847 squadron

Formed in Jun 1943 as a torpedo bomber squadron of the Fleet Air Arm at RNAS Lee-on-Solent, it was absorbed into 810 Squadron while serving in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in Jun 1944. It reformed and disbanded again during the late 1950s, flying Gannets during the Cyprus emergencies.

Its long association with rotary wing aviation and the Royal Marines began in May 1963 when it reformed from part of 848 Squadron at RNAS Culdrose with Whirlwind HAS.7s as the third Commando squadron. After a brief work up it embarked B Flight on HMS Bulwark (R08), deploying to the Far East for trials before returning to the UK and disbanding again in Dec 1964, when the units role was taken over by 707 NAS.

Reformed at Sembawang on 14 Mar 1969 with 10 Wessex HU.5 from 848 Sq, when that unit split. Provided life-saving aid during major flood relief operations (see Operations, below). Stood down for the final time in the Far East in mid May 1971 and passed its airframes to an enlarged 848 Sq.

847 Squadron reformed on 4 May 1982 with 27 Wessex HU.5 drawn from various sources, for what turned out to be a short commission (from 7 May) at RNAS Yeovilton during the Falklands War, seeing service at Port San Carlos and later at Port Stanley, before disbanding again in the UK in Sep 1982.

It reformed on 1 Sep 1995 from 3 CBAS at RNAS Yeovilton with six Lynx and nine Gazelle, the role remained similar but for a Naval Air Squadron there was a variation in standard operating practice. The Royal Marines Commando supplies the aircrew, the airframes are supplied from a pool of the Army Air Corps and maintenance (on formation) was provided by the Armys Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (REME). There was a gradual changeover in these arrangements from 1999 until 2003 when maintenance was performed by Royal Navy personnel.

Six Lynx and six Gazelle of 847 NAS accompanied 845 NAS Sea Kings on HMS Ocean when she deployed to the Gulf for operations against Iraq in Jan 2003 and after close support operations, returned to the UK in May.

The 6 unarmed Gazelle AH.1 (forming A Flight), were retired on 12 May 2005 in a ceremony at RNAS Yeovilton.

847 NAS was relieved in Jun 2006 after c 6 months in Iraq by 652 Sq, AAC. It deployed again to Iraq from Oct 2007 but this time without the TOW capability (which had been decommissioned) fitted to its Lynx, returning to Yeovilton in Feb 2008. It deployed to Afghanistan for its 3rd tour between Sep 2008 and Mar 2009 with Lynx AH.7. The AH.7 was retired in Jul 2012 (ZD282 being its last example) for the more powerful Lynx AH.9A. The unit deployed for its 4th Afghanistan tour in Jan 2013, returning via RAF Brize Norton on 22 May.

By Sep 2013, 847 NAS had retired its Lynx and was working up with AW159 Wildcat AH.1

In Feb 2018, a detachment of 2 Wildcat joined the Marine Nationale aboard FS Dixmude for a 5 month Pacific Ocean deployment. The unit spent most of Feb and some of Mar 2020 temporarily deployed to Bardufoss for Exercise Cold Response 20.