Royal Navy helicopter crews have trained with the Kentucky Air National Guard off the Scottish coast in a multinational search-and-rescue exercise involving US C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and Merlin helicopters, according to the Royal Navy.
Personnel from 814 Naval Air Squadron joined the US unit during a deployment to Prestwick Airport, where four C-130J aircraft, around 60 personnel and approximately 62,000lb of equipment were based for a series of training events with UK and Canadian forces. The Kentucky Air National Guard deployment was intended to test its ability to operate alongside NATO partners in unfamiliar terrain and airspace, with activities including aerial refuelling, formation flying, low-level flying and rapid-reaction departures.
Prestwick also provided the unit with immediate access to maritime training areas. The Kentucky Air National Guard is based in Louisville, well inland from the US east coast, while Prestwick’s runway lies close to the Firth of Clyde. That allowed the Americans to conduct open-water personnel recovery training with Swordfish Flight from 814 Naval Air Squadron.
During the exercise, C-130 crews first located personnel in a life raft before dropping an inflatable motorboat nearby. Special Tactics Airmen then entered the water, deployed the boat and provided first aid before coordinating with the Royal Navy helicopter crew to recover the casualty by winch. The training gave both sides an opportunity to practise maritime personnel recovery procedures while working with different aircraft, equipment and operating methods.
According to a news update from the Royal Navy, Lieutenant Colonel Reinke, a C-130 pilot and mission commander, said: “The integration with the Royal Navy was one of the highlights of the exercise.”
A pararescue flight chief from the Special Tactics team said conditions off Scotland differed substantially from those normally encountered during training in the United States.
“It’s a lot colder here, and the salt water is an unusual factor for us,” he said. “The Royal Navy also uses different geolocation methods, and they have different tactics and techniques than we typically employ.”
The US personnel also encountered differences in aircraft behaviour, including the stronger rotor wash generated by the Merlin compared with the Black Hawk helicopters they more commonly work with.
“Those are the kinds of things you don’t anticipate, but we were able to work through them and figure out what worked best for their guys and for us,” the Airman said. “We had to be flexible on the spot to get the mission done.”
814 Naval Air Squadron is normally associated with anti-submarine warfare operations, with its Merlin helicopters deployed from Royal Navy frigates and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels in support of maritime task groups.
Swordfish Flight Commander Lieutenant Cass said: “This complex personnel recovery and search and rescue training ensures crews remain proficient in recovering those in need during challenging conditions.”
He added: “Swordfish Flight thoroughly enjoyed training with the Kentucky Air National Guard. This vital training strengthens our ability to work with each other and reinforces the close defence relationship between NATO allies.
“We hope to continue working with our friends across the pond in the years to come.”
