851 Naval Air Squadron
Encyclopedia
851 Naval Air Squadron was a Fleet Air Arm
squadron of the Royal Navy
, first formed in October 1943 at Squantum Naval Air Station in the USA as a MAC-ship
escort squadron. It was later disbanded around December 1945.
It was reformed in 1954 as an Australian squadron
on 3 August 1954.
IIs to operate as a torpedo bomber reconnaissance and escort squadron. As a squadron they flew their 12 Avengers to the west coast of the USA and embarked on HMS Shah
at Alameda
in January 1944, where a Wildcat
fighter flight was added. They sailed to the Indian Ocean
via Williamstown
docks, Australia
to Cochin, where the carrier's deck cargo of aircraft was unloaded, thus enabling 851 Squadron's naval flying operations for the first time. Tasked with anti-submarine patrols in the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal
, 851 Squadron's Avengers and Wildcat flights briefly operated from a shore base at Colombo Racecourse
, then at Katukurunda
, as well as forming the Shah's full complement.
(carrying 832 Squadron) formed the hunter-killer group Force 66 in July 1944, searching for U-198. On 10 and 12 August 1944 the U-boat
was located near the Seychelles
and attacked by 851's Avengers, although damage could not be clearly ascertained. The aircraft directed the RN frigate
HMS Findhorn and the Indian sloop HMIS Godavari to the submarine and they were able to sink U-198 with the loss of all hands.
for a refit, and the Wildcats were withdrawn. Sailing to Burma in May 1945, the Shah with 851 Squadron's Avengers supported Operation Dracula
, the invasion of Rangoon. 851 Squadron dive-bombed the Japanese heavy cruiser Haguro
, suffering losses in the attacks for little return. However they directed ships of the 26th Destroyer Flotilla which sank the Haguro in a night torpedo action known as "Operation Dukedom
".
. After VJ-Day the squadron left their aircraft and sailed on HMS Shah to the UK where the squadron was disbanded and the carrier returned to the USA.
851 Squadron was subsequently reactivated as a squadron
of the Royal Australian Navy
.
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...
squadron of the Royal Navy
Royal 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...
, first formed in October 1943 at Squantum Naval Air Station in the USA as a MAC-ship
Merchant aircraft carrier
Merchant aircraft carriers were bulk cargo ships with minimal aircraft handling facilities, used during World War II by Britain and the Netherlands as an interim measure to supplement British and United States-built escort carriers in providing an anti-submarine function for convoys...
escort squadron. It was later disbanded around December 1945.
It was reformed in 1954 as an Australian squadron
851 Squadron RAN
-History:851 Squadron was formed at HMAS Albatross as a land-based training and fleet support squadron on 3 August 1954. While the squadron was disbanded on 13 January 1958 it was re-formed as a training and transport unit on 2 September 1968...
on 3 August 1954.
History
After pilot training the squadron was formed in October 1943, equipped with Grumman AvengerTBF Avenger
The Grumman TBF Avenger was a torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air or naval arms around the world....
IIs to operate as a torpedo bomber reconnaissance and escort squadron. As a squadron they flew their 12 Avengers to the west coast of the USA and embarked on HMS Shah
HMS Shah (D21)
The USS Jamaica , was an escort aircraft carrier of World War II that served in the British Royal Navy as HMS Shah . Returned to the USA at War's end, she was converted into a merchant vessel and she was sold into civilian service in 1946 as Salta...
at Alameda
Alameda
Alameda is a Spanish word that means "A place full of poplars", and may refer to:-Colleges and universities:* College of Alameda, a two-year community college located in Alameda, California, in the United States-Music:...
in January 1944, where a Wildcat
F4F Wildcat
The Grumman F4F Wildcat was an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that began service with both the United States Navy and the British Royal Navy in 1940...
fighter flight was added. They sailed to the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
via Williamstown
Williamstown, Victoria
Williamstown is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay. At the 2006 Census, Williamstown had a population of 12,733....
docks, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to Cochin, where the carrier's deck cargo of aircraft was unloaded, thus enabling 851 Squadron's naval flying operations for the first time. Tasked with anti-submarine patrols in the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
, 851 Squadron's Avengers and Wildcat flights briefly operated from a shore base at Colombo Racecourse
Colombo Racecourse Airstrip
Colombo Racecourse Airstrip was a temporary airfield constructed at the Colombo Racecourse in Colombo during World War II for the Royal Air Force.After the fall of Singapore the Royal Navy's East Indies Station was moved to Colombo and then to Trincomalee...
, then at Katukurunda
SLAF Katukurunda
SLAF Katukurunda is a Sri Lanka Air Force base located near the town of Kalutara in Sri Lanka. Originally established as a Royal Naval Air Station HMS Ukussa it was reactivated in 1984 by the Sri Lanka Air Force...
, as well as forming the Shah's full complement.
Sinking of U-198
The two carriers HMS Shah and HMS BegumHMS Begum (D38)
The USS Bolinas was an escort aircraft carrier launched 11 November 1942 by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding, Tacoma, Washington; sponsored by Mrs. G. B. Sherwood, wife of Commander Sherwood; and commissioned 22 July 1943, Captain H. L...
(carrying 832 Squadron) formed the hunter-killer group Force 66 in July 1944, searching for U-198. On 10 and 12 August 1944 the U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
was located near the Seychelles
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
and attacked by 851's Avengers, although damage could not be clearly ascertained. The aircraft directed the RN frigate
River class frigate
The River class frigate was a class of 151 frigates launched between 1941 and 1944 for use as anti-submarine convoy escorts in the North Atlantic....
HMS Findhorn and the Indian sloop HMIS Godavari to the submarine and they were able to sink U-198 with the loss of all hands.
Sinking of the Haguro
In February 1945 the Shah sailed to DurbanDurban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
for a refit, and the Wildcats were withdrawn. Sailing to Burma in May 1945, the Shah with 851 Squadron's Avengers supported Operation Dracula
Operation Dracula
During World War II, Operation Dracula was the name given to an airborne and amphibious attack on Rangoon by British and Indian forces, part of the Burma Campaign. When it was launched, the Imperial Japanese Army had already abandoned the city.-Background:...
, the invasion of Rangoon. 851 Squadron dive-bombed the Japanese heavy cruiser Haguro
Japanese cruiser Haguro
|-External reference links: -External links:**...
, suffering losses in the attacks for little return. However they directed ships of the 26th Destroyer Flotilla which sank the Haguro in a night torpedo action known as "Operation Dukedom
Operation Dukedom
The Battle of the Malacca Strait, sometimes called the Sinking of the Haguro, and in Japanese sources as the Battle off Penang , was a naval battle that resulted from the British search and destroy operation in May 1945, called Operation Dukedom, that resulted in the sinking of the Japanese cruiser...
".
Decommissioning
The squadron subsequently returned to Katukurunda, Colombo Racecourse and TrincomaleeTrincomalee
Trincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna. It has a population of approximately 100,000 . The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay,...
. After VJ-Day the squadron left their aircraft and sailed on HMS Shah to the UK where the squadron was disbanded and the carrier returned to the USA.
851 Squadron was subsequently reactivated as a squadron
851 Squadron RAN
-History:851 Squadron was formed at HMAS Albatross as a land-based training and fleet support squadron on 3 August 1954. While the squadron was disbanded on 13 January 1958 it was re-formed as a training and transport unit on 2 September 1968...
of the 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...
.