820 Naval Air Squadron (820 NAS), also referred to as 820 Squadron, is a carrier-based Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN). It currently operates the Merlin HM2 in two capacities, either for anti-submarine warfare or for airborne surveillance, and control, to protect the UK Carrier Strike Group, with a shore base at RNAS Culdrose.
Originally part of the Royal Air Force (RAF), the squadron was active on two separate occasions from 1933 to 1946, particularly during the Second World War. From 1933 to 1937, the squadron operated Fairey III, Fairey Seal, Blackburn Baffin, and Blackburn Shark within the RAF. By the time it transferred to the Royal Navy in 1939, it was utilising Fairey Swordfish, subsequently re-equipping with Fairey Albacore, and later with Fairey Barracuda and Grumman Avenger. After the war, it operated with Fairey Firefly, had another engagement with Grumman Avenger, and then with Fairey Gannet. In the late 1950s, it transitioned to helicopters, flying the Westland Whirlwind. It was reformed in 1964 with the Westland Wessex and in 1972 made the transition to the Westland Sea King. In 2003, it transitioned to the AgustaWestland Merlin.
History
Interwar period (1933-1939)
820 Squadron was formed on 3 April 1933 at RAF Gosport, Hampshire, by the merger of two independent Royal Air Force naval units, 450 and half of 445 (Fleet Spotter Reconnaissance) Flights, where it initially operated with Fairey III aircraft. The squadron's first assignment on its formation was to carry out spotter-reconnaissance duties for the aircraft carrier . They were later re-equipped with Fairey Seals and Blackburn Sharks, eventually receiving Fairey Swordfish in autumn 1937.
The squadron was reassigned in November the following year to the new aircraft carrier . The squadron operated from Ark Royal for the next three years, initially on anti-submarine duties, but later as surface search and torpedo-attack aircraft and like all of the Royal Air Force's Fleet Air Arm squadrons, it was taken over by the Admiralty on 24 May 1939.
Second World War (1939-1945)
Ark Royal The squadron went with Ark Royal to the Atlantic, and by April 1940 they were supporting Allied operations during the Norwegian campaign, where they bombed Vaernes airfield. After the withdrawal from Norway, Ark Royal and the squadron moved to the Mediterranean in June. Aircraft from 820 squadron were involved in attacking the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir, and later the Battle of Dakar, as well as attacks at Cagliari. They were also active during the Battle of Cape Spartivento, as well as covering convoys to Malta.
820 Squadron's next major engagement was the hunt for the German battleship . Aircraft from the squadron were able to disable Bismarcks steering gear with a torpedo hit, allowing Bismarck to be engaged and sunk.
Mediterranean and Indian Ocean
In June 1941 the squadron left Ark Royal, and in November that year returned to Iceland aboard . The Swordfish were then replaced with Fairey Albacores. 820 Squadron then embarked aboard in February 1942, and sailed with Formidable to serve in the Indian Ocean. The squadron was then active in the Battle of Madagascar, followed by Operation Torch, the Allied landings in North Africa. During these operations, aircraft from the squadron sank , which had earlier sunk the battleship . Formidable and the squadron remained in the Mediterranean to provide support for the Allied landings at Sicily and Salerno. The squadron then returned to the UK in November 1943 and disbanded at RNAS Donibristle.
Tirpitz
The squadron was quickly reformed however, and equipped with 12 Fairey Barracudas was initially based at RNAS Lee-on-Solent as a torpedo bomber/reconnaissance squadron. They were assigned to in June 1944 and saw action as part of Operation Mascot on 17 July and Operations Goodwood in August, the attempts to sink the in the Kåjorden in Alta Municipality in Norway. The operations failed to cause significant damage to Tirpitz.
Far East
In September 1944, the squadron disembarked to re-equip with twenty-one Grumman Avenger Mk.I, which were soon replaced by Grumman Avenger MK.II, before re-embarking on Indefatigable on 21 November for transit to Ceylon. The Avengers provided to the FAA were supplied through Lend-Lease agreements, commencing in 1943. Up until January 1944, the British designation Tarpon was utilised; following this period, the original American name was reinstated as part of a collaborative effort among Allies to standardise designations. The Tarpon I (later known as Avenger I) served as the British counterpart to the US Navy TBF-1. Avenger II was the equivalent to the TBM-1.
As a component of the 2nd Naval Strike Wing, which also consisted of 849 Squadron, the squadron participated in a series of successful raids during the first half of 1945, targeting the oil refineries at Palembang on Sumatra, as part of Operation Meridian, followed by operations against the airfields of the Sakashima Gunto islands from March to May 1945.
After joining the 7th Carrier Air Group in June 1945, the squadron conducted attacks on targets within the Japanese home islands, including numerous locations in the Tokyo area, continuing its operations until Victory over Japan Day. The squadron was disbanded in March 1946.
1950s
820 Squadron was reformed at RNAS Eglinton (HMS Gannet), County Londonderry, in July 1951 as an anti-submarine unit, equipped with eight Firefly AS.5s. The Fairey Firefly Mk. 5 became the most widely produced variant among the later Firefly models and signified the onset of the Firefly's modification for diverse specialised functions, with the creation of subvariants such as the FR.5, developed for fighter-reconnaissance, the NF.5, for night-fighting, and the AS.5, which was customised for anti-submarine patrol, although the distinctions among these were primarily internal.
The Mk.6, designated AS.6, was specifically designed for anti-submarine warfare and served as the primary anti-submarine aircraft for the Fleet Air Arm until the mid-1950s. In December, these replaced 820 Squadrons AS.5s, and the squadron embarked on the in January 1952 for a Mediterranean cruise, which was followed by an exercise. In August, the squadron transferred to the light fleet carrier for another exercise, conducting intensive night flying operations in the Mediterranean during October and returned home from Malta at the end of that year. A month later, it re-deployed to the Mediterranean back aboard HMS Indomitable, but returned home again in May to take part in the Coronation Review flypast at Spithead on 15 June 1953.
820 Squadron re-equipped with eight Avenger AS.4s at RNAS Eglinton in February 1954. In 1953, while presenting the Navy Estimates in the House of Commons, it was announced that the Grumman Avenger would return to service with the Royal Navy. The primary aim of the Avengers was to improve anti-submarine operations. Under the US Mutual Defense Assistance Program, a total of 100 post-war Avengers were supplied, specifically the TBM-3E variant used by the US Navy. The AS.4 aircraft underwent extensive modifications to comply with British standards. In July the squadron was once again Mediterranean-bound, this time in the lead ship of her class . In February 1955, the aircraft flew home in stages from Hal Far, via Cagliari, Cuers and Bordeaux to RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), Hampshire, thence to RNAS Eglinton.
In March 1955, the squadron re-equipped at RNAS Eglinton with nine Gannet AS. 1s, with which it embarked in the Centaur-class light fleet carrier in September for an exercise. The Fairey Gannet, which was introduced in 1955, emerged as a crucial component of the Fleet Air Arm's capabilities for carrier-based anti-submarine warfare. It was the first aircraft globally to incorporate a dual airscrew-turbine system, merging the advantages of a twin-engine layout with the ease of a single-engine setup. Importantly, the Gannet was the first in the FAA to combine both search and strike operations, featuring a generous weapons bay and a sizable retractable radar scanner. After completion of work up it joined HMS Centaur in January 1956 for a spell in the Mediterranean before sailing through the Suez Canal for service in the Far East, during which it visited India, Pakistan and Malaya. Returning through the Mediterranean, the squadron disbanded on arrival on 15 May 1956.
The decision was made to convert 820 Squadron as a helicopter squadron.
The squadron was re-established as the second anti-submarine helicopter unit at RNAS Eglinton in January 1958, equipped with eight Whirlwind HAS.7 helicopters. The Westland Whirlwind represented the British modification of the American Sikorsky S-55 helicopter. The HAS.7 was the last version of this aircraft utilised by the Fleet Air Arm, powered by a British Alvis Leonides Mk.5 engine. This model was specifically designed for primary operations in anti-submarine warfare, distinguishing it as the first British helicopter solely dedicated to such missions. It was equipped with sophisticated technology, including radar and dipping Asdic, to improve its submarine detection capabilities.
These were decreased to six prior to their embarkation in the in May, subsequently transferring directly to sister ship the following month for a period in the Mediterranean. Shortly after their incorporation into the Centaur-class light fleet carrier in August, the aircraft engines began experiencing overheating issues, and subsequently, the squadron was prohibited from flying over the sea due to aircraft losses. By the end of the year, the ship departed for the Far East, and while in Hong Kong, new engines were installed. In early 1959, visits occurred in New Zealand and Australia before returning to Singapore, where the squadron was disbanded at RNAS Sembawang in May 1959.
The squadron was re-established in October 1959, once more equipped with six Whirlwind HAS.7s and was officially commissioned at RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk), Cornwall, on 3 November. It then embarked in HMS Ark Royal in March 1960 for operations in the Mediterranean. In August, the ship returned to home waters for exercises before disembarking the squadron at RNAS Culdrose, where it was disbanded upon arrival on 3 October.
Wessex (1964-1972)
The squadron was re-formed in 1964, and equipped with eight Wessex HAS.1 helicopters, with which they served as an anti-submarine squadron aboard the . Developed as a substitute for the Westland Whirlwind within the FAA, the Westland Wessex was based on the American Sikorsky S-58. It was the inaugural helicopter commissioned by the FAA that was specifically designed from the beginning to function as an anti-submarine warfare aircraft. It featured an automatic pilot and was capable of operating in all weather conditions, both during the day and at night.
They were upgraded to the Wessex HAS.3 in May 1969, when they were transferred to the light cruiser, converted to a helicopter and command cruiser, . The HAS.3 variant exhibited greater power compared to the HAS.1. A notable external characteristic was the hump located behind the rotor head, which was part of an advanced radar system, leading to its nickname 'the camel'. Additionally, it was the inaugural FAA helicopter to implement helicopter in-flight refuelling (HIFR), allowing it to receive fuel from a ship while in the air.
In February 1970, the cruiser departed for the Far East, continuing on to Australia in May. It returned home in December, with aircraft being assigned at different intervals throughout 1971 to ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, before reuniting with HMS Blake in July for a trip to the United States. Following stops in Barbados, Tenerife, and Gibraltar in November, the ship proceeded to the Mediterranean for several weeks before coming back in January 1972.
Sea King (1972-2003)