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Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
813 Naval Air Squadron (813 NAS), was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) during World War II and again post-war. It initially operated Swordfish Mk Is from the aircraft carrier Illustrious and took part in the successful raid on Taranto in November 1940.
| 813 Naval Air Squadron | |
|---|---|
 813 Squadron Westland Wyvern S.4 strike aircraft at RNAS Stretton in 1955 | |
| Active | 1940-1958 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Allegiance | Northwest African Coastal Air Force |
| Branch |  Royal Navy |
| Type | Torpedo Bomber Reconnaissance squadron |
| Part of | Fleet Air Arm |
| Garrison/HQ | HMS Illustrious RAF Gibraltar |
| Motto(s) | 'Full sail' |
| Engagements | World War II Operation Husky |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Westland Wyvern Blackburn Firebrand |
| Bomber | Swordfish Mk I |
In July 1943, the squadron was a component of RAF Gibraltar but a detachment of its Swordfish (torpedo spotter reconnaissance) was based at Tafaraoui, Algeria and assigned to the Northwest African Coastal Air Force (NACAF) for Operation Husky.[1]
From April 1944 the squadron, including a detachment of Wildcats and three Fulmar NF II night fighters,[2] were deployed on the escort carrier HMS Campania operating in the Arctic Ocean on convoy duty. On 13 December 1944 two of 813's Swordfish were responsible for the sinking of German submarine U-365 by depth charges.[3]
Postwar, the squadron was tasked as a torpedo fighter unit, initially equipped with Blackburn Firebrand aircraft. Between February 1953 and April 1958 the squadron was equipped with turboprop powered Westland Wyvern strike aircraft. 813 Squadron disbanded for the last time on 22 April 1958.[4]
813 Naval Air Squadron was initially formed at RAF Gosport in Hampshire on 18 January 1937,[5] designated as a Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance squadron, it was equipped with a fleet of nine Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers.[6] The squadron was embarked in HMS Eagle in Singapore, utilising RAF Seletar as a land-based support facility at the onset of the Second World War. The aircraft carrier and its assigned squadrons conducted operations to locate enemy vessels in the Indian Ocean.[7]
The Admiralty formally assumed control of the squadron on 24 May 1939 while it was embarked in HMS Eagle.[5] Following a refit, HMS Eagle departed for the Mediterranean, where in June, four Gloster Sea Gladiator, a biplane fighter aircraft, were incorporated into the squadron's strength. These aircraft swiftly achieved success by downing two Italian bombers, with additional aircraft being shot down in the subsequent months.[6] The Fairey Swordfish were responsible for the sinking of merchant vessels and a Destroyer during a raid on Tobruk, as well as another Destroyer in a subsequent operation in Sicily. Additionally, four of its aircraft participated alongside HMS Illustrious in the successful assault on the Italian Fleet at Taranto during the night of 11-12 November 1940.[8]
In March 1941, the Gloster Sea Gladiator aircraft were withdrawn, with 813 Naval Air Squadron accompanying 824 Naval Air Squadron to Port Sudan to support local military operations. During this assignment, the squadron successfully engaged five Italian Destroyers located north of Massawa, resulting in the sinking of two vessels, the beaching of two others, and the subsequent scuttling of the remaining ship. After completing its mission, 813 Naval Air Squadron re-joined the carrier and proceeded to sail via Cape Town, spending some time in the Atlantic. On 6 June, it located and sank the U-boat supply ship Elbe, subsequently compelling the German tanker Lothringen to surrender.[6]
Upon its return home in late October 1941, the squadron established a temporary base at RNAS Machrihanish (HMS Landrail), Argyll and Bute, Scotland. After a brief period, the squadron relocated to RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), situated on the southern coast of England. Here the squadron was equipped with nine new Fairey Swordfish aircraft. Initially, the squadron was also provided with two Hawker Sea Hurricane aircraft, a naval variant of the Hawker Hurricane fighter.[8]
In January 1942, 813 Naval Air Squadron re-boarded HMS Eagle and arrived in Gibraltar by late February, where it engaged in patrols and participated in various operations to transport aircraft to Malta alongside HMS Eagle and HMS Argus. The squadron was temporarily reduced to six aircraft and were fortuitously stationed on land in Gibraltar when HMS Eagle was sunk on 11 August, although four Hawker Sea Hurricane that were on board were lost.[6]
The squadron's capacity was increased twofold in a span of ten days, enabling it to provide assistance for the North African landings, including a flight assigned to Algeria. It maintained operations from both Gibraltar and Algeria until it was transported to the United Kingdom, where it was officially disbanded on 18 October 1943.[8]
In November 1943, 813 Naval Air Squadron was reformed at RNAS Donibristle (HMS Merlin), Fife, Scotland, incorporating nine new Fairey Swordfish II aircraft. Subsequently, in March 1944, three Fairey Fulmar night fighters were assigned to the squadron from 784 Naval Air Squadron. These aircraft, along with the Fairey Swordfish, were deployed aboard HMS Campania in April for the purpose of escorting convoys in the Atlantic and North Russian regions.[6]
The squadron also used four Grumman Wildcat fighter aircraft from 1832 Naval Air Squadron from HMS Campania. Engaging in operations within the North Atlantic and supporting Arctic convoys, the Fairey Swordfish aircraft successfully sank the German submarines U-921 on September 30 and U-365 on 13 December while the Grumman Wildcat fighters were credited with the destruction of four German aircraft.[8]
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