Cornwall-based squadrons ready for Navy’s premier deployment of 2025

The strike group led by aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales will depart in the spring and spend the rest of the year visiting allies in the Indo-Pacific.

The operation is a major deployment for the helicopter force and other naval air squadrons at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall.

Joining the helicopter force are a further 70 sailors including aviation support personnel and drone operators. Most will not return home until the end of the year.

820 Naval Air Squadron is the Merlin Mk2 helicopter unit dedicated to protecting the carrier group and will take part in the entire deployment, operating from HMS Prince of Wales.

The squadron is embarking its Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopters as well as its Merlins adapted for airborne, surveillance and control. It means the force can counter potential threats to the strike group from the skies, surface and underwater.

Commander Karen Snel, who as Commanding Officer of 820 Naval Air Squadron until yesterday oversaw the widespread preparations, said: “As a squadron, we’ve been building up to this deployment with training and operations as part of carrier strike groups through successive embarkations. Most recently that involved a deployment called Exercise Strike Warrior in the Atlantic during the autumn of last year.

“In terms of personnel and aircraft, this is the most significant since HMS Queen Elizabeth was last deployed to the Far East in 2021.”

820’s aircrew have gone through an intensive period of training to bring their flying and tactical skills up to the necessary standard: everything from deck landings to high-end warfighting. As well as numerous training sorties, crews have made extensive use of the Merlin simulator suite at Culdrose to work through complex tactical scenarios.

Cdr Snel continued: “Our air engineers have been working hard to ensure all the aircraft will be at the highest possible standard of maintenance and availability for tasking. Balancing that availability against the need for training during this period of preparation is just one of many challenges we are overcoming.

“Although we are undoubtedly busy, there is a real focus and energy around the squadron as we pull together and prepare to deploy. Our people are really excited for the professional and personal opportunities the deployment brings.

“Not everyone gets to deploy to the Far East in an aircraft carrier and everyone at 820 NAS is absolutely in their element when at sea, doing the job we joined up to do.”

Commander Al Woodward has now taken charge of 820 NAS and will lead the squadron through the deployment.

Meanwhile the Merlin Mk2 submarine hunters of the Flying Tigers, 814 Naval Air Squadron, are also undertaking their training as they prepare to deploy with the escort ships of the carrier group. The Flying Tigers work with frigates to provide fleet protection from submarines. The squadron has carried out weapon exercises, including gunnery and dropping test String Ray torpedoes, as it strengthens its fighting capability ahead of the deployment.

Around 50 personnel from RNAS Culdrose’s 1700 Naval Air Squadron, which provides teams of specialist sailors to support flying operations, will also join the deployment. While some will boost aviation personnel on the carrier, the others will operate the flight decks of the group’s support ships, such as Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers.