1939 to present


united kingdom 815 Squadron

Fleet Air Arm

815 NAS 815 Naval Air Squadron







815 squadron royal navy

815 Squadron
Tail Codes
A 1959/61
R 1961/63
C 1963/64
R 1965/66
815 Squadron formed at RNAS Worthy Down on 9 October 1939, equipped with 12 Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers. It led a major airborne torpedo strike against the Italian fleet at Taranto Harbour in 1940 and repeated the success at Matapan in 1941. It reformed in 1947 from 744 Squadron and operated in the anti-submarine role. The Squadrons last fixed wing aircraft was the Gannet, disbanding at Culdrose in mid Jul 1958.
815 Squadron reformed at RNAS Eglinton initially with 12 Whirlwind HAS.7 in Sep 1958 but after trouble with the HAS.7 engines replaced them with HAR.3 from Jan 1959, until it moved to Portland in mid-Apr, eventually disbanding in Aug 1959 to become 737 Squadron. Reformed 8 Sep 1959 at Culdrose with Whirlwind HAS.7 as ASW unit. After a Far East tour on HMS Albion from Feb 1960, it disbanded again in Dec 1960.

On 4 Jul 1961, the Squadron recommissioned at RNAS Culdrose as the first front line unit to equip with Wessex HAS.1s (after the success of 700(H) Squadron) and after initialy difficulties with engines, participated in operations in East Africa and the Indonesian coast. Embarked in HMS Ark Royal from Nov 1961 (with a detachment to HMS Victorious during Dec 1961) to Dec 1963 (where it had been disembarked in preparation for Operation Nutcracker). During 1964 on HMS Centaur, it provided support against disturbances in Aden (with 45 Commando Royal Marines from 24 May 1964 in the Radfan) while temporarily detached to Khormaksar between 22 May and 25 Jun, and in Tanganyika (now Tanzania). After a final deployment with Wessex HAS.1 on HMS Ark Royal (between Jun 1965 and Sep 1966), the unit disbanded at Culdrose in Oct 1966.
A plan to reform the unit with Sea Kings was abandoned in favour of 826 Squadron and it was almost 15 years before 815 Squadron re-commissioned at RNAS Yeovilton in Jan 1981 with the Lynx HAS.2, taking on the role as the headquarters and support Squadron for small ships Lynx Flights from 702 Squadron. It moved to Portland in Jul 1982 and during the 1980s was involved in the South Atlantic, the Armilla Patrol and relief operations off Lebanon, Aden and the Carribean. As the Wasp was being phased out service, some of the units Lynxes were transferred to 829 Squadron, to share the load in Sep 1986 and again in Apr 1988. Support for Lynx Flights was conducted jointly with 829 Squadron but when the two units eventually amalgamated to save cost, 815 Squadron became the largest helicopter squadron in the World on 27 Mar 1993.
In the lead up to the absorption of 700(L) Squadron in Jul 1992, the Lynx HAS.3 had been introduced into service. This was followed in 1995 by the Lynx HMA.8 and after an absence of nearly 17 years, the unit moved back to RNAS Yeovilton, with the closure of Portland in Mar 1999.
The unit made history in Nov 2012 when it deployed ex-HMS Liverpool Lynx of 217 Flight, aboard the Marine Nationale FS Surcouf, until Mar 2013. Signed Memorandum of Understanding with ROK Navy 627 Helicopter Squadron aboard HMS Daring on 19 Dec 2013.



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  Locations


YearsLocationICAO/FAA
1999-    RNAS YeoviltonEGDY
1982/99Portland HeliportEGDP
1981/82RNAS YeoviltonEGDY
1964YE Khormaksar / Aden InternationalOYAA
1962/66SG SembawangWSAG
1961/66RNAS CuldroseEGDR
1959/60RNAS CuldroseEGDR
1959Portland HeliportEGDP
1958/59Eglinton / LondonderryEGAE


helicopter   Models


Years Models
2016-    AW159 Wildcat HMA2
1981/17 Lynx
1961/66 Wessex Wessex HAS.1
1959 Whirlwind Whirlwind HAR.3
1959/60 Whirlwind Whirlwind HAS.7
1958/59 Whirlwind Whirlwind HAS.7






  Ships


Dates
1989-oct1992-octHMS Campbeltown (F86)Lynx HAS.3 ZD265 assigned as Campbeltown Flt / 338-CT, until c Oct 1992
1982-nov-291983-mar-24HMS Minerva (F45)Deployed to South Atlantic from HMNB Devonport on 29 Nov, with Lynx HAS.2 XZ698 / 424-MV embarked. Returned 24 Mar 1983 and Lynx flown off to Portland on 25 Mar.
1989-sep-281989-decHMS Alacrity (F174)assigned 815 NAS Lynx HAS.3S ZF562 / 303, until Dec 1989. Joined ship at Curaçao via C-130 from RAF Lyneham.
2004-jul2005-janHMS Norfolk (F230)assigned 815 NAS Lynx HMA.8 ZF563 as Ships Flt / 361-NF until c Jan 2005
2005-feb-252005-marHMS Chatham (F87)short term assignment of Lynx HMA.8 ZF563 as Ships Flt / 349, until mid Mar.
2008-aug2008-decRFA Wave Ruler (A390)assigned Lynx HMA.8 ZF557 as Ships Flt, until c Dec.
2009-nov2010-sepHMS Somerset (F82)assigned Lynx HMA.8 ZF557 as ships flt, until c Sep/Oct 2010.
1986-julHMS Edinburgh (D97)Lynx HAS.3 ZD264 noted as /411-EB at Middle Wallop


  815 Squadron Operations


Dates Operation
2020-sep-212020-oct-15 Exercise Joint Warrior 20-2
2018-dec-212018-dec-22 Operation Buckthorn
2018-oct2018-oct OM Exercise Saif Sareea 3
2017-sep-072017-oct AI Hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria Relief Operations
2014-jun-062014-jun-19 BALTOPS 14
2013-nov-182013-nov-25 RP Typhoon Haiyan relief operations
2013-oct-072013-oct-17 Exercise Joint Warrior 13-2
2013-oct-042013-oct-05 AU International Fleet Review Sydney 2013
2013-aug2013-dec Cougar 13
2011-oct2011-oct Staff College Sea Days 2011
2011-jul-012011-jul-03 NL naval days 2011 (marinedagen)
2011-mar2011-oct LY Operation Unified Protector
2010-may2010-aug US Exercise Auriga 2010
2007-jun-042007-jun-15 BALTOPS 07
2003-jan-162003-dec-03 IQ Operation Telic
1999-sep-181999-sep-30 Operation Langar
1998-oct-051998-oct-09 Exercise Lemon Shark
1995-aug-091995-aug-31 MS Operation Harlech
1994-jun-051994-jun-05 D-Day 50th Anniversary Flypast
1990-aug1991-mar IQ Operation Desert Shield/Storm
1986-jun-211986-jun-22 NL Fleet days 1986
1986-jan-171986-jan-24 YE Operation Balsac
1983-nov1984-mar LB Operation Offcut
Operation Corporate
1965-may1965-jul MY Konfrontasi
1964-aug1964-nov MY Konfrontasi
1964-may-221964-jun-22 YE Operation Flamingo
1964-jan-211964-feb East African Mutinies
1964-jan-041964-jan-14 YE Operation Nutcracker
1963-jul1963-sep MY Konfrontasi
1953-jun-151953-jun-15 Fleet Review: Coronation Review of the Fleet





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