RNAS Culdrose works with Royal Navy's latest warship

Helicopters and remotely-piloted drones from RNAS Culdrose have worked with the Royal Navy's newest warship to test new capabilities in air power.

HMS Tamar sailed from Portsmouth on New Years' Eve to patrol Britain's south-west coastline. Although the new River-class ships have no hangar, they have a large flight deck to host most military helicopters wherever they might operate in the world.

Joining the ship was a submarine-hunting Merlin Mk2 helicopter from Culdrose's 814 Naval Air Squadron – The Flying Tigers. It was the first time the large helicopter, with its formidable downdraft, had landed on the new patrol ships.

The Cornish air station also provided a team of drone specialists from 700X Naval Air Squadron, to see how their small remotely-piloted Puma aircraft might be used on front-line operations.

Though small, Puma can reach speeds of more than 50 mph, keeping pace with many fast craft, such as boats or jet skis threatening a task group.

It could also monitor Royal Marines engaged inboard and search operations and feeding Tamar's operations room with real-time moving images of operations, allowing commanders to make quick and accurate decisions.

That capability is particularly pertinent as the ship is resuming training with 42 and 47 Commandos (the Royal Marines' board and search and amphibious operations/small boat specialists) as they hone counter-piracy, counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling skills – missions they are likely to carry out when Tamar deploys.

Her sister HMS Medway has worked with similar teams from the US Coast Guard in the Caribbean, leading to a multi-million-pound drugs bust.

Lieutenant Commander Michael Hutchinson, HMS Tamar's commanding officer, said:

"These ships are the 'Swiss Army knife' of Defence and you will see from what Tamar achieved in 2020 and how she is being operated that they are a fantastic addition to the Royal Navy.

"The ship's company is a comparatively young team – average age 27 – and a quarter of them are female. They really are the pathfinders for the modern and transformed Royal Navy.

"This first Merlin landing, completed on New Year's Day, was the latest demonstration of the increasing capability of the ship and the first interaction with Culdrose's Merlins."

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