Hercules C130 Detachment

The Hercules C-130J is the Royal Air Force’s Tactical Air Transport asset deployed in support of Op TELIC. Serving an area that is roughly three times the length of the UK, the Hercules C-130J Detachment has moved a total of 2,500 Tonnes of freight and over 12,000 personnel during the recent Relief in Place, where service personnel and their equipment were rotated through the UK to Iraq.

The main requirement of the Hercules C-130J Detachment is to provide an efficient service to personnel who are either deploying to theatre, returning on ‘R&R’ or returning home. The Detachment provides transport to ferry personnel via the strategic hub, to their final location.

Working in the intense heat of the Middle East, pallets are prepared with essential supplies and equipment for loading onto the aircraft. Support staff work around the clock to ensure the loads are ready for when the aircraft is due to depart.

The work is exhausting, but very rewarding to know that the contribution made by Detachment personnel makes all the difference to forces on the front line.

There is constant interaction between the Operations, Movements and Engineering staff to ensure personnel and freight are moved as efficiently as possible. The aim is to move away from a ‘bus timetable’ and move towards a ‘taxi schedule’. In other words, ‘what needs moving to where and when?’ This will reduce the number of missions which, in turn, minimizes risk and maximizes airlift capacity.

Photographs: MOD.

Image one: Movers at Al Udeid load a C130J for onward flight in to theatre.