725 Squadron RAN
Encyclopedia
725 Squadron was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm
and Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm
flying squadron. The squadron was formed for the first time in 1943 and was last disbanded in 1975.
. It became an air target towing squadron in August 1945 and was disbanded in December of that year.
725 Squadron was re-formed as a Royal Australian Navy
fleet requirements and communications unit unit at HMAS Albatross
on 13 January 1958. The squadron was initially equipped with C47 Dakota
, Auster Autocar
, Hawker Sea Fury
, Fairey Firefly
and Fairey Gannet
aircraft and added De Havilland Sea Venoms shortly afterwards. The squadron was redesignated an anti-submarine
training squadron in May 1959 and suffered its only fatality in December of that year when a Gannet crashed while landing at HMAS Albatross. The squadron's duties during this period included providing aircraft for air direction officer training, radar calibration and target towing as well as conducting simulated attacks on RAN warships during exercises. These duties continued until 31 May 1961 when 725 Squadron was disbanded and absorbed into 724 Squadron
.
725 Squadron was reformed as an operational anti-submarine squadron equipped with Westland Wessex
helicopters on 1 November 1962. In this role the squadron regularly deployed four Wessex helicopters on HMAS Sydney to provide the converted aircraft carrier
with anti-submarine cover during her many transport voyages to South Vietnam
during the Vietnam War
. The squadron also participated in the search and rescue
efforts which followed the collision between HMAS Melbourne and Voyager
in February 1964. Helicopters from the squadron also took part in the relief effort after Cyclone Tracy
destroyed much of Darwin
in December 1974. 725 Squadron was disbanded at HMAS Albatross on 27 December 1975.
"Vietnam 1967" for its service during the Vietnam War.
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
and Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm (RAN)
The Fleet Air Arm , known formally as the Australian Navy Aviation Group, is the division of the Royal Australian Navy responsible for the operation of aircraft. The FAA was founded in 1947 following the purchase of two aircraft carriers from the Royal Navy...
flying squadron. The squadron was formed for the first time in 1943 and was last disbanded in 1975.
History
725 Squadron was formed on 27 August 1943 as a fleet requirements unit of the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. It became an air target towing squadron in August 1945 and was disbanded in December of that year.
725 Squadron was re-formed as a Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
fleet requirements and communications unit unit at HMAS Albatross
HMAS Albatross (air station)
HMAS Albatross, also known as Naval Air Station Nowra , is an airfield operated by the Royal Australian Navy , in support of the RAN's aviation branch, the Fleet Air Arm...
on 13 January 1958. The squadron was initially equipped with C47 Dakota
C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
, Auster Autocar
Auster Autocar
-References:...
, Hawker Sea Fury
Hawker Sea Fury
The Hawker Sea Fury was a British fighter aircraft developed for the Royal Navy by Hawker during the Second World War. The last propeller-driven fighter to serve with the Royal Navy, it was also one of the fastest production single piston-engined aircraft ever built.-Origins:The Hawker Fury was an...
, Fairey Firefly
Fairey Firefly
The Fairey Firefly was a British Second World War-era carrier-borne fighter aircraft and anti-submarine aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm ....
and Fairey Gannet
Fairey Gannet
The Fairey Gannet was a British carrier-borne anti-submarine warfare and airborne early warning aircraft of the post-Second World War era developed for the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm by the Fairey Aviation Company...
aircraft and added De Havilland Sea Venoms shortly afterwards. The squadron was redesignated an anti-submarine
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
training squadron in May 1959 and suffered its only fatality in December of that year when a Gannet crashed while landing at HMAS Albatross. The squadron's duties during this period included providing aircraft for air direction officer training, radar calibration and target towing as well as conducting simulated attacks on RAN warships during exercises. These duties continued until 31 May 1961 when 725 Squadron was disbanded and absorbed into 724 Squadron
724 Squadron RAN
724 Squadron was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm flying squadron. The squadron was formed for the first time in 1945 and was last disbanded in 1984.-History:...
.
725 Squadron was reformed as an operational anti-submarine squadron equipped with Westland Wessex
Westland Wessex
The Westland Wessex is a British turbine-powered version of the Sikorsky S-58 "Choctaw", developed under license by Westland Aircraft , initially for the Royal Navy, and later for the Royal Air Force...
helicopters on 1 November 1962. In this role the squadron regularly deployed four Wessex helicopters on HMAS Sydney to provide the converted aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
with anti-submarine cover during her many transport voyages to South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. The squadron also participated in the search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
efforts which followed the collision between HMAS Melbourne and Voyager
Melbourne-Voyager collision
The Melbourne-Voyager collision, also referred to as the "Melbourne-Voyager incident" or simply the "Voyager incident", was a collision between two warships of the Royal Australian Navy ; the aircraft carrier and the destroyer...
in February 1964. Helicopters from the squadron also took part in the relief effort after Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy was a tropical cyclone that devastated the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day, 1974...
destroyed much of Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
in December 1974. 725 Squadron was disbanded at HMAS Albatross on 27 December 1975.
Battle honours
725 Squadron was awarded the battle honourBattle honour
A battle honour is an award of a right by a government or sovereign to a military unit to emblazon the name of a battle or operation on its flags , uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible....
"Vietnam 1967" for its service during the Vietnam War.