845 NAS Commando in Iraq

In January 2003, the men and women of 845 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) set sail from the UK bound for the Gulf as part of the UK’s efforts to depose Saddam Hussein. Two months later, in the early hours of the 20^th March 2003, 9 Commando Helicopter Force Sea Kings of 845 NAS lifted off the deck of HMS Ocean to form part of the first wave of the land offensive into Iraq – the raid on the Al Faw peninsula. On 28^th November 2007 845 NAS, the longest serving helicopter squadron on Operation TELIC, finally returned home to RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset. With 3 1⁄2 years of intense sustained operations behind them, 845 recall their heroic exploits from the Middle East.

The first daring raids in 2003, launched from the Northern Arabian Gulf, formed part of the largest helicopter borne assault since the Suez Crisis. The Squadron’s objective was to insert Royal Marines and other combat troops into Southern Iraq in order to secure key locations. These missions were successfully achieved whilst flying at night on Night Vision Goggles in appalling weather and under enemy fire. As these positions were swiftly taken and Coalition Forces progressed rapidly northwards, 845 NAS moved with them providing tactical battlefield support all the way to Baghdad...