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The UK is to deploy the Army Air Corps’ Apache AH1 as part of Operation Ellamy, the British contribution to Operation Unified Protector, the NATO no-fly zone over Libya.
The Apaches will operate from HMS Ocean where 656 Squadron from 4 Regiment, normally based at Wattisham Airfield in Suffolk, is currently embarked. In a significant milestone on May 13, the Apache was cleared to operate Hellfire missiles from the sea during Exercise Cougar 11, a long-planned exercise near Gibraltar. In total, 550 30mm machine gun rounds and nine radar-guided Hellfire missiles were fired, achieving a 100% strike rate.
Major Mike Neville, who commands 656 Squadron, said "We proved that Apache can operate effectively from a Royal Navy ship, transporting munitions from the ship's magazine, aircraft upload, launch, firing and then recover.”
It is expected that four Apaches will be deployed aboard HMS Ocean for operations in the Mediterranean.