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728C Naval Air Squadron

728C Naval Air Squadron (728C NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm (FAA). It was active between January and October 1958 as the Amphibious Warfare Trials Unit. Equipped with four Westland Whirlwind HAS.22 helicopters, the squadron operated around the Mediterranean Basin before it was redesignated 848 Naval Air Squadron on achieving first line status.

728C Naval Air Squadron
Active7 January - 13 October 1958[1]
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeFleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron
RoleAmphibious Warfare Trials Unit
SizeSquadron
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Insignia
Identification Markings621-624[2]
Aircraft flown
Multirole helicopterWestland Whirlwind
A Royal Navy Westland Whirlwind

History of 728C NAS

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Amphibious Warfare Trials Unit (1958)

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728C Naval Air Squadron formed on 7 January 1958 at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) as the Amphibious Warfare Trials Unit. It was equipped with four Westland Whirlwind HAS.22, an anti-submarine warfare variant of the helicopter. The squadron was tasked with establishing proficiency in ship to shore deployment of Royal Marines.[3]

The helicopters were embarked in HMS Eagle and HMS Ark Royal for transit to Malta and on arrival set up headquarters at RNAS Hal Far (HMS Falcon). During April the squadron embarked in the landing ship HMS Striker (L128) for Tripoli, Libya, returned in HMS Ark Royal to RNAS Hal Far, then re-embarked for Sardinia, returning to Malta in HMS Striker.[2]

It next embarked for RAF Nicosia, Cyprus, in June.[3] The helicopters were carried as deck cargo in HMS Bermuda, for operations with 45 Commando Royal Marines.[2] The squadron returned to RNAS Hal Far during July.[3]

August saw 728C Naval Air Squadron carry out trials with HMS Surprise and in September a detachment was deployed to Libya. By the beginning of October the squadron was back at RNAS Hal Far,[2] before becoming 848 Naval Air Squadron on 13 October.[3]

Aircraft flown

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The squadron operated a single helicopter type:[2]

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728C Naval Air Squadron operated from a number of naval air stations of the Royal Navy, both in the UK and overseas, a number of Royal Navy aircraft carriers and other air bases:[2]

Commanding Officers

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List of commanding officers of 728C Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment:[2]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 52.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 36.
  3. ^ a b c d "728 Squadron". Helicopter History Site www.helis.com. Retrieved 23 April 2024.

Bibliography

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  • Ballance, Theo; Howard, Lee; Sturtivant, Ray (2016). The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. Air Britain Historians Limited. ISBN 978-0-85130-489-2.
  • Sturtivant, R; Ballance, T (1994). The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-223-8.
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