From high ocean winds battering the rotor blades to saltwater spray threatening corrosion, if RAF Chinooks are to embark on an aircraft carrier, it needs to be shielded from the elements – and fast.
Transferring a helicopter from the flight deck to the hangar is a delicate operation, and one which personnel from the RAF and HMS Queen Elizabeth execute in only 60 seconds via a sidelift.
The whole evolution is a key element of Exercise Hathi Pol – Hindi for 'elephant gate' – an opportunity for Chinook crews to work in the challenging seagoing environment of the Atlantic Ocean.
Earning your sea legs
Unlike helicopters operated by the Navy, such as the Merlin Mk2, the Chinook – a heavy-lift helicopter used primarily for troop transport, resupply and casualty evacuation – is not specifically designed for the maritime domain.
At 99ft long, a Chinook just about fits onto the aircraft lift, its nose protruding over the edge, its rotors spread. Fitting it onto cramped hangar decks is a space-consuming challenge.
Built for land-based operations, it also lacks the extensive marinisation of its naval compatriot, including anti-corrosion treatments, sealed components and specialised materials built to withstand saltwater spray.
In this instance, speed is everything.
Crews must quickly lower the 12-tonne helicopter to the hangar deck level to perform maintenance away from the worst of the weather.
It presents a test for both RAF and Royal Navy personnel, particularly the latter, who must operate on a busy flight deck alongside aircraft they do not routinely work with.
The training means Chinooks can safely operate at sea from either HMS Queen Elizabeth or her sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, for key operations where heavy lift is required, such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief or non-combatant evacuation operation missions.
The two-week workout under Ex Hathi Pol concluded with the Chinooks on deck as the carrier arrived in Gibraltar for a week-long visit to the Rock.
The carrier was joined by Gib's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, Deputy Governor Marc Holland, and Commander British Forces Commodore Tim Davey for her entry into harbour, with 150 of the territory's leading lights hosted on board for a capability demonstration.
More than 300 members of the ship's company also had the chance to tackle the infamous Rock Race from Gibraltar Naval Base to the summit.
A gruelling 1,300ft climb over a short distance of 2.7 miles early in the morning darkness rewarded the lucky few with an unforgettable sight of the sun rising over the Rock.
Nato's command ship
HMS Queen Elizabeth's arrival in Gibraltar comes amid a 12-week deployment around the UK and northern Europe.
The training in the autumn will build the foundations for more complex exercises coming next year, including Nato's Steadfast Defender.
The 65,000-tonne vessel is currently on standby to serve as Nato's command ship for the Allied Reaction Force, having assumed the role earlier in the year.
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