Royal Navy aircrew have returned from Norway after testing their submarine-hunting skills against German and Norwegian diesel-powered boats in a two-week anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise in the fjords near Bergen.
Two flights of Merlin Mk2 helicopters, one each from 824 and 814 Naval Air Squadrons, deployed from RNAS Culdrose to Haakonsvern Helikopter Base as part of Exercise Green Eel. Supported by over 80 personnel, the helicopters carried out daily sorties to detect, track, and classify submerged contacts in one of Europe’s most acoustically complex maritime environments, according to a Royal Navy update.
The UK’s Merlins were pitted against the Royal Norwegian Navy’s Utvaer (Ula-class) and Germany’s U34 (Type 212A), both recognised for their quiet propulsion and tactical sophistication in littoral waters.
“Opportunities to take part in exercises like Green Eel are invaluable,” said Lieutenant Commander Steve Hayton of 824 NAS. “It allows the instructors to hone and refresh their anti-submarine warfare skills. The Merlin Mk2 is probably the most advanced and capable anti-submarine helicopter in the world.”
Daily operations involved deploying sonobuoys and dipping sonar into narrow, mountainous fjords, with aircrew scanning every underwater contour where submarines might hide. Around 50 hours of live ASW training were logged across the deployment.
“U-boats are the gold standard when it comes to silent running,” said Lt Cdr Hayton. “And the Norwegian Ula-class submarine was just as tough, operating in home waters where the crew knew every rock and inlet.”
The exercise also allowed UK and NATO crews to train and debrief together in a single integrated facility, with ships, submarines and aircraft operating from the same base.
“What’s particularly valuable about Haakonsvern is that all the elements are together in one place,” said Captain James Hall, commanding officer of RNAS Culdrose. “This strengthens the bond between our countries and supports our ability to work in unison within the wider NATO context.”
Exercise Green Eel is part of the Royal Navy’s ongoing effort to sharpen its ASW capabilities in contested northern waters and strengthen interoperability with European allies.
In general what has the upper hand in the real world, subs or type23/26 with heli?
AFAIK, it’s pretty much always the subs (unless they’re surfaced)
I’d bet on a RN SSN vs a surface ASW asset from Russia China, and likewise RN T26, T23 with S2087 and Merlin vs any Russian or Chinese sub.
So the RN.
I’m surprised that the USSR and now China never developed specialist ASW ships in the manner of T23, given the US SSN threat.
Was/is the doctrine sub on sub warfare?