Helmand, British commanders were able
to free up hundreds of troops who would
otherwise have had to be sent to patrol
the desert region. The importance of the
Sea King ASaC7s to Operation Kindle, as
the interdiction mission was codenamed,
was signi ed by the fact that the ‘Bagger’
squadrons were kept in Afghanistan rightup to almost the end of the British mission
in Helmand in the summer of 2014. Each
of the three ASaC7 squadrons took
their turns to operate in Helmand during
the campaign, serving four-month-long
deployments.
This deployment pattern was interrupted
in 2011 by the Libya campaign, which saw theASaC7 squadrons having to simultaneously
sustain its Op Herrick commitment and
deploy helicopters on board HMS Ocean in
the Mediterranean.
Operation Ellamy, as the Libya campaign
was codenamed saw the Baggers prove
their effectiveness yet again, not only
providing airborne early warning and surfaceROYAL NAVY AND ROYAL AIR FORCE SEA KING UNITS AND HOME BASES, 1969-2018
Royal NavyRNAS Culdrose
700S Naval Air Squadron (1969-1970) HAS1
706 Naval Air Squadron (1970-1998) HAS1, 2, 5
771 Naval Air Squadron (1988-2015) HU5
810 Naval Air Squadron (1983-2001) HAS5, 6
814 Naval Air Squadron (1976-2000) HAS1, 2, 5, 6
820 Naval Air Squadron (1972-2003) HAS1, 5, 6
824 Naval Air Squadron (1970-1989) HAS1, 2, 5, AEW2
825 Naval Air Squadron (1982) HAS2, 2A
826 Naval Air Squadron (1970-1991) HAS1, 2, 5, 6
849 Naval Air Squadron (1984-2018) AEW2, 5, ASaC7
854 Naval Air Squadron (2006-2018) ASaC7
857 Naval Air Squadron (2006-2018) ASaC7RNAS Yeovilton – Commando Helicopter Force
707 Naval Air Squadron (1983-95) HC4
845 Naval Air Squadron (1979-2015) HC4, HAS6(CR)
846 Naval Air Squadron (1979-2013) HC4, HAS6(CR)
848 Naval Air Squadron (1991, 1995-2013, 2015-2016) HC4,
HAS6(CR)HMS Gannet, Glasgow Prestwick Airport
814 Naval Air Squadron (1973-1976) HAS1,2, 2A, 5, 6
819 Naval Air Squadron (1971-2001) HAS1, 2, 5, 6
HMS Gannet SAR Flight (2001-2015) HU5RNAS Portland
737 Naval Air Squadron (1970-1975, 1982-1983) HAS1
772 Naval Air Squadron (1988-1995) HC4Royal Air Force (HAR3/3A)RAF Finningley
HQ SAR Wing (1978-1996)
HQ 22 Squadron (1978-1996)
HQ 202 Squadron (1978-1992)RAF Valley
HQ SAR Force (2008-2015)
HQ 202 Squadron (2008-2015)
‘C’ Flight 22 Squadron (1997-2015)RMB Chivenor*
HQ 22 Squadron (1997-2015)
‘A’ Flight 22 Squadron (1994-2015)Wattisham Flying Station*
‘B’ Flight 22 Squadron (1994-2015)RAF Boulmer
HQ 202 Squadron (1992-2008)
‘A’ Flight 202 Squadron (1978-2015)RAF Brawdy
‘B’ Flight 202 Squadron (1978-1994)RAF Coltishall
‘C’ Flight 202 Squadron (1979-1982, 1985-
1988)RAF Manston
‘C’ Flight 202 Squadron (1988-1994)RAF Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands
‘C’ Flight 202 Squadron (1982-1983)
1564 Flight (1983-2016) (part 78 Squadron
1986-2007)RAF Lossiemouth
‘D’ Flight 202 Squadron (1978-2015)RAF Leconfi eld
‘E’ Flight 202 Squadron (1988-2015)RAF St Mawgan
HQ SAR Force (1992-2008)
HQ 22 Squadron (1994-1997)
203 (Operational Conversion Unit) Squadron
(1996-2008)RNAS Culdrose
RAF Sea King Training Unit (1978-1993) HAR3Notes: RMB Chivenor was previously RAF
Chivenor, while Wattisham Flying Station was
formerly RAF Wattisham.36 Aviation News incorporating Classic Aircraft February 2016Seven Sea King HU5s
from 771 NAS at RNAS
Culdrose in formation
over St Michael’s Mount at
Marazion, near Penzance.
Crown Copyright32-38_seakingDC.mfDC.mfDC.mfDCDC.mf.indd 36 08/01/2016 15:21