Torpedo Strike Reconnaissance squadron (1940–1942) ; an example of the type used by 829 Squadron 829 Naval Air Squadron was established at
RNAS Ford (HMS Peregrine),
West Sussex, on 15 June 1940, as a Torpedo Strike Reconnaissance (TSR) squadron equipped with nine
Fairey Albacore torpedo bombers. A detachment was deployed to RNAS Campbeltown,
Argyll, in July, before re assembling at that location in late September. In October, from
RAF St Eval,
Cornwall, the squadron initiated a series of nighttime bombing raids targeting shipping and docks in
Brest,
France, resulting in the loss of the Commanding Officer on 9 October. In the next month, the squadron was assigned to the , which then sailed to escort the convoy WS-5A to
West Africa and
Cape Town. Part of the convoy came into contact with the German
heavy cruiser , but the aircraft of 829 Squadron failed to sight her.
Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron (1943–1944) 829 Squadron reformed as a Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance (TBR) squadron at RNAS Lee-on-Solent on 1 October 1943, with twelve
Fairey Barracuda Mk.II, a torpedo and dive bomber aircraft, it became part of the 52nd Naval TBR Wing. The squadron embarked on the
Illustrious-class aircraft carrier on 12 February and the squadron participated in an assault on the in the
Kåfjord,
Norway on 3 April 1944, part of
Operation Tungsten, during which it lost two aircraft. A subsequent mission in May 1944 was called off, resulting in the squadron focusing on anti-shipping operations along the Norwegian coastline. On 9 July, it integrated into
831 Squadron, which was also stationed aboard the carrier.
Wasp, Whirlwind and Wessex (1964-1988) 829 Squadron was reformed at
RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk),
Cornwall, on 4 March 1964. The squadron was formed from a nucleus of No. 700W Flight, which was the training unit for
Westland Wasp helicopter crews. Its task was to provide helicopter detachments to operate from small ships and survey vessels, the Wasp performing in the role of a medium-range anti-submarine torpedo-carrying helicopter. The first four such flights were allocated to the
Leander-class frigates , and and the Tribal-class frigate . The Westland Wasp represented the inaugural Fleet Air Arm helicopter that was utilised extensively from platforms situated on frigates and various smaller vessels. The initial full production HAS.1 conducted its maiden flight in January 1963. In December, the squadron transferred the responsibility of Wasp conversion to
706 Squadron, subsequently relocating to
RNAS Portland (HMS Osprey),
Dorset, where it also assumed the
Westland Whirlwind Fleet Requirements Unit (FRU) duties of the disbanding
771 Squadron, returning these responsibilities when that squadron was reestablished in June 1967. In the initial phases of small ship helicopter operations, Flights were established for the length of the ships' General Service commissions, dissolving upon completion, with a new Flight being created for the subsequent commission. Beginning in 1971, Flights continued to be in commission with a gradual personnel transition, transferring entirely to other ships when the parent ship was decommissioned for refitting or disposal. Furthermore, from approximately 1977 onwards, all Flights were assigned numbers. HAS.3; an example of the type used by 829 Squadron In 1966, 829 NAS also received two Wessex HU5s for operation from the Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and . Responsibility for the ice patrol ship was also taken over in 1966, initially using Whirlwind HAR1s. These were soon replaced by Whirlwind HAR9s, which transferred to in 1968, and were eventually replaced by Wasp helicopters in 1976. The squadron assumed control of Wessex HAS.1s that were deployed from s, with a gradual transition to HAS.3s beginning in 1969. In June 1970, the responsibility for these Wessex Flights was handed over to
737 Squadron at RNAS Portland.
703 Squadron was re-established at RNAS Portland in January 1972, taking on the operational training role for 829's Wasp, until its disbandment in January 1981. 829 Squadron's aircraft were involved in the
Cod War with
Iceland during 1974 and 1975-76, and subsequently participated in the
Falklands Task Force in 1982. The Wasp training was reassigned to 829 Squadron in January 1981. In August 1982, the operation of Wessex HAS3 anti-submarine detachments was returned to 737 Squadron.
Falklands War Eleven Westland Wasp HAS1 helicopters of 829 NAS participated in the
Falklands War in 1982. They were embarked in the
Type 21 frigate , the es and , the ice patrol ship HMS
Endurance,
MV Contender Bezant and the survey ships , , and . On 25 April 1982, the Argentinian
submarine Santa Fe was spotted by a
Wessex HAS3 from . The Wessex then attacked it with
depth charges. launched a Wasp HAS1 helicopter, and launched a
Westland Lynx HAS2. The Lynx attacked the submarine with a
MK 46 torpedo, and also strafed it with its pintle-mounted
GPMG; the Wessex also fired on
Santa Fe with its GPMG. The Wasp from HMS
Plymouth as well as two other Wasps launched from
Endurance fired
AS.12 anti-ship missiles at the submarine, scoring hits.
Santa Fe was damaged badly enough to prevent her from submerging. The crew abandoned the submarine at the jetty at King Edward Point on
South Georgia and surrendered to the British forces, thus becoming the first casualty of the sea war, as well as the first direct engagement by the Royal Navy Task Force. Until the
Wasp was retired in 1988, the squadron remained responsible for all Wasp-equipped Ship's Flights. This led to several Wasps from the squadron, re-painted as a fictional
HMS Hero Flight, being used in the popular 1970s
BBC television drama series
Warship.
Lynx (1986-1993) HAS.2 of 829 Squadron for From September 1986, 829 parented a number of Lynx Flights transferred from
815 Squadron, with more Flights transferring in 1987 and 1988 and eventually the squadron had up to 30 Lynx. Flights were regularly deployed on the
Armilla patrol and the squadron was awarded the
Boyd Trophy jointly with 815 Squadron in 1988 for their operational contribution to the RN presence in the Gulf. Several Flights were involved in offensive operations in the northern Gulf between August 1990 and February 1991.
Persian Gulf War Between August 1990 and February 1991, flights from 829 Squadron participated in the Persian Gulf War. Six Lynx helicopters armed with
Sea Skua missiles were deployed on four Royal Navy frigates. The first success came when Lynx 335 from , operating with a
U.S. Seahawk, destroyed a
minesweeper or
landing vessel. Lynx 335, alongside 's Lynx and U.S. forces, subsequently destroyed two Iraqi
anti-aircraft artillery batteries on offshore
oil rigs off
Kuwait. On 24 January 1991, Lynx 335 attacked three Iraqi vessels off
Qaruh Island, sinking two minesweepers and attempting to capture a minelayer, which was scuttled by her crew. Quaruh was later captured by coalition forces, becoming the first Kuwaiti territory liberated. On 30 January, a convoy of three Polnochny-class landing ships, three TNC-45 fast-attack craft and a single Type 43 minelayer was attacked. 's Lynx destroyed a TNC-45, while
Cardiff and
Brazen's Lynxes attacked the Type 43. Other vessels were damaged, including a Polnochny later destroyed by RAF
SEPECAT Jaguars. On 8 February, Lynx 335 attacked a
Zhuk-class patrol boat, and on 11 February, sank another. The following ships were allocated flights from 829 NAS as well: , , and . The remaining four Type 23 frigates operate Westland Lynx HMA.8s of
815 Naval Air Squadron. As of 2012 829 NAS has five ship's flights in support of six Type 23 frigates. The squadron took on Merlin HM.2 and operated from mainly Type 23 frigates. • 01 Flight: Aboard between November 2015 and present day • 03 Flight: Aboard during October 2015. • 04 Flight: Aboard during November 2014. 04 Flight became 02 Flight in May 2016. In December 2017, the three Flights were renamed to reflect Squadron heritage. 01 Flight, which was associated with HMS
St Albans, was renamed Tungsten Flight. 02 Flight, linked with HMS
Westminster, was henceforth referred to as Kingfisher Flight, while 03 Flight, allocated to HMS
Northumberland, was designated as Mohawk Flight. The squadron decommissioned on 28 March 2018, with the unit's aircraft and personnel becoming part of
814 Naval Air Squadron, also based at RNAS Culdrose. == Aircraft operated ==