HMS Seahawk

Known throughout the Fleet Air Arm as HMS *Seahawk*, Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose occupied a unique position within the Royal Navy during the 1970s. More than simply an air station, it was the operational home of front-line naval aviation in the South West, where aircraft, aircrew and ground personnel prepared to support the Fleet on operations across the world. From its extensive runways and dispersals near Helston, generations of Fleet Air Arm personnel maintained the constant readiness upon which embarked naval aviation depended.

During this period, HMS *Seahawk* was closely associated with the Royal Navy's anti-submarine warfare capability. As the Sea King helicopter assumed an increasingly important role in countering the growing Soviet submarine threat, Culdrose became a centre of operational excellence, where flying, engineering, maintenance and logistical support combined to ensure that embarked flights were fully prepared for service in aircraft carriers, destroyers and frigates. The effectiveness of the Fleet's aviation capability depended not only upon those who flew the aircraft, but equally upon the highly skilled personnel who maintained them on the ground and kept them ready for deployment.

Life at HMS *Seahawk* reflected the distinctive character of the Fleet Air Arm. Flying programmes, technical servicing, squadron routines and operational work-ups created an environment where professionalism, teamwork and attention to detail were essential. Whether preparing aircraft for embarkation, supporting intensive flying operations or maintaining the demanding standards expected of a front-line air station, every member of the establishment contributed to the Royal Navy's ability to project air power far beyond the Cornish coastline.

This section explores HMS *Seahawk* during the 1970s, examining the squadrons, aircraft, personnel and daily life that made RNAS Culdrose one of the Fleet Air Arm's most important operational establishments and an indispensable part of the Royal Navy's worldwide maritime capability.