Royal Navy helicopter deploys on French warship

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By: mupp - 19th October 2012 at 18:57

The helicopter from 217 Flight (a flight from 815 Naval Air Squadron), headed up by Flight Commander Lieutenant Mike Curd, will join FLF Surcouf at her base in Toulon on Monday for a four-week training period.
In November they will then deploy on Op Atalanta for four months as part of an initiative for the UK and French Armed Forces to work together more closely.

Op Atalanta is part of the EU’s ongoing Naval effort to disrupt and deter piracy in a bid to reduce its impact on international trade, maritime security and on the economic activities and security of countries in the region.

Lt Curd and Pilot Lt Chris Southworth will be part of a team comprising of senior maintenance rating Chief Petty
fficer Matthew ‘Cakey’ Eccles and seven aircraft engineers along with two Royal Marine snipers.

Their training for this deployment included a 15-week French language course earlier this year to prepare 217 for life on board the French vessel.

Lt Curd said:
“To be given the opportunity to learn the language and then spend an entire deployment operating with the French Navy is fantastic and my team is very excited, not only to be contributing to counter-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean, but to be doing it in such unusual circumstances.”

In further support of operational preparations a delegation from 217 Flight and the Lynx Helicopter Force HQ visited Toulon in July to see the ship and meet her Commanding Officer, Capitaine de Frigate (CF) Hughes Laine.

CF Laine said:
“I am very pleased to welcome 217 Flight to Surcouf and look forward to having the world renowned capability of the Lynx Mk 8 at my disposal for the deployment.”

217 Flight will be away over Christmas and New Year returning to RNAS Yeovilton in March 2013.

Thanks to happyslapper over on milphotos for this.

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By: Wanshan - 21st October 2012 at 15:15 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Interesting, but what is the objective of stationing a UK heli on a French ship? Will we see reverse deployments? And then what?

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By: J Boyle - 21st October 2012 at 15:27 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Hopefully they'll enjoy better food and wine than they would aboard a RN ship.:D

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By: Adrian_44 - 21st October 2012 at 19:08 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Re: Royal Navy helicopter deploys on French warship

Interesting, but what is the objective of stationing a UK heli on a French ship? Will we see reverse deployments? And then what?

The entire effort is to gain experience working together. Most military ventures these days are multi-national efforts. The bombing of Libya for example, was a combination of many air forces were working together. No country donates a lot of military forces (less money) but, as a combined force it is far stronger than what Libya could deal with. While the US said no US aircraft flew into Libyan air space. The USA contributed EA-18Gs, the E-2C and, many tomahawk missiles were used first. Other countries contributed land attack missiles. The Rafale and Typhoon saw their first combat.

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By: Wanshan - 22nd October 2012 at 13:21 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

The entire effort is to gain experience working together. Most military ventures these days are multi-national efforts. The bombing of Libya for example, was a combination of many air forces were working together. No country donates a lot of military forces (less money) but, as a combined force it is far stronger than what Libya could deal with. While the US said no US aircraft flew into Libyan air space. The USA contributed EA-18Gs, the E-2C and, many tomahawk missiles were used first. Other countries contributed land attack missiles. The Rafale and Typhoon saw their first combat.

Well, I was thinking in terms of cross-decking, cross-crewing but with a view also (perhaps in future) towards one nation providing one capability and the other another, complementary capability (e.g. heli's <> LHD). In the event a nation can no longer afford to acquire or maintain both capabilities.