Misplaced Pages

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (April 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

816 Squadron
Unit badge for 816 Squadron
Active	1948–1987 1992–Current
Country	Australia
Branch	Royal Australian Navy (1948–1967)  Royal Australian Navy (1967–Present)
Type	Ship-based helicopter squadron
Role	Small ship flights
Part of	Fleet Air Arm
Airbase	HMAS Albatross
Motto(s)	Imitate the action of the tiger
Equipment	MH-60R Romeo
Commanders
Current commander	Commander T. Glynn

816 Squadron is a Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm squadron that started out as a Royal Navy unit, 816 Naval Air Squadron.

Current roles

816 is currently active as a helicopter squadron equipped with MH-60R helicopters. The squadron is based at HMAS Albatross in Nowra and primarily operates from the Navy's Adelaide and Anzac class frigates. 816 Squadron provides the fleet with anti-submarine and anti-surface surveillance capabilities.

History

816 Squadron was first formed as a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm carrier based squadron in 1939 embarked in HMS Furious.

In 1948 816 Squadron was re-formed as a Royal Australian Navy FAA squadron operating Fairey Firefly aircraft. The squadron formed part of the 20th Carrier Air Group embarked on HMAS Sydney. In 1952, 816 Squadron participated in the Montebello Islands atomic weapons tests and in 1953 saw service in the Korean War.

Over the following 40 years, 816 squadron was disbanded and re-formed several times as newer aircraft were introduced.

In 1956 with the arrival of HMAS Melbourne, 816 Squadron embarked as part of the 21st Carrier Air Group equipped with Gannet and Sea Venom aircraft. In 1967 the RAN acquired newer aircraft and Melbourne was extensively upgraded to handle the faster and heavier aircraft. 816 Squadron was re-equipped with Grumman S-2E Trackers.

On 5 December 1976, a fire was deliberately lit by a Fleet Air Arm member near the aircraft hangars at HMAS Albatross. The fire destroyed or seriously damaged twelve of the thirteen S-2 Trackers in the RAN's possession. Subsequently, 15 second-hand S2-G Trackers were purchased from the United States Government and all remaining serviceable or repairable S2-E Trackers were upgraded to the S-2G standard. 816 Squadron continued to operate S-2Gs until the decommissioning of HMAS Melbourne in 1982, when the squadron was again disbanded.

From 1984 until 1987, 816 Squadron operated Westland Wessex helicopters in the Army support role.

816 Squadron was re-formed in 1992 to operate Sikorsky Seahawk helicopters. The squadron has embarked helicopters on RAN Adelaide class and Anzac class frigates and has participated in operations including in the Persian Gulf.

The squadron will continue to operate the Seahawk after the retirement of the S-70B-2 model. On 13 December 2012 it was announced that 816 Squadron will transition to the new MH-60R Seahawk, with 725 Squadron being reformed to be the training squadron.

Aircraft

Current RAN service

• Sikorsky MH-60R Romeo (Anti Submarine Warfare, Anti Shipping, Surveillance & Targeting)

Previous RAN service

• Fairey Firefly FR.4, FR.5 & FR.6 (Attack Reconnaissance)
• Fairey Gannet AS.1 & T.2 (Anti Submarine Warfare)
• de Havilland Sea Venom FAW.53
• Grumman S-2E & S2-G Tracker (Anti Submarine Warfare)
• Westland Wessex HAS 31B (Army Support)
• Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk (Anti Submarine Warfare, Anti Shipping, Surveillance & Targeting)

RN service

• Fairey Swordfish I (Anti submarine Warfare, Search)
• Fairey Swordfish II (Strike)
• Supermarine Seafire Ib & L.IIc (Strike)
• Grumman Wildcat V (Strike)
• Fairey Barracuda II (Torpedo Bomber)
• Fairey Firefly FR.I (Fighter Reconnaissance)
• Fairey Firefly NF.I (Night Fighter)

References

1. Lind, Lew (1986) . The Royal Australian Navy – Historic Naval Events Year by Year (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, NSW: Reed Books. p. 291. ISBN 0-7301-0071-5. OCLC 16922225.
2. Hall, Timothy (1982). HMAS Melbourne. North Sydney, NSW: Allen & Unwin. p. 19. ISBN 0-86861-284-7. OCLC 9753221.
3. Two navy squardons to be disbanded Australian Aviation issue 16 September 1982 page 46
4. Clare, Jason. "Joint Media Release – Capability Update – Air Projects". Minister of Defence Material. Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 8 March 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2012.

Sources

• 816 Squadron Official Website
  • 816 Squadron History

• Australia
• Royal Australian Navy

v t e Royal Australian Navy
Australian Defence Force
Command	Chief of Navy Deputy Chief of Navy Commander Australian Fleet Director-General Maritime Operations Commodore Flotillas Warrant Officer of the Navy
Organisation	Royal Australian Naval Reserve Australian Navy Cadets Maritime Border Command Royal Australian Navy School of Underwater Medicine Units and Formations Fleet Command Surface Force Fleet Air Arm (723 Squadron, 725 Squadron, 808 Squadron, 816 Squadron) Submarine Service Patrol Boat Forces Mine Warfare Forces Clearance Diving Branch Australian Hydrographic Service (Laser Airborne Depth Sounder Flight) Navy Headquarters Navy Engineering, Regulation, Certification and Safety Navy Capability Navy People Training and Resources Royal Australian Naval College
Ships and equipment	Current fleet (Anzac-class frigate, Adelaide-class frigate, Collins-class submarine, Canberra-class landing helicopter dock, Bay-class landing ship, Armidale-class patrol boat, Huon-class minehunter, HMAS Sirius, Leeuwin-class survey vessel, Paluma-class motor launch, Young Endeavour, Cape-class patrol boat) All ships Aircraft Naval procurement programme Equipment Craft of Opportunity Program
Installations	Fleet Base East Fleet Base West (HMAS Stirling) HMAS Albatross HMAS Cairns HMAS Cerberus HMAS Coonawarra HMAS Creswell HMAS Harman HMAS Kuttabul HMAS Moreton HMAS Penguin HMAS Waterhen HMAS Watson
Personnel	Admiral of the Fleet List of admirals List of personnel Badges Ranks
Current operations	Operation Sovereign Borders Operation Resolute Operation Highroad Operation Manitou
History	Australia Station Colonial navies of Australia Jervois-Scratchley reports World War I World War II Malayan Emergency Korean War Vietnam War Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation Operation Navy Help Darwin International Force East Timor Gulf War Iraq War Afghanistan War Middle East deployments Battle honours of the Royal Australian Navy List of Royal Australian Navy losses
Other	Royal Australian Navy Memorial Minister for the Navy Australian Naval Aviation Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre Australian White Ensign Navy News Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam Naval Stores, Kangaroo Point Esther Williams Trophy Navy League of Australia Admiral Garden Island Naval Chapel Royal Australian Navy Tridents Rugby League Team
Former entities	Department of the Navy Women's Royal Australian Naval Service Royal Australian Naval Nursing Service Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve Royal Australian Navy Beach Commandos Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train Australian Commonwealth Naval Board
Category Portal

v t e Royal Australian Navy flying units
Active units	Fleet Air Arm 723 Squadron 725 Squadron 808 Squadron 816 Squadron 822X Squadron Related RAAF units No. 2 Flying Training School No. 32 Squadron
Disbanded units	Fleet Air Arm 724 Squadron 805 Squadron 817 Squadron 850 Squadron 851 Squadron RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam Australian Hydrographic Service Laser Airborne Depth Sounder Flight Related RAAF units No. 101 Flight No. 5 Squadron No. 9 Squadron
List of Fleet Air Arm flying squadrons

• Flying squadrons of the Royal Australian Navy
• Military units and formations established in 1948
• 1948 establishments in Australia