Footage shows a Wildcat helicopter from RFA Mounts Bay responding to a MEDEVAC shout from an Astute class submarine.
847 NAval Air Squadron tweeted, “One of our roles is Search and Rescue. Check out our latest call out to an Astute Class Submarine, filmed by our Aircrewmen”.
https://twitter.com/847NAS/status/1397174041077862408
The crew started their recce of the transfer area and moved in to retrieve the injured submariner.
The winchman was lowered to the submarine to dress the casualty in the correct survival equipment before he was recovered to the aircraft.
Once both the casualty and winchman were recovered, the aircraft headed to Inverness Hospital in Scotland.
847 NAS typically provides reconnaissance, close air support, light utility and joint fires capabilities to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines.
Looks like it was a very slick and professional operation. Well done, 847!
Interesting. I wonder if such a procedure would be allowed with a civilian sar helicopter.
It would depend on who was piloting the helicopter I would have thought.
There is a video of it on youtube posted by I think Navy Lookout, who are interesting posting a lot more official RN video’s since they changed their name.
I wonder what happened and if is the same sub that carried out the training just a week or 2 ago.
Well most civilian sar crews are ex forces. But its also an issue with the helicopter sensor and cameras that will be monitored by civilian back on the ground.
If it’s of a sensitive nature they can switch the link off, they commonly do when they recover bodies from the water. There’s always a chance it’s not just the ground ops watching, also if it’s coastguard staff monitoring they sign official secrets anyway.
Hope the submariner makes a good recovery ,well done aircrew.👍
Is this a roll that is designated to some of the Wildcats in the CSG
Obviously all very professional, well done to the crews, today I’m working right next to HMS Gannet (Prestwick), used to like watching the Navy SAR Flights in the trusty Sea Kings coming and going, it was heaving last week with Merlins/MPA’s etc… you would think there was some major exercise on!
I see reported in J@nes that the Royal Navy is fielding the new Thales Martlet and MBDA Sea Venom anti-surface missiles as part of the CSG21 carrier strike group deployment prior to declaring initial operating capability (IOC) with the two weapons. This is presumably linked to the secondary role of HMS Queen Elizabeth being to promote British industry.