By Lt. Ryan Atwood, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 43 Public Affairs
NORTH ISLAND, Calif. (NNS) -- The “Rat Pak” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 43, Detachment (Det.) 4, returned to San Diego Dec. 15 from a six-month counter narcotics deployment aboard USS Thach (FFG 43).
The detachment conducted operations in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. The primary mission of the deployment was detection and monitoring of suspected drug smuggling vessels using Airborne Use of Force (AUF), the Navy’s newest tactic in the war on narco terrorism. AUF combines Navy helicopters with U.S. Coast Guard airborne controllers and gunners to use warning shots and disabling fire to stop drug trafficking speed boats. The speed boats previously out-ran slower Navy ships and outlasted fuel limited helicopters.
Squadron personnel integrated with Thach and U.S. Coast Guard Sailors to locate, identify and query vessels for boarding and search by the Coast Guard law enforcement team.
During the deployment, counter narcotic operations resulted in four successful drug busts. A combined total of nearly 23 tons of cocaine, with a street value estimated at $600 million, was seized and 34 drug-traffickers were detained.
During the deployment, counter narcotic operations resulted in four successful drug busts. A combined total of nearly 23 tons of cocaine, with a street value estimated at $600 million, was seized and 34 drug-traffickers were detained.
In one instance Det. 4, used AUF by firing two rounds to disable the engines of a high-speed drug-trafficking vessel known as a “go fast” boat. After the boat was stopped, Det. 4 seized 1,000 lbs. of cocaine and captured four drug traffickers. Over the course of the deployment, Det. 4 flew over 500 mishap-free flight hours. While deployed, the detachment visited Panama, Peru, and the Bahamas.