737 Naval Air Squadron
An operational Fleet Air Arm Westland Wessex HAS.1 of 737 Squadron NAS at RNAS Yeovilton in 1966. The PO code indicates the squadron base at RNAS Portland, Dorset.
Active1943
1944-45
1949-57
1959-83[1]
Disbanded4 February 1983
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeNaval Air Squadron
RoleBomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron
ASV Training Unit
Anti-Submarine Warfare
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Garrison/HQRNAS Portland
Battle honoursFalkland Islands 1982
Insignia
Tail CodesGN (1949 – 1957)
PO (1962 – 1983) [2]

737 Naval Air Squadron (737 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially active during 1943 as an amphibious Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron. Reactivated in 1944 it operated as an ASV Training Unit until 1945. It was active again between 1949 and 1957. From 1959 it was the Anti-Submarine Warfare school at RNAS Portland. It operated Westland Wessex HAS.3 rescue helicopters from their land base at RNAS Portland, Dorset.[3]

History

Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron (1943)

737 Naval Air Squadron was formed at RNAS Dunino (HMS Jackdaw II) on 22 February 1943, as an amphibious Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron with Supermarine Walrus, until 28 September 1943.[4]

ASV Training Unit (1944 - 1945)

The squadron then reformed as an ASV (Air-to-Surface Vessel) radar Training Unit at RNAS Inskip (HMS Nightjar) on 15 March 1944 remaining until 28th August 1944, when it then moved to RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor), the unit was equipped with Fairey Swordfish Mk II and Avro Anson Mk I.[1]

On 15 April 1945 737 NAS moved to RNAS Burscough (HMS Ringtail).[5] It received Fairey Barracuda Mk III in the following August. Other aircraft included Fairey Swordfish Mk II and Avro Anson Mk I. Crews were trained in the use of A.S.V. Mk X and XI radar for anti shipping operations. The squadron disbanded into 735 NAS in November 1945.[6]

At RNAS Eglinton (1949 - 1957)

The squadron reformed on 30 March 1949 at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet).[4] During the month of July in 1951 737 NAS was involved in a trial around the suitability of the British Radio Directional Sonobuoy Mk 1 for Fleet Air Arm aircraft.[7]

On 22 November 1957, the squadron disbanded at Eglinton.[4]

At RNAS Portland (1959 - 1983)

737 NAS reformed again on the 28 August 1959 at RNAS Portland as the Royal Navy Anti-Submarine Warfare School acquiring Westland Whirlwind HAR.3 from the remains of 815 NAS which disbanded. It then took on Westland Whirlwind HAS.7 roughly 1 month later.[2]

From July 1962 the squadron operated Westland Wessex HAS.1, then in October 1967 it took on deliveries of Westland Wessex HAS.3. Taking over from 829 NAS, in June 1970, 737 NAS became responsible for the Wessex Flights aboard the remaining County Class Destroyers.[2]

XM836, Westland Wessex HAS.3, 737 Naval Air Squadron

July 1970 saw the squadron take the Westland Sea King HAS.1, the first anti-submarine version for the Royal Navy. In May 1972, 737 NAS took over Anti-Submarine Warfare Operational and Advanced Flying Training, with the squadron regularly detached to RFA Engadine for seaborne training. The Sea King helicopters were later passed over to 826 NAS in June 1975, enabling 737 NAS to concentrate on Wessex HAS.3 training duties. On the 7th February 1983, 737 NAS disbanded at RNAS Portland, handing over its Wessex HAS.3 helicopters to 772 NAS.[2]

Helicopter-only squadron

From 28 August 1959 the squadron only used helicopters.

737 NAS was assigned to operate from Helicopter Support Ship RFA Engadine and later, from the flight decks of the eight County Class guided missile destroyers, including HMS Glamorgan (D19), HMS Antrim (D18) and HMS Norfolk (D21). 737 Squadron supported flights on these destroyers in addition to providing aircrew training at RNAS Portland.

In their ship-borne, anti-submarine role, the HAS.3s could carry two Mark 44 torpedoes or Mark 46 torpedoes (with parachutes) or four Mk.11 Depth Charges in addition to their Plessey dipping Sonar. They could also be fitted with a door-mounted Machine gun and act as a self-contained unit, handling all operations of Anti-submarine warfare(ASW).

Throughout the late 1970s most of the Wessex HAS.3 helicopters at RNAS Portland were being replaced by Westland Sea Kings, which could carry more torpedoes or depth charges and had the security of twin engines, with greatly extended endurance.

Falklands War

XP142 Humphrey, Westland Wessex from HMS Antrim

HMS Antrim (D18) was the Flagship of Operation Paraquet, the recovery of South Georgia in April 1982. Her helicopter, Westland Wessex HAS.3 XP142, nicknamed Humphrey, was responsible for the rescue of 16 SAS men from Fortuna Glacier and the subsequent detection and disabling of the Argentine submarine Santa Fe. Another HAS.3, XM837, was lost in June 1982 when an Exocet missile hit the hangar on the destroyer HMS Glamorgan (D19). A few HAS.3s remained in service after the Falklands War period. One of these, XP142, was seriously damaged near San Carlos Water and was replaced on HMS Antrim by XM328 in November 1982. XM328 then sailed with HMS Antrim on her second deployment to the South Atlantic.

Decommissioning

Aircraft flown

The squadron operated a variety of different aircraft and versions:[1]

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 60.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "737 Naval Air Squadron". www.helis.com. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  3. ↑ "737 NAS - retrieved 5 June 2012". Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 "737 Naval Air Squadron". www.wings-aviation.ch. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  5. ↑ "RNAS Arbroath". www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  6. ↑ "Squadrons at Ringtail". images-of-Burscough.co.uk. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  7. ↑ "X Flight, 737 Squadron". National Archives. Retrieved 24 December 2022.

Bibliography

  • Sturtivant, R; Ballance, T (1994). The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-223-8.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 737 Naval Air Squadron.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.