The Fleet Air Arm - Recent Operations
Operational deployments of RN squadrons and aircraft have been almost continuous since the Falklands War. They have taken place in every part of the world including operations against drug runners in the Caribbean, two Gulf wars, flying Combat Air Patrols in Kosovo/Balkans and, more recently, airlifting Paras and Marines into Sierra Leone and continuous operational deployments to Afghanistan. Fixed-wing aircraft played vital roles and the distinguished service of the Harrier in the Falklands and Afghanistan in the modern era resonates with Battles such as Taranto and Mediterranean in the past. From 1992 through 2005, Lynx and Sea King helicopters and Harriers were deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina. 845 Naval Air Squadron was the longest serving unit in theatre continuously deployed for 13 years.
NATO’s Deny Flight aircraft saw the alliance’s first ever combat in early 1994. On 15 April 1994 a British Sea Harrier was shot down by a MANPAD. The pilot ejected, and UN forces rescued him. British Aerospace FRS.MK2 alias FA-2 Sea Harrier was the Royal Navy’s shipborne, single-seat, V/STOL, multirole aircraft. Like the other Harrier, it was primarily a tacticalstrike and recce platform, but during the 1995 Bosnia air campaign six of them flew 12 CAP sorties from HMS Invincible in the Adriatic Sea. Flying from the Invincible and equipped with camera pods, these aircraft flew 12 tactical reconnaissance sorties during the air campaign.In addition to the Sea Harrier’s CAP support, the aircraft flew a total of 30 strike sorties from the HMS Invincible in the Adriatic Sea in support of Deliberate Force [out of a total of 3,535 sorties]. The Sea Harrier patrolled with a weapons load of four AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM), two or four heaters, and two 30 mm Aden cannons.
The aircraft carrier HMS Invincible was on passage through the Mediterranean on her return from operational duty in the Gulf when the decision was taken on 9 April to divert her to operations in the Balkans. She arrived on station on12 April and remained within the Allied tasking order for the next 39 days. She carried the usual peacetime complement of seven Sea Harrier FA2s with ten pilots. The Kosovo War air campaign began on 24 March 1999, and continued for 78 days. Overall, 38,004 sorties were flown, of which 10,484 were strike sorties. A total of 1,618 sorties were flown by UK aircraft, of which 1,008 were strike sorties. The diversion of the HMS INVINCIBLE Task Group from the Gulf to the Adriatic enabled its seven Sea Harrier FA2s to conduct combat air patrols over the region thereby allowing other strike aircraft to concentrate on offensive operations. The reason given for the Sea Harriers not flying any land-attack sorties was that they are optimised for the air defence role.
Forces deployed to the Persian Gulf in January 2003 included the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal; the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean; the destroyers HMS Liverpool, HMS Edinburgh and HMS York; the frigate HMS Marlborough; the Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels Argus, Fort Victoria, Fort Rosalie and Fort Austin; the landing ships logistic Sir Galahad, Sir Tristram and Sir Percivale; a mine countermeasures group initially comprising HMS Grimsby and HMS Ledbury; and a submarine. Amphibious forces were deployed in HMS Ark Royal, HMS Ocean and associated shipping, including headquarters 3 Commando Brigade, 40 Commando Royal Marines and 42 Commando Royal Marines with all supporting elements. Sea Harriers were not deployed due to the nature of the amphibious operation.
From 2003 through 2005, Operation Telic saw the first use of the Sea King Mk7 Airborne Surveillance and Area Control helicopter. The ‘bagger’s’ onboard sensors are so powerful that they were used not only in their primary air defence role, but also to detect land vehicles providing battlefield reconnaissance and detailed targeting information during actions on the Al Faw peninsula.
From 2006, Royal Navy helicopters and Harriers from the Naval Strike Wing played a major role in operations in Afghanistan. The Naval Strike Wing Harriers of 800 and 801 Naval Air Squadrons had a well earned reputation for excellence, flying fast and low over enemy positions, bombing Taliban strongholds, undermining the Taliban’s will-power and restricting their manoeuvrability. Since its formation in 2007, the Naval Strike Wing demonstrated the diversity and adaptability of the Fleet Air Arm, operating successfully from both shore bases and HMS Illustrious and performing over 1,200 operational missions in Afghanistan.
The Naval Strike Wing of Joint Force Harrier deployed to Afghanistan in early October 2007. Working from Kandahar Airfield. The wing contributed directly to the international air component supporting the International Security Assistance Force. Although capable of supporting tasks throughout the nation, the aircraft were mainly used in direct support of British Forces deployed in Helmand Province. On this occasion as on many previous, the wing demonstrated the ability of naval aircraft, air and ground crews to deploy to any theatre and to operate from land or sea with equal facility.
For seven months in 2009, more than 40% of the 8,100 UK personnel in Afghanistan will be from the Royal Navy. This unprecedented number comprises over 2,500 Royal Marines of 3 Commando Brigade, 700 Fleet Air Arm personnel, flying either with the Naval Strike Wing or the Commando Helicopter Force, and 20 Headquarters and support staff. The Royal Marines make up over half of the UK ground troops. For some it is difficult to understand how the Royal Navy can be so heavily involved in a land locked country without a ship in sight, but for the Fleet Air Arm and the Royal Marines particularly, it was very much part of their established expeditionary and operational role.
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