Three submarine-hunting Merlins have been taken off regular duties and fliers, crews, engineers and logistics personnel have been assigned to NHS back-up.
Commander Chris Knowles of 820 Squadron told CCN: “‘It’s a change – very different from our ordinary role. But jobs like this are in our DNA.
Commander Knowles (whose men at the base know him by the conspiracy-theory-themed nickname ‘Grassy’) added: “It demands a real team effort.
“For us here at Culdrose that means getting aircraft and the crews ready, and all the logistical support in place.
“We have to provide air traffic controllers, and meteorological information, so we can operate 24 hours a day.”
“But now is a real moment for everyone to pull together.So at Culdrose this is how we can help out the nation and the National Health Service in testing times.”
820 Squadron air and ground crews re-assigned to Covid duties are working 12 hours on 12 hours off.
Battle-ready aircraft have been stripped of their operational load of Sting-Ray Torpedoes, Mk11 Depth Charges and a M3m .50 Calibre Machine Gun.
Instead space has been made for multiple stretchers, and food stores.
Day-to-day 820 expect to be serving as air ambulance, transporting paramedics with NHS and South Western Ambulance Service.
Back at the base, teams of engineers and technicians as well as medics, air traffic controllers, safety and logistic experts are all assigned Covid duty
Uniforms, field equipment and the helicopter structure will be thoroughly and regularly decontaminated.
Commander James Hall of Maritime Merlin Force explained: “”We train our people to do this type of task all of the time.
“They have the skills to deliver, whether at sea or on land.”
He added: “We’reall very aware we have an important role to play in supporting the nation at this difficult time.
“We will make every effort to provide this contribution and make a difference in our region.
For some Navy personnel it won’t be the first time they’ve responded to a viral epidemic.
Helicopters from 820 Naval Air Squadron supported the UK’s response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa over the winter of 2014 to 2015.