HSC-8 Helo Trains for Orion EFT-1

An MH60-S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8 takes off from the amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23) as part of at-sea training. Anchorage is participating in the first Exploration Flight Test (EFT-1) for the NASA Orion program. EFT-1 is the fifth at-sea testing of the Orion crew module using a Navy well deck recovery method. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Gary Keen

HSC-8 Unreps the USS Kidd

Sailors carry supplies delivered by an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from the "Eightballers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8 aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) during a replenishment at sea with the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199). Kidd is part of the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group and is on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Josue L. Escobosa/Released)

HSC-8 Operating with the USS Kidd DDG-100

Helicopter Control Officer Lt. j.g. Trinity Phillips, from Mars Hills, N.C., observes an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from the "Eightballers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8 as it lands on the flight deck aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100). Kidd, as part of the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, is on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dmitry Chepusov/Released)

New Missions, Birds, Names For New Helicopter Squadrons

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Ahron Arendes, Commander, Naval Air Forces Public Affairs
Two new Naval Air Station North Island-based helicopter squadrons received brand new MH-60 helicopters to go with their new missions and names as part of the Navy’s helicopter concept of operations (CONOPS).

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8 received its first MH-60S helicopter, Sept. 13, and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 received its first MH-60R, Oct. 4.

The Navy has begun transitioning from the seven types of helicopters currently in service to just two types, the MH-60S Knighthawk and MH-60R Seahawk. On Sept. 28, HSC-8 became the Navy’s first Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) to transition to HSC, and HSM-71 became the Navy’s first operational MH-60R squadron, Oct. 3.

HSM-41, the Fleet Replacement Squadron, was the first Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) to transition to HSM, in December 2005, when it received the Navy’s first MH-60Rs to train pilots and aircrew on the new airframe.

MH-60Rs and MH-60Ss will eventually replace all SH-60B, SH-60F, HH-60H, HH-1N, UH-3H and CH-46D helicopters currently in the Navy’s inventory, effectively increasing capability and flexibility.

For HSM-71, the name, mission, and airframe aren’t the only things that are new. Despite its roots in the HSL community, the squadron will not deploy as individual detachments. Rather, the entire squadron will now deploy as part of the carrier air wing, as a second helicopter squadron, and provide detachments to the strike group’s ships. With this change, HSM-71 will join HSC-8 in Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).

“They bring newer, more reliable systems,” said Capt. Sterling Gilliam, commander, CVW-9. “They will also be able to completely control the battle space in the vicinity of the strike group, providing greater flexibility to the air wing and strike group commanders to project power across the globe.”

Combined, the MH-60S and MH-60R will provide the fleet the capability to not only perform anti-submarine and surface warfare, but a variety of missions.

The MH-60S, now flown by HSC-8, replaces the HH-60H and SH-60F helicopters. It provides search and rescue (SAR), combat search and rescue (CSAR) and logistics to include movement of personnel and equipment.

“The Sierra is designed to operate in an over-land environment where there are threats,” said Cmdr. Larry Vincent, Commanding Officer, HSC-8. “The helo has a self-defense package and offensive weapons. I think we can really make an evolutionary leap forward in how we use this aircraft, especially in a joint environment.”

The MH-60R provides anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, naval gunfire support, CSAR and logistics.

“The Romeo does a lot for anti-submarine warfare. It brings the capabilities that were in a couple of different airframes into one,” said Cmdr. Michael Nortier, Commanding Officer, HSM-71. “Also, with the advances in technology and training for our Sailors, we’re providing five to 10 times more coverage than we have in the past, which is a huge improvement in how we defend the strike group.”

In line with the Chief of Naval Operation’s guidance for building a Navy for tomorrow, helicopter CONOPS will reduce airframes while at the same time effectively increasing capability.

“Helo CONOPS will provide us much more flexibility and agility to project power and to protect the strike force due to [the helicopters’] multi-mission aspects. The way we will utilize our resources will also be more efficient due to fewer airframes,” Gilliam said.

With the new helicopter CONOPS, HSM-71 and HSC-8 may now have some new missions and challenges in front of them.

“There are definitely going to be plenty of challenges, but my excitement is about the people,” said Cmdr. Michael Nortier, commanding officer, HSM-71. “The technology is there, but now it’s getting the great Sailors we have to focus and find out what the true capabilities of the aircraft are and how we’re going to employ them.”

HSC-8 New Name, New Mission, New Helicopter

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Porter Anderson, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (HS) 8 became the first HS squadron to transition to a Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) Sept. 28 at Naval Air Station North Island.

Despite the name change (HSC-8), new aircraft (MH-60S), and new missiion, at least one thing remained unchanged, the squadron’s nickname, “Eightballers.”

“It’s going to change the mission entirely because you’re going from anti-submarine warfare to search and rescue (SAR), to VERTREP [vertical replenishment] and SAR type events,” said Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class (AW) Michele Reynolds, HSC-8 helicopter mechanic.

Due to the new aircraft that replaced the SH-60F in the transition, new training has been implemented to maintain and service the new MH-60S.

“We are sending our AZs [Aviation Maintenance Administrationman] and AEs [Aviation Electrician’s Mate] to a full two-month training course to learn how to work on the aircraft,” said HSC-8 Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Lawrence S. Vincent.

This transition to HSC-8 is another benchmark for the Eightballers past endeavors, which date back to June 1, 1956.

Guest speaker Rear Adm. Gerard M. Mauer, commandant, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, said he had a history with HS-8. Mauer said that in 1975, when he took his first flight in a U.S. Navy aircraft, it was with HS-8. That flight made such an impact with him that it led him to joining the naval aviation field.

The transition of mission, name and aircraft are big changes for the squadron, but the men and women who make up the Eightballers have accepted each change and are incorporating them into its long and proud history.