With many personnel deployed over the festive period, supporting Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ships and other operations, the year is not over for RNAS Culdrose's 1700 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) – but what a year it has been.

Not only did 1700 NAS win the Australia Shield, awarded to the Front-Line Squadron achieving the highest degree of operational capability over the year, the squadron’s weapon engineers also claimed second and third place in the Jonathon Pearce Trophy for providing high levels of Phalanx Operational Capability.

Lt Cdr Gordon, Commanding Officer of 1700 NAS, was awarded the Australia Shield by Rear Admiral K E Blount ACNS (A&C) at RNAS Culdrose’s station Divisions. Previously known as the Maritime Aviation Support Force (MASF,) 1700 NAS has seen an unprecedented amount of activity over the last twelve months.

Operating globally in support of numerous operations, it has undoubtedly been a “strategic force multiplier” at both Tri-Service and multi-national levels. Rear Admiral Keith Blount CB OBE FRAeS, Head of the Fleet Air Arm said that “1700 NAS has unequivocally delivered repeatedly across the broadest of portfolios.”

The weapon engineers were awarded the Jonathon Pearce Trophies for providing high level of Phalanx Operational Capability on RFA Fort Rosalie and RFA Cardigan Bay.

The recognition is just reward for the team's high engineering standards and ability to operate and maintain the Close In Weapon System in extreme environments East of Suez.

Squadron Weapon Engineering Officer Lt Jason Jones declared that he is “extremely proud of his department and hopefully next year they will claim first place".

Lt Cdr Daniel Gordon said: “I am extremely proud of all the achievements of my squadron this year, whether it’s our squadron flight deck officers endorsing ships' flight decks; medical teams deployed on operations globally; Phalanx teams operating and maintaining Close in Weapons Systems East of Suez; logistic personnel supporting operational flights or the squadron flights regenerating RFA Fort Victoria or RFA Argus.

"We have consistently delivered. The roles that we are fulfilling are vital.”