Transport and Tankers

Current operations have placed a heavy burden on the RAF’s air transport units. Four squadrons of Hercules act as the tactical arm of the air transport fleet, while heavy lift capacity is provided by one squadron of Globemaster IIIs, and two squadrons undertake tanker and transport missions. In addition, several non-flying RAF units play an important part in the transport and logistical role.

One example is 85 Expeditionary Logistics Wing, based at RAF Wittering, which comprises the Expeditionary Logistics Squadron, 2 Mechanical Transport (MT) Squadron, 5001 Squadron and the Mobile Catering Support Unit (MCSU). The role of its 420 personnel is to establish air and sea ports of disembarkation and the associated supply chain required by the front line squadrons.

The Lockheed C-130K Hercules has long been the mainstay of RAF transport operations. Since September 1971, these have all been based at RAF Lyneham, and today C.1s and stretched C.3s are flown by 47 and LXX squadrons. Ten C-130J Hercules C.5 and 15 stretched C.4s were ordered in November 1993 to re-equip 24 and 30 Squadrons. The four squadrons are supported by crews from 1359 Flight, an RAuxAF unit.

Also at Lyneham is 1 Air Movements Wing, previously known as the United Kingdom Mobile Air Movements Squadron. It operates as a tactical air movement specialist, providing world-wide movement teams to handle the RAF Transport Fleet aircraft where and when required. RAF Lyneham is also the home of the tactical Medical Wing, which supports and supplies all medical services to deployed RAF personnel.

The handful of Hercules C.1s still in service are used mainly to support special operations forces, alongside some C.3s, although most of the stretched aircraft are used as standard transports on ‘truck’ routes. The Hercules fleet is also tasked in the transport support role, which involves providing airlift for the lead airborne task force of 16 Air Assault Brigade (Britain’s rapid reaction force), and also responds to crisis situations, such as evacuating UK nationals from war zones.

Since 1992, at least one Hercules has supported on-going overseas operations, with the number of aircraft involved steadily increasing over time. In 2007, C-130J crews spent, on average, one-third of their time on deployment. An on-going deployment to the Falkland Islands involves one Hercules (usually a C.1) to provide transport support and undertake maritime surveillance.

‘A’ Flight of 30 squadron is currently deployed at Al Udeid and is responsible for flying the nightly re-supply sortie to Basra in Iraq. From February 2006 four Hercules have been based in Afghanistan for in-theatre airlift, moving supplies from Kandahar to Camp Bastion. Hercules in Afghanistan also air-drop supplies to isolated contingents of British troops in remote corners of Helmand Province. These and other operations have not been without loss – to date three Hercules

have been destroyed in Afghanistan and Iraq, leaving 43 in the current fleet. The Hercules are due to relocate to RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, and in 2011 RAF Lyneham will close.

No.99 Squadron, which has flown the C-17A heavy lift transport since it first joined the unit on May 17, 2001, is already there. The original four leased aircraft will be bought outright and joined by an additional pair in 2008. No.99 Squadron has used its aircraft extensively, moving supplies to support British military commitments across the globe. In the first year, the RAF’s Globemasters exceeded their expected operating hours by 60%, and on November 19, 2007, the four aircraft recorded their combined 10,000th flight hour.

From the same Oxfordshire airfield, 101 and 216 Squadrons fly Vickers VC-10s and Lockheed Tristars respectively. Ten VC-10 C.1Ks, four K.3s and two K.4s remain in service. No.101 squadron maintains a detachment at Al Udeid to support operations in the Middle East, while also providing one aircraft (usually a K.3) for 1312 Flight to give air-refuelling capability for 1435 Flight’s Tornado F.3s.

The Tristar fleet is made up of four KC.1s (with freight doors) and two K.1s (with seating for 187 passengers) equipped for the air transport and air-to-air refuelling roles, plus two C.2s and a single C.2A used exclusively as transports. The C.2/C.2As carry up to 266 passengers world-wide in support of exercises and operations, including regular runs down to the Falklands.

No.32 (the Royal) Squadron at RAF Northolt, London, is tasked with providing transport for members of the Royal Family, Government ministers and senior military officers, as well as undertaking the communications role. The unit’s ‘C’, ‘B’ and ‘A’ Flights are equipped with three Agusta Westland A109E Powers, six Hs 125 CC.3s and two BAe 146 CC.2s, respectively. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’ Flights regularly support Operations Herrick and Telic in theatre. Northolt also plays host to a pair of Britten-Norman Islanders.