces. out to the cold of Norway for added Lt McGreal. involved and show what 845 NAS dramatic backdrop for the Sea
Preparations for deployment the annual Clockwork training in “For the aircrew there was an and the Commando Helicopter Kings of 845 NAS
take long enough under normal Bardufoss. intense flying package designed Force will do.” ● (below) Cold weather training
circumstances, but 845 NAS have Lt McGreal said: “Even before to simulate the conditions, threats The arrival of 845 NAS in for 845 NAS aircrew in Norway
had to squeeze a lot of work into a extraction from Iraq, some ele- and mission pressure they were
short amount of time – they only ments of the squadron began sur- going to experience in country.
returned from Iraq four months vival training in Bardufoss. “This meant a lot of flying
and three days prior to heading “In early January most of the as well as crew contact drills
out to Afghanistan on their latest squadron joined them in northern designed to ensure that the air-
operational stint in a new theatre. Norway to conduct a specially- crew knew what to do should they
Of course, as we reported last designed extreme cold weather find themselves on the ground in
month, the HC4 Sea Kings had flying course. Taleban-held territory.”
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to be beefed up with a new design “Whilst it may seem strange Cdr Matt Briers, command-
of rotor blades and tail rotor, to deploy to the frozen north ing officer of 845 NAS, com-
avionics, radio and defensive aids of the Arctic Circle to conduct mented: “Every single member of
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suite. A comprehensive package pre-deployment training for the 845 NAS has worked exception-
of engineering and technical work desert, the re-circulating snow, ally hard following our withdrawal
that earnt them the new title of mountains and brutal challenge from combat operations in Iraq to
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HC4+. of operating aircraft in extreme ensure the squadron is ready for
Lt Ben McGreal said: “This conditions provided exceptional this new challenge.
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work, running alongside other training for Afghanistan.” “The effort required to concur-
commitments elsewhere, placed There was little rest for the rently recover aircraft from Basra,
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0013_NN_apr08.indd 113_NN_apr08.indd 1 119/3/08 09:35:209/3/08 09:35:20
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