Written by Doug Maclean – Aviation Editor
Four Royal Navy Merlin helicopters and around 90 sailors have just concluded two weeks operating from HMS Gannet at Prestwick Airport. They were part of a major exercise involving the protection of Britain's submarine fleet and operations with NATO forces.
The deployment, known as Operation Iceblast, brought the helicopters north from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall at short notice to test the Navy's ability to establish and maintain anti-submarine operations away from its normal base.
HMS Gannet was for many years the centre of Royal Navy search and rescue helicopter operations in Scotland and, at one time, had a major role in naval defence of the Clyde. During the deployment the airfield once again became an operational base for Royal Navy helicopters.
Prestwick is only 40 miles from HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane, home to the UK’s nuclear submarine fleet. Its location makes it a useful forward operating base for helicopters involved in working with the submarines and monitoring the waters around the Clyde.
Locals in the southern part of Ayr will be particularly aware when the Merlins are at Prestwick as they use frequently use an arrival and departure route following along the coast from the Heads of Ayr. At nearly 16 tonnes the 3 engined Merlin is 60% heavier than the old twin engined Sea Kings which were based at Prestwick.
The four Merlin Mk2 helicopters came from 824 and 814 Naval Air Squadrons, based at Culdrose.
One of their tasks was supporting the arrival of HMS Agamemnon, the Royal Navy's latest Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, at HM Naval Base Clyde on 2nd October.
Following the submarine's arrival, the Merlin crews used their dipping sonar equipment to track HMS Agamemnon during its diving trials.
It is believed that these operations also provided an opportunity for the Merlin crews to practise detecting and tracking one of the Royal Navy's most advanced submarines under realistic operating conditions.
The Merlin helicopter can lower its sonar equipment into the sea while hovering above the water. This allows the crew to listen for submarines beneath the surface and move rapidly to investigate different areas.
The ability to detect and track submarines is particularly important around the Clyde home to the UK’s submarine-based nuclear deterrent.
The Prestwick-based helicopters also took part in Exercise Strike Warrior, a major military exercise in Scotland involving British and NATO forces, including personnel from Norway and Germany.
During the exercise, the Merlin crews also provided search and rescue cover for Royal Marine commandos practising boarding operations involving the German Navy supply ship FGS Berlin.
As the face of modern warfare is changing almost daily, it is interesting to note that the helicopters were supported by a drone team from 700X Naval Air Squadron, also based at Culdrose. The drones provided additional security around the Clyde to help protect the UK’s submarine force.
Captain James Hall, Commanding Officer of RNAS Culdrose, said:
“Operation Iceblast demonstrated exactly what Culdrose and Merlin Helicopter Force are designed to do. That is to deploy at short notice and deliver warfighting readiness from a forward location with a world-class anti-submarine warfare capability – whenever and wherever it is required.”
He added:
“This exercise tested our ability to operate across multiple sites simultaneously. Together, these activities demonstrated the agility, readiness and professionalism.”
For Prestwick, the exercise demonstrated the continuing importance of HMS Gannet as a location from which Royal Navy helicopters can support operations around Scotland and the North Atlantic.