BILLED Great Britain | Apache Sea Trials 1995

[Jamie]

APACHE SEA TRIALS 1995 MINISTRY OF DEFENCE BRITISH ARMY / ROYAL NAVY

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TRAINING DIRECTIVE
NOVEMBER 1995
TOP SECRET​

[1] OVERVIEW

[1a] BACKGROUND​

[1b] OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES​

[2] BELLIGERENTS
[3] ORDER OF BATTLE
[4] OPERATION STAGING AREAS
[5] CAMPAIGN REGISTER

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[1] OVERVIEW

[1a] BACKGROUND
Sea Trails for the Army Air Corps Attack Helicopters to establish them with a limited maritime strike capability.

[1b] OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES

1. Carry out landings and take offs from a vessel at day and night.
2. Conduct strikes and return to the vessel for resupply.

[2] BELLIGERENTS

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[3] ORDER OF BATTLE as of NOV1995

[1] HMS Ocean (Ocean-class Helicopter Carrier)
Fully Crewed and Supplied.
[18] Apache AH MKI (TIGER01-018)​

[4] OPERATION STAGING AREAS

DESIGNATION	LOCATION	STATUS
HMS Ocean	North Sea, inside British Waters near the mouth of the River Humber.	Active

[5] CAMPAIGN REGISTER as of APR1995

Campaign	Location	Objective(s)	Dates	Status
Apache Sea Trials 1995	United Kingdom	Sea Trials of the Apache.	OCT1995-Present	In Progress

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[Jamie]

HMS Ocean, one of the UKs Amphibious Assault Ships and capable of acting as a Helicopter Carrier was preparing to depart from its homebase. During that time, from the Air Corp Stations the Apache Attack Helicopters departed unarmed. Beginning to head south in batches of 4 and 2 at the end. They were to be making their way to intercept HMS Ocean after it departed, heading for the North Sea and specifically mouth of the River Humber. This would immediately throw the air crews in at the deep end, having to intercept the navy vessel and then land on it. Their journey was of course, within limits of air traffic control and for the avid aviation spotters, seeing 4 apaches overhead at one time would have been quite the thrill and got some attention in the media.

 

[Jamie]

By this time, all the Apache Attack Helicopters had made it to HMS Ocean, conducting day landings under strict supervision and through methodical landings to maximize safety and the space on-board. This gave a good opportunity for training new Royal Navy personnel at aircraft handling, but also the Apache Pilots who were participating in their naval certification. Once all aircraft were landed, the aircrews underwent de-briefings on the journey and were given a break whilst all Apaches underwent resupplying and movements on the flight deck. After a few hours, briefings begun for individual aircraft crews which included the intention for a full day of day departures and arrivals with each one been scored.

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[Jamie]

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Numerous steps took place shortly after focused on the orientation side of handling aircraft from flight decks. Providing tours of the vessel was the first port of call and explaining the general idea of how the flight deck operates, the meaning of lights and different signals. This was followed by some general tips and advice from others who had previously operated from carriers earlier in their careers. The certification to launch Apaches from naval craft would provide a capability to provide more precise air support anywhere in the world whereas the Harriers have limited visibility due to the high speeds they operate in. A written exam followed shortly that took the space in the briefing and class rooms on board HMS Ocean. It was a 100% pass rate that followed as most questions was in relation to aircraft handling, something all the aircrews were already proficient in. A short break led the session into the afternoon. A slight overcast and the uneven seas permitted a more realistic training scenario as individually, Apache Crews followed procedure with the air traffic control facilities on the vessel to carry out take offs and landings back to back. Taking it in turns to land on different aspects of the ship, go through the refuel process when required, and depart.

The rest of the exercise was split into three phases, phase 1 now in progress:
Phase 1: Departures & Landings
Phase 2: Emergency Landings
Phase 3 Certification Trial

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[Jamie]

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The Apache Attack Helicopters had spent a few days doing back to back departures and landings. The weather having a significant impact due to trying conditions that would only make the exercise harder but more realistic. To conclude phase 1, each pilot had to do the maneuver under assessment conditions from instructors who had served on British Aircraft Carriers. Ensuring the pilots are compliant with Royal Navy procedures for the basic landing and departing. Following from their, the pilots were giving a few hours break before briefings and orientations begun for emergency landings. Due to the risk of been in a war zone, Pilots need to be able to get aircraft onto the vessels safely under the scenario that they are losing fuel, damaged, or on the basis they've gone down in the water nearby. The orientation taught them the briefings, and then the crews split into 3 units.

A Unit which would do the scenario of losing fuel.
This would include placing a orange alert for the 'carrier' which puts the aircraft as priority for fuel. This would mean the pilot has to do an in-flight refuel with support from those on the deck. It would give the ability to do so in the event that it couldn't land.

B Unit would do the scenario of a damaged air-frame.
The pilot would need to simulate loss of control, and safely land. This can be a rolling landing and that whilst it has higher risk of damaging the aircraft or the ship, the focus was to minimize chances of long-term damage and prevent the loss of life.

C Unit wouldn't need their Apaches, but would do in the water training.
Getting thrown into the water from a safe height, in pilot gear, they would need to get to a position where they can hold on and call for search and rescue such as using a flare (or radio).

The training would go on at similar times, but the three units would alternate so everyone has a chance to do each one.

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[Jamie]

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The circuit training for the Apache Attack Helicopters had come to a close, all the AH series had gone through their rotation of practice. The final couple of days concluded with each helicopter crew carrying out a simulated launch, recovery, launch, emergency landing. This was to combine all their skills before the final certification. After a day of rest on HMS Ocean, it was the day all the pilots would enter their certification phase. Individually throughout the day, pilots would depart from HMS Ocean under assessment conditions. Their job was to safely depart from the helicopter carrier, conduct some 'simulated strikes' a distance away. Return to the helicopter and do an in-flight refuel. Once done, return to the simulated strike for about 30minutes before returning back to conduct a formal landing to 'rearm', theoretically. Once rearmed, the Apache would depart again, and have to turn around to do an emergency landing. Those who pass the practical assessment moved onto the written exam which was multiple choice to re-affirm what they had already shown. After an intense day, the same process reoccurred but in the night.

After a grueling day and night, the aircrews were able to sleep before getting mustered on the flight deck the next morning to certify that they had all passed the Carrier Operations course and they were capable to work with the Royal Navy in future operations. All those involved received a certificate to confirm this. Meanwhile, HMS Ocean turned and began its journey home. As it was in sight of UK coasts, the Apache crews, now qualified, safely and individually departed after refueling and made for their home bases. Marking the end of the Apache Sea Trials.

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