A Detached MERLIN Flight – As a sidelight on the news that the Type 23 Frigate SUTHERLAND is deploying to the Indian Ocean to join the fight against piracy, people-trafficking and drugs, as part of Operation KIPION is some detail of the embarked MERLIN Flight.   Aircrew and engineers from 829 Naval Air Squadron embarked on the SUTHERLAND with their MERLIN H.M.1.  headed by Lieutenant (Pilot), who is accompanied by another pilot, an observer, an aircrewman, nine engineers and two Royal Marines, who will act as the aircraft's sniper team, some fifteen (15) in all.

Operation KIPION, is the multinational tasking within the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Gulf and as part of the duties SUTHERLAND will assist in counter-piracy operations within the area as well as surveillance for counter-drug, people and weapon trafficking.