Fleet Air Arm
Association of Australia
723 Squadron
723 Squadron
723 Squadron first commissioned into the RAN on 7 April 1952 with one Dakota, one Wirraway, one Sea Otter and two Sea Fury aircraft.
The Squadron’s role was to support the Australian Anti-Submarine School (later known as AJASS).
On 11 March 1953, the Squadron received the RAN’s first rotary wing aircraft - three Bristol Sycamore helicopters - adding search and rescue, rotary wing training and fleet support to the Squadron’s roles.
By 1956, the Squadron had grown considerably, operating a wide range of aircraft including Sea Furies, the Dakota, Wirraways, a Sea Otter, Fireflies, Vampire jets, an Otter communications aircraft and Sycamore helicopters.
723 Squadron decommissioned on 25 October 1956, recommissioning on 18 February 1957 with five Sycamore helicopters, two Austers and two Firefly target tugs.
In November 1962, the fixed wing aircraft were transferred to 724 Squadron and 723 became an all-helicopter Squadron.
Shortly thereafter, the renamed HT 723 took on charge two Westland Scouts in April 1962 and six Bell UH1B Iroquois in May 1964. The former supported survey operations of the hydrographic ship HMAS Moresby while the latter replaced the Sycamores.
With Australian’s entry into the Vietnam conflict, HT 723 formed the RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam in October 1967 for operational training of Iroquois crews.
Four contingents of the RANHFV served in Vietnam between 1967 and 1971. The Flight was fully integrated with the US Army 135th Assault Helicopter Company, the unit becoming known as the EMUs (Experimental Military Unit).
During 1973, the Westland Scout helicopters were replaced by three Bell 206B-1 Kiowa helicopters.
The Kiowas embarked on HMAS Moresby and for brief periods in HMA Ships Stalwart, Sydney, Adelaide, Tobruk and Jervis Bay.
By the time the Kiowa retired in 2000, the Squadron had operated up to six airframes.
With the decommissioning of HT 725 in 1976, HC 723 received four Westland Wessex 31B helicopters stripped of their anti-submarine warfare equipment, for utility support.
Wessex numbers increased to 10 in 1979 when the Squadron was tasked with additional Army support roles.
In 1984, the Wessex were transferred to the newly-commissioned HU 816, and HC 723 took delivery of six AS350B Squirrel helicopters for aircrew training and utility duties.
The Squirrels were also embarked on the RAN’s new guided missile frigates (FFG) as the interim FFG helicopter.
Two Hawker Siddley HS 748 fixed wing aircraft joined the Squadron in 1984 to provide electronic warfare training and VIP transport for the RAN. Both HS 748 aircraft retired from service in 2000.
On the decommissioning of HU 816 in June 1987, HC 723 received five Wessex for search and rescue, fleet support and the HMAS Success flight. Both the Wessex and Iroquois were retired from service in 1989.
723 Squadron is now complemented with 13 AS350BA Squirrels. Since 1984, the Squirrels have served with all FFGs and, as an integrated embarked capability, saw service during the 1990-91 Gulf War and in East Timor.
In 2002, 723 Squadron celebrated 50 years of service and is providing basic rotary wing training for all RAN aircrew.
See also: RAN Sea Power website or return to Index of Squadrons