HMS Gannet
Thanks for dropping in on the homepage of HMS Gannet Search and Rescue Flight – Britain’s busiest rescuers. We’re scrambled every day of the year – twice on many – saving lives from Northern Ireland to Edinburgh, the Isle of Man and Lake District to the slopes of Ben Nevis, covering an area of 98,000 square miles (12 times the size of Wales...) with just three Sea King helicopters.
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Gannet Sea King in Glen
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Sea King Mk V
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Gannet aircrewman being winched from helicopter
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Sea King Mk V
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Ark Royal and Gannet Search and Rescue Sea King say goodby in 2010
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Sea King Mk V
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Sea King Mk V
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Sea King Mk V
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Lt Cdr Roger Stinger
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HMS GANNET'S SEA KING
Our men and women have won countless awards for bravery over the past 40 years and received hundreds of heartfelt letters of thanks from people we’ve helped.
Although we’re a naval unit, the bulk of our time is spent over the mountains of western Scotland helping climbers in difficulty: two out of three call-outs are concentrated on these ‘dry jobs’.
COMMANDING OFFICER
Debdash Bhattacharya
- RANK:
- Lieutenant Commander
- JOINED:
- 1988
- SPECIALISATION:
- Warfare (Pilot)
- PREVIOUS UNITS:
- 771 NAS
Military experience
An exceptionally experienced operational helicopter pilot, Lt Cdr Debdash Bhattacharya has joined the Scottish air station from Culdrose in Cornwall, where he was second in command of 771 Squadron – the Royal Navy’s search and rescue unit based at Helston.
He joined the Royal Navy in 1988 after completing his degree in ocean sciences and geology.
He initially focused on pursuing a career in the Hydrographic Branch, but a childhood fascination for aviation led him towards the Fleet Air Arm and he gained his ‘wings’ in 1991.
His career has taken him far and wide with the navy, including two frontline deployments – first in support of the United Nations operations in the former Yugoslavia, and later as part of Operation Telic in Iraq evacuating casualties.
He was selected for command in 2008 and took over at the helm of HMS Gannet in late 2009.
OPERATIONS
Search and Rescue
CURRENT STATUS: active
The Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm also provide Search and Rescue cover to large sections of the United Kingdom coastline, 24 hours a day and 365 days per year, typically at 15 minutes notice. Based at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall and HMS Gannet, Prestwick, in Scotland, Royal Navy helicopters are constantly available and fly missions that are as varied as they are far-reaching.
UNIT DIARY
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April Mission Summary30/04/12
This month there were 28 rescues carried out by the Royal Navy’s, Gannet Search and Rescue Flight, based at HMS Gannet, Prestwick Airport.
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March Mission Summary31/03/12
This month there were 16 rescues carried out by the Royal Navy’s, Gannet Search and Rescue Flight, based at HMS Gannet, Prestwick Airport.
Read more -
February Mission Summary29/02/12
This month there were 17 rescues carried out by the Royal Navy’s, Gannet Search and Rescue Flight, based at HMS GANNET, Prestwick Airport.
Read more -
January Mission Summary31/01/12
This month there were 28 rescues carried out by the Royal Navy’s, Gannet Search and Rescue Flight, based at HMS Gannet, Prestwick Airport.
Read more -
December Mission Summary31/12/11
This month there were 26 rescues carried out by the Royal Navy’s, Gannet Search and Rescue Flight, based at HMS Gannet, Prestwick Airport.
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November Mission Summary30/11/11
This month there were 17 rescues carried out by the Royal Navy’s, Gannet search and Rescue Flight, based at HMS Gannet, Prestwick Airport.
Read more -
October Mission Summary31/10/11
This month there were 25 rescues carried out by the Royal Navy’s, Gannet Search and Rescue flight, based at HMS Gannet, Prestwick Airport.
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September Mission Summary30/09/11
This month there were 19 rescues carried out by the Royal Navy’s, Gannet Search and Rescue Flight, based at HMS Gannet, Prestwick Airport
Read more -
August Mission Summary31/08/11
This month there were 31 rescues carried out by the Royal Navy’s, Gannet Search and Rescue Flight, based at HMS Gannet, Prestwick Airport.
Read more
LATEST NEWS
TOP STORIES
University boats leave the Mersey beat behind for spring deployment
26 April 2012University patrol boats HMS Biter and Charger linked up with...
RN Helicopter airlifts Ayrshire farm worker after his tractor overturned
23 April 2012The Royal Navy’s duty search and rescue Sea King yesterday...
Navy and RAF helicopters save seven sailors in ‘nerve-racking’ rescue in North Wales
04 April 2012Seven Polish sailors owe their lives to the dedication and...
Royal Naval Helicopter Rescues Walkers
03 April 2012A Royal Navy rescue helicopter from HMS Gannet in Prestwick,...
ABOUT THE UNIT
KEY STATISTICS
- SAR Call-Outs 2011
298
- Personnel Assisted
240
- Medical rescues
123
- Medical transfers
58
TAKE A LOOK
Image Gallery
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Gannet Sea King in Glen
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Sea King Mk V
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Gannet aircrewman being winched from helicopter
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Sea King Mk V
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Ark Royal and Gannet Search and Rescue Sea King say goodby in 2010
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Sea King Mk V
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Sea King Mk V
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Sea King Mk V
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Lt Cdr Roger Stinger
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HMS GANNET'S SEA KING
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