846 Naval Air Squadron
| 846 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Active | 1943 - 2013 30 September 2014 - present |
| Country | UK |
| Branch | Royal Navy |
| Type | Land based and amphibious squadron |
| Role | Commando Support |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Garrison/HQ | RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron) |
| Nickname(s) | Junglies |
| Motto(s) | Semper Instans (Latin:"Always Threatening") |
| Equipment | AgustaWestland Merlin HC.3 |
| Battle honours | Atlantic 1944, Arctic 1944–5, Norway 1944–5, Normandy 1944–5, Falklands 1982 |
846 Naval Air Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm.
Between December 1979 and the summer of 2013, 846 Naval Air Squadron operated the Westland Sea King HC4 helicopter to provide troop transport and load lifting support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. Based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, 846 NAS stood down in the summer of 2013 and its personnel, buildings and equipment were absorbed into 845 Naval Air Squadron.
The squadron stood up on 30 September 2014 with the AgustaWestland Merlin HC.3 and it now hold the Maritime Counter Terrorism Role
846 Naval Air Squadron was established in April 1943 at the Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island, United States. It was equipped with 12 Grumman Avenger I torpedo bombers. Two months later the squadron embarked on the escort carrier HMS Ravager and was transferred to the UK. Before being assigned to HMS Tracker in January 1944, four Grumman Wildcat V fighters were added to 846 NAS. HMS Tracker was first assigned to convoys going to Gibraltar, then to Murmansk. On the latter voyage, aircraft from 846 NAS attacked eight German U-Boats.
HMS Tracker was damaged in June 1944 in a collision with the Canadian frigate HMCS Teme (K458) while forming part of the naval screen for the D-Day landings, and the squadron disembarked to RAF Limavady airfield, Northern Ireland, joining 15 Group RAF Coastal Command. A month later 846 NAS was assigned to HMS Trumpeter, mainly laying mines off Norway until September 1944.
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