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Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 14 (HSC-14) "Chargers" is an aviation unit of the
United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
based at
Naval Air Station North Island Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island , at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay in San Diego, California, is part of the largest aerospace-industrial complex in the United States Navy – Naval Base Coronado (N ...
,
California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
(USA). HSC-14 was established as Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 14 (HS-14) in 1984 and was redesignated HSC-14 in 2013. The squadron is equipped with the
Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk The Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk (or Sea Hawk) is a twin turboshaft engine, multi-mission United States Navy helicopter based on the United States Army UH-60 Black Hawk and a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family. The most significant modificati ...
.


Mission

HSC-14 flies the MH-60S Seahawk helicopter, an all-weather, day and night multi-mission helicopter. The primary mission of the squadron is
Anti-Surface Warfare Anti-surface warfare (ASuW or ASUW) is the branch of naval warfare concerned with the suppression of surface combatants. More generally, it is any weapons, sensors, or operations intended to attack or limit the effectiveness of an adversary's ...
(ASUW). Additionally, the squadron is trained and equipped to conduct
Search and rescue Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...
(SAR),
MEDEVAC Medical evacuation, often shortened to medevac or medivac, is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to patients requiring evacuation or transport using medically equipped air ambulances, helicopters an ...
,
Combat Search and Rescue Combat search and rescue (CSAR) are search and rescue operations that are carried out during war that are within or near combat zones. A CSAR mission may be carried out by a task force of helicopters, ground-attack aircraft, aerial refueling ta ...
(CSAR), Naval Special Warfare operations (NSW), Anti-ship Missile Defense (ASMD) and Fleet Logistics support, including
VERTREP Vertical replenishment, or VERTREP, is a method of underway replenishment, supply of seaborne vessels by helicopter. The United States Department of Defense defines VERTREP as: ...the transfer of cargo between ships using helicopters. VERTREP is ...
.


Command history

HS-14 was established on 10 July 1984 at
Naval Air Station North Island Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island , at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay in San Diego, California, is part of the largest aerospace-industrial complex in the United States Navy – Naval Base Coronado (N ...
in San Diego, California and originally flew the Sikorsky SH-3H "Sea King" helicopter. Assigned to
Carrier Air Wing TWO Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The air wing is currently attached to the aircraft carrier . Subordinate units CVW-2 consists of 8 squadrons and 1 detachment (V ...
from 1984 to 1993, the Chargers deployed aboard the
aircraft carrier An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and hangar facilities for supporting, arming, deploying and recovering carrier-based aircraft, shipborne aircraft. Typically it is the ...
. In 1989, while deployed off the coast of Vietnam in the
South China Sea The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by South China, in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan island, Taiwan and northwestern Philippines (mainly Luz ...
, HS-14 participated in one of the largest rescue operations ever by a deployed helicopter squadron when they rescued 37 Vietnamese refugees who were trapped aboard a foundering boat. In 1991, HS-14 participated in
Operation Desert Shield , combatant2 = , commander1 = , commander2 = , strength1 = Over 950,000 soldiers3,113 tanks1,800 aircraft2,200 artillery systems , page = https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-96- ...
and
Desert Storm , combatant2 = , commander1 = , commander2 = , strength1 = Over 950,000 soldiers3,113 tanks1,800 aircraft2,200 artillery systems , page = https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-PEMD-96- ...
. During Desert Storm, the Chargers participated in an operation that resulted in the capture of four Iraqi
commando A commando is a combatant, or operative of an elite light infantry or special operations force, specially trained for carrying out raids and operating in small teams behind enemy lines. Originally, "a commando" was a type of combat unit, as oppo ...
s on a small island off the coast of Kuwait. Additionally, HS-14 played an important role in the destruction of one Iraqi
gunboat A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies. History Pre-steam ...
and two anti-shipping mines. In 1992, the squadron deployed in support of
Operation Southern Watch Operation Southern Watch was an air-centric military operation conducted by the United States Department of Defense from August 1992 to March 2003. United States Central Command's Joint Task Force Southwest Asia (JTF-SWA) had the mission of moni ...
to the Northern
Persian Gulf The Persian Gulf, sometimes called the Arabian Gulf, is a Mediterranean seas, mediterranean sea in West Asia. The body of water is an extension of the Arabian Sea and the larger Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.Un ...
and to the coast of Somalia in support of Operation Restore Hope. In December 1992, the squadron surged to support the first eleven days of Operation Restore Hope with such determination and efficiency that the operational commander wrote, "without HS-14, the first ten days of RESTORE HOPE simply could not have happened." In May 1993, the squadron moved 175 men and women, seven aircraft, and all their support equipment from San Diego to
Mayport, Florida Mayport is a small community located between Naval Station Mayport and the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida. It is part of the Jacksonville Beaches communities on San Pablo Island. The only public road to Mayport is State Road A1A, wh ...
in four days. The cross-country move was executed to embark on board for her transit around South America to San Diego. During this transit, the squadron participated in coordinated
anti-submarine warfare Anti-submarine warfare (ASW, or in the older form A/S) is a branch of underwater warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, submarines, or other platforms, to find, track, and deter, damage, or destroy enemy submarines. Such operations ar ...
(ASW) with several South American navies. In October 1993, the Chargers began the transition from the Sea King to the SH-60F Seahawk helicopter. Soon afterward, military downsizing dictated the decommissioning of HS-12, a sister squadron in Japan. For HS-14, this meant an accelerated transition schedule and training program to complete a homeport change to Atsugi, Japan by October 1994. The squadron's progress in this endeavor was rewarded with a personal visit from then
Chief of Naval Operations The chief of naval operations (CNO) is the highest-ranking officer of the United States Navy. The position is a statutory office () held by an Admiral (United States), admiral who is a military adviser and deputy to the United States Secretary ...
, Admiral Frank B. Kelso. HS-14 executed back-to-back deployments to the Persian Gulf in 1998 and 1999, participating in Operation Southern Watch. Additionally, the squadron began its annual participation in the bilateral exercises Foal Eagle and ANNUALEX. In 1998, the Chargers made their permanent sea-based home, traveling to
Hawaii Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...
aboard in July for the complicated cross-deck move. In early 2002, the HS-14 supported
Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used by the U.S. government for both the first stage (2001–2014) of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) and the larger-scale Global War on Terrorism. On 7 October 2001, in response ...
in Afghanistan by deploying a detachment on board USS ''Kitty Hawk''. During this deployment, ''Kitty Hawk'' served as a mobile staging base for elite
United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...
special operations units. In March 2003, as the situation in Iraq escalated, HS-14 and ''Kitty Hawk'' received orders to participate in Operation
Iraqi Freedom The Iraq War (), also referred to as the Second Gulf War, was a prolonged conflict in Iraq lasting from 2003 to 2011. It began with the invasion by a United States-led coalition, which resulted in the overthrow of the Ba'athist governm ...
. The Chargers were assigned to provide a
naval special warfare The United States Naval Special Warfare Command (USNSWC), also known as NAVSPECWARCOM and WARCOM, is the naval component of United States Special Operations Command, the unified command that oversees and conducts the nation's special operatio ...
(NSW) capability to forward operating bases in support of
SEAL Seal may refer to any of the following: Common uses * Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly: ** Earless seal, also called "true seal" ** Fur seal ** Eared seal * Seal ( ...
operations. The squadron also affected the recovery of a
CVW-5 Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier . It was initially formed in 1943. It has participated in the Second World ...
strike fighter pilot who was downed in hostile territory. After returning from the Persian Gulf, HS-14 participated in several training and operational deployments, including the historic PULSE EX 2004. This exercise represented a shift in naval policy from set "work-up" periods and deployment schedules to a rapid-responding, surge capable force. During PULSE EX the Navy deployed six carriers simultaneously around the world to demonstrate the projection of power available under the new doctrine. It was during this deployment that an
S-3B Viking The Lockheed S-3 Viking is a four-crew, twin-engine turbofan-powered jet aircraft designed and produced by the American aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Corporation. Because of its characteristic sound, it was nicknamed the "War Hoover" after t ...
from
CVW-14 Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14), was a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. Mission To conduct carrier air warfare operations and assist in the planning, control, coordination and integ ...
crashed on the remote and rugged island of Kita Iwo Jima. HS-14 deployed two Seahawks within three hours to Iwo Jima to conduct search and recovery operations. Working closely with
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
Pararescuemen Pararescuemen (also known as Pararescue Jumpers or PJs) are United States Air Force Special operations, special operators who conduct personnel recovery and combat search and rescue operations as well as other missions for the U.S. military and ...
from 33rd Rescue Squadron, the
cruiser A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several operational roles from search-and-destroy to ocean escort to sea ...
and the
frigate A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied. The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and maneuvera ...
, HS-14 was able to locate the wreckage, salvage parts of the aircraft and return the remains of the Viking crew. This accomplishment was noted in a personal letter from President
George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who was the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Bush family and the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he i ...
to the wife of one of the fallen aviators. In the fall of 2004, an HS-14 detachment deployed two HH-60H helicopters on board in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Philippines. The overall effort proved to be a success and established the HS community as a leading participant in the Global War on Terrorism. In the first week of December 2004, typhoons Imbudo and Namando struck the Philippines, causing extensive damage. Helicopters of HS-14 provided humanitarian assistance. The squadron was able to provide immediate relief to the most stricken victims of the typhoons and rescue over 100 refugees. At the same time, another HS-14 detachment was deployed on board the guided-missile cruiser to support several
7th Fleet The Seventh Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy. It is headquartered at U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka, in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It is part of the United States Pacific Fleet. At present, it is the largest of th ...
ASW exercises, operating in conjunction with the
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force The , abbreviated , also simply known as the Japanese Navy, is the maritime warfare branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. The JMSDF was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy ( ...
(JMSDF). Additionally, the squadron operated a third detachment out of Atsugi, Japan. After being deployed or detached eleven out of twelve months in 2004, the HS-14 operated from ''Kitty Hawk'' in January 2005, operating off the southeast coast of Japan. In February 2005, the squadron deployed for routine training operations in the Okinawa Fleet Operations Areas. Simultaneously, HS-14 deployed a one-plane detachment and 18 personnel to the destroyer to operate with Destroyer Squadron 15 in bilateral ASW operations with the
South Korean Navy The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN; ), also known as the ROK Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the South Korean armed forces, responsible for naval and amphibious operations. The South Korean navy includes the Republic of Korea Marine C ...
. After some rest and relaxation in
Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...
, ''Kitty Hawk'' headed north toward Korea for Operation Foal Eagle. HS-14 spent most of the year deployed and participating in exercises such as Talisman Saber, Orange Crush, JASEX, SHAREM, MULTI-SAIL, and ANNUALEX.


2006

June 2006 marked the start of another eventful summer deployment aboard ''Kitty Hawk'' for HS-14. Before deploying, HS-14 earned the "Golden Wrench Award" for having the most outstanding maintenance department in the airwing. This marked the third time the Chargers had taken home the award, more than any other squadron in CVW-5. With maintenance operating at full potential and the flight crews ready to fight, the Chargers were ready to start the cruise. The deployment began with a short port call to
Otaru is a Cities of Japan, city and Seaports of Japan, port in Shiribeshi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan, northwest of Sapporo. The city faces Ishikari Bay and the Sea of Japan, and has long served as the main port of the bay. With its many historical ...
, Japan, a suburb of
Sapporo is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in Hokkaido, Japan. Located in the southwest of Hokkaido, it lies within the alluvial fan of the Toyohira River, a tributary of the Ishikari River. Sapporo is the capital ...
on the Japanese island of
Hokkaido is the list of islands of Japan by area, second-largest island of Japan and comprises the largest and northernmost prefectures of Japan, prefecture, making up its own list of regions of Japan, region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō fr ...
. After Otaru, ''Kitty Hawk''s Carrier Strike Group Five joined up with Carrier Strike Group Nine, led by , and the
Carrier Strike Group A carrier strike group (CSG) is a type of carrier battle group of the United States Navy. It is an operational formation composed of roughly 7,500 personnel, usually an aircraft carrier, at least one cruiser, a destroyer Squadron (naval), squad ...
, along with
Marine Corps Marines (or naval infantry) are military personnel generally trained to operate on both land and sea, with a particular focus on amphibious warfare. Historically, the main tasks undertaken by marines have included raiding ashore (often in supp ...
, Air Force, and various foreign militaries for the largest operation in over a decade, Valiant Shield. This exercise involved more than 30 ships, 280 aircraft, and 22,000 sailors, marines, and airmen, and focused on the strike groups' ability to maintain a very robust air strike schedule while being attacked by multiple submarine and surface threats. HS-14 performed incredibly, scoring many simulated torpedo attacks on the American, Australian, and Singaporean attacking subs, while allowing almost no attacks against the carrier ''Kitty Hawk''. While defending the carrier from simulated submarine attacks, HS-14 also had a dedicated Combat Search and Rescue detachment working out of Guam. This detachment focused on joint operations with HS-2 while conducting NSW insertions and extractions. The detachment also gave the crews a chance to learn different techniques when operating in low light, tactical environments. HS-14 worked with several other units from different services and countries during the remainder of the year. Further exercises included "Allies in the Outback", ANNUALEX, and an Atsugi CSAR Detachment.


2007

In 2007, HS-14 sent a four helicopter detachment to
Kadena Air Base (International Air Transport Association airport code, IATA: DNA, International Civil Aviation Organization airport code, ICAO: RODN) is a United States Air Force base in the towns of Kadena, Okinawa, Kadena and Chatan, Okinawa, Chatan and the ...
on the island of Okinawa, Japan to practice weapons employment and terrain flying. The crews were able to take advantage of the area's weapons ranges and fired two
AGM-114 Hellfire The AGM-114 Hellfire is an American missile developed for anti-armor use, later developed for precision drone strikes against other target types, especially high-value targets. It was originally developed under the name " Heliborne laser, fi ...
missiles and three Mk 46 practice torpedoes. Additionally, HS-14 practiced joint operations with multiple commands and services. HS-14 practiced anti-submarine warfare tracking and attacking techniques with the
P-3C Orion The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engined, turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. It is based on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner by Lockheed; it is ea ...
aircraft from Patrol Squadron 4. HS-14 was also able to practice fast roping, rappelling, and High Altitude Low Opening and static-line paradrops with the 1st of the 1st Airborne Rangers, U.S. Army. The 320th Tactics Squadron also worked with HS-14 practicing similar techniques. ''Kitty Hawk'', began another deployment in May, making stops in
Guam Guam ( ; ) is an island that is an Territories of the United States, organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. Guam's capital is Hagåtña, Guam, Hagåtña, and the most ...
,
Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
,
Brisbane Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...
, Guam again, and
Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur (KL), officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, is the capital city and a Federal Territories of Malaysia, federal territory of Malaysia. It is the largest city in the country, covering an area of with a census population ...
. HS-14 participated in multiple exercises during the deployment, including Talisman Saber, Valiant Shield, and Malabar 2007. During a port call in
Muroran is a city and port located in Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Iburi Subprefecture. As of January 31, 2024, the city had an estimated population of 76,385, with 43,494 households and a population density of . The ...
, Northern Japan, in October, HS-14 detached two HH-60Hs and four aircrews to
Misawa Air Base is an air base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), List of United States Air Force installations, the United States Air Force, and the United States Navy located in Misawa, Aomori, Misawa, Aomori Prefecture, Aomori, in the northern p ...
for FLIR/Hellfire training. The detachment rejoined ''Kitty Hawk'' prior to ANNUALEX 19G, the naval portion of a larger U.S./Japanese exercise. Following the exercise, Carrier Strike Group Five made international headlines when it was denied entrance to the port of Hong Kong for the Thanksgiving holiday. HS-14 returned to Atsugi in early December.


2008

HS-14 began 2008 with another weapons detachment to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, beginning in early February. The detachment used four helicopters to fire Hellfire missiles, drop torpedoes, and conduct ASW, CSAR, NSW, and close air support (CAS) training with Marines, Air Force, and Army personnel. Detachment "B" joined the guided missile destroyer in January 2008 and conducted independent operations until March. HS-14's main body embarked aboard ''Kitty Hawk'' for
sea trial A sea trial or trial trip is the testing phase of a watercraft (including boats, ships, and submarines). It is also referred to as a "shakedown cruise" by many naval personnel. It is usually the last phase of construction and takes place on op ...
s in March, followed by workups in April, including a port call at Hong Kong. Detachment A embarked aboard the guided missile cruisers and from February through May. Carrier Strike Group Five left Yokosuka in May, marking ''Kitty Hawk''s final departure from Japan. Detachment A rejoined the main squadron aboard ''Kitty Hawk'' for this cruise, while Detachment B returned to NAF Atsugi. The strike group visited Guam in June, then proceeded to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. At the end of the port call, HS-14 Detachment A "Misfits" debarked ''Kitty Hawk'' and embarked aboard the guided missile frigate as its air department for exercise
RIMPAC The Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) is the world's largest international maritime warfare exercise. RIMPAC is held biennially during June and July of even-numbered years from Honolulu, Hawaii, with the exception of 2020 where it was held ...
2008. HS-14 Det. A conducted intensive ASW operations in a separate surface action group, providing support as a "pouncing" aircraft, as well multiple logistics flights in support of the ship. HS-14's main body aboard ''Kitty Hawk'' provided similar support to Carrier Strike Group Five. Following RIMPAC, ''Kitty Hawk'' proceeded to San Diego as the carrier was replaced by . Before arriving in San Diego, HS-14 provided
VERTREP Vertical replenishment, or VERTREP, is a method of underway replenishment, supply of seaborne vessels by helicopter. The United States Department of Defense defines VERTREP as: ...the transfer of cargo between ships using helicopters. VERTREP is ...
for ''Kitty Hawk''s ammunition offload. The squadron moved over 900 loads in two days. CVW-5 flew off ''Kitty Hawk'' for the final time off the coast of
California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
on 6 August. HS-14 provided photographic platforms for the flyoff, then flew off to
Naval Air Station North Island Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island , at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay in San Diego, California, is part of the largest aerospace-industrial complex in the United States Navy – Naval Base Coronado (N ...
on 7 August. When HS-14 landed at North Island that morning, it marked 14 years since the squadron was forward deployed to Japan. After ''Kitty Hawk'' tied up at NAS North Island, CVW-5 immediately began crossdeck operations required to establish itself aboard ''George Washington''. For two weeks in August, HS-14 was divided between ''Kitty Hawk'', ''George Washington'', and HS-4's squadron spaces ashore. ''George Washington'' pulled out of San Diego with CVW-5 embarked on 21 August. HS-14 flew aboard that afternoon, and following a Blue Water Certification and workups over the next couple weeks, the aircraft carrier began its trek west. The following month consisted of heavy flight operations for HS-14, to get CVW-5 and the ''George Washington'' Air Department working together as a cohesive team. ''George Washington'' arrived at Yokosuka on 25 September. 2008 Fall Cruise began on 30 September. HS-14 left a CSAR detachment back aboard NAF Atsugi for the month of October. Along with Detachment B, the composite detachment managed to qualify several pilots and aircrew in CSAR Syllabus. HS-14's main body continued to provide ASW and SAR service to ''George Washington'' as the Strike Group visited
Pusan Busan (), officially Busan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's second most populous city after Seoul, with a population of over 3.3 million as of 2024. Formerly romanized as Pusan, it is the economic, cultural and educational center of southe ...
, South Korea, and Guam. Following the Guam port visit, Detachment A left the ship to embark the guided-missile cruiser , while Detachment B departed Japan aboard . Both ships joined the ''George Washington'' Strike Group for ANNUALEX 20G, an exercise involving US and Japanese surface, subsurface, and air units. During the exercise, HS-14 provided round the clock ASW coverage, with ''George Washington''-based helicopters covering days and detachment helicopters covering nights. The squadron scored numerous
submarine A submarine (often shortened to sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. (It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability.) The term "submarine" is also sometimes used historically or infor ...
kills, helping to validate the detachment concept. HS-14 and CVW-5 returned to Atsugi on 21 November, marking nearly nine months of underway time for the air wing in 2008.


2009

During the 2009 Summer Deployment HS-14 participated in TALISMAN SABRE 2009. While the main body of HS-14 supported the air wing on the West coast of Australia, Detachment Bravo, on the destroyer conducted continuous ASW missions in support of multinational operations. In conjunction with two permanent Detachments, the Chargers sent a temporary detachment to Darwin, Australia to work with Australia Special Forces. As the Summer Deployment wound down, HS-14 celebrated both their 25th birthday on 10 July marking 25 years of service and 50,000 hours Class "A" mishap free. During the Fall Deployment (October – November 2009), HS-14 flew over 500 additional Class "A" mishap free hours. While Chargers on board ''George Washington'' worked ASW for Talisman Sabre, Detachment Bravo conducted actual ASW operations tracking a Russian . For the squadron's unequaled performance in its primary mission areas of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASU) they were awarded with the 2009 Captain Arnold Jay Isbell Trophy for Anti-Submarine and Anti-Surface Warfare Excellence.


2010

From 19 February to 5 March, HS-14 sent a detachment to Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan. During this detachment the squadron flew over 250 hours enhancing their readiness for the 2010 Deployment.


2011

HS-14 and HSL-51 conducted humanitarian flights over Japan since 11 March 2011 as part of
Operation Tomodachi was a United States Armed Forces (especially United States Forces Japan, U.S. Forces Japan) assistance operation to support Japan in Emergency management, disaster relief following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The operation took pl ...
from Naval Air Facility Misawa.


2013

In March 2013, HS-14 left Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) at NAF Atsugi, Japan, and conducted a permanent duty station change to
NAS North Island Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island , at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay in San Diego, California, is part of the largest aerospace-industrial complex in the United States Navy – Naval Base Coronado ...
. HS-14 transitioned to the MH-60S Seahawk helicopter and was redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron FOURTEEN (HSC-14) in July. HSC-14 is currently assigned to
Carrier Air Wing Nine Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The Air Wing is currently assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). The Tail Code of aircraft assigned to ...
(CVW-9) which deploys aboard .


HS-14 achievements

HS-14 celebrated over thirteen years and 50,000 mishap-free flight hours in August 2009. The squadron's impressive history is highlighted by many awards including *Navy Unit Commendation Medal – 1991 (
OPERATION DESERT STORM Operation or Operations may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity * Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory * ''Operations'' (magazine), Multi-Man ...
), 1998 ( USS ''Independence'' (CV-62)) *Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal – 1989, 1994, and 1996 while attached to
CVW-2 Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The air wing is currently attached to the aircraft carrier . Subordinate units CVW-2 consists of 8 squadrons and 1 detachment (V ...
, USS ''Ranger'' (CV-61), and the USS ''Independence'' (CV-62) Battle Group *Seven Battle Efficiency Awards – 1989, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004, and 2010 *Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal – 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1998, 1999, and 2003 *
Joint Meritorious Unit Award The Joint Meritorious Unit Award (JMUA) is a US military award that was established on June 4, 1981, by Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and was implemented by Department of Defense Directive 1348.27 dated July 22, 1982. The Joint Meritor ...
– 1993 *Humanitarian Service Medal – 2001 ( USS ''Gary'' (FFG-51)) *Southwest Asia Service Medal -1991 *Nine Chief of Naval Operations Safety Awards – 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2006, and 2010 *Two consecutive DESRON SEVEN "Golden Arrow" Awards *Nine Arnold J. Isbell Awards for ASW and ASUW excellence – 1993, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2010 *Admiral John S. Thatch Award for ASW excellence – 2003 *Three
CVW-5 Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier . It was initially formed in 1943. It has participated in the Second World ...
Maintenance Excellence "Golden Wrench" Awards – 2nd Qtr. 03, 2nd Qtr. 04, 4th Qtr. 04, 1st Qtr. 06


See also

*
History of the United States Navy The history of the United States Navy divides into two major periods: the "Old Navy", a small but respected force of sailing ships that became notable for innovation in the use of ironclads during the American Civil War, and the "New Navy" ...
*
List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons This is a list of active United States Navy aircraft squadrons. ''Deactivated'' or ''disestablished'' squadrons are listed in the list of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons. The U.S. Navy uses the term "squadron" only to describe uni ...
* Carrier Strike Group Eleven


References


External links


CVW – 5 Completes 2003 Cruise

HS-14 Provides ASW Support to Kitty Hawk during Valiant Shield 2006



CVW-5 To Arrive at NAS North Island





HS-14 Official Website

HS-14 History

CVW-5 Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:HSC-14 Helicopter anti-submarine squadrons of the United States Navy Helicopter sea combat squadrons of the United States Navy