847 NAS work with Commando Forces for raid, insertion and rescue training
Commandos have been put through their paces with raid, insertion, and rescue techniques in a range of scenarios both at sea and on land.
Personnel from Commando Helicopter Force’s 847 Naval Air Squadron worked with Commando Forces from a range of units during a week of intense training across the south coast.
A Wildcat helicopter from 847 NAS and Chinooks from 7 Squadron RAF were used for a 4-aircraft aviation raid near Goodwood and then helicasting off Portland before CHF 847 NAS completed Joint Personnel Recovery serials near Exeter with the Royal Marines and 29 Commando.
Poor weather precluded getting into the objective area of the aviation raid, however this was used as a training evolution. It tested the formation commander’s captaincy decisions and the skills of the handling pilots as they battled through heavy rain under a low cloud base in falling light.
Next up was helicasting in Portland with UK Commando Forces practising the insertion technique at sea before being recovered by boats. It’s a skill which gets Commandos into the action quickly, dropping them from the back of helicopters into the ocean.
The Royal Marines from M Company, 42 Commando, leapt from the Wildcat and Chinook helicopters into the water below.
It takes immense skill and team-work from those dropping into the raging surf, to the small boat teams and, for CHF, the pilots who fly their aircraft just 10ft above the waves.
Troops from 148 Battery and 29 Commando also took part in the heli-casting, jumping into Portland Harbour before being recovered by ribs to go ashore and continue training.
A couple of days later, the Royal Marines led a Joint Personnel Recovery exercise at Mutters Moor, in Devon. The scenario saw them retrieve two downed pilots from 847 NAS, using a Wildcat helicopter as part of the rescue.
Staying overnight using only the equipment they’d routinely carry in the aircraft, the downed aircrew practised skills such as creating covert lay-up positions to avoid capture and using the emergency radio/navigation equipment.
It gave the Squadron chance to practise coordination with the marines to ensure safe and efficient extraction of the personnel in need of rescue – all while under “attack” from enemy forces. But it also meant they could run through key procedures of correctly identifying the personnel, not making any assumptions and potentially endangering the mission.
The training comes as Yeovilton-based 847 NAS prepares for exercises in the United States later in the year.
Lieutenant Commander Gregory Edens, ops officer at 847, said: “Working with Commando Forces on Exercise Emerald Razor highlights the range of expertise that 847 NAS holds.
“Within one week we operated by day and night as part of a mixed-type, four-aircraft formation to conduct an aviation raid, conducted Joint Personnel Recovery and completed heli-casting training for more than 30 troops.
“To be able to provide a critical, general aviation asset to our Commando Forces is one of 847 NAS’ primary roles, and this exercise proves the squadron can not only fulfil these duties but excel at them”.
Major DeGraff, a US Marine Corps Exchange Officer added: “Ex Emerald Razor provided a valuable integration opportunity between units across the MOD and was a fundamental benchmark for 847 NAS to operate in larger flight packages while focusing on what matters, supporting the Commando Forces customer.”