HSM-71 Completes Maiden Deployment

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dmitry Chepusov, USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The "Raptors" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 will complete their maiden deployment when the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) pulls into San Diego July 6.

HSM-71 was commissioned Oct. 3, 2007 and started its first deployment on Jan. 17, 2009.

In 2007 the squadron was comprised of two aircraft and a handful of personnel. Now it has more than 270 Sailors and 11 MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters. HSM-71 serves aboard Stennis and mans detachments aboard USS Antietam (CG 54), USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS Kidd (DDG 100).

"Raptors" Commanding Officer Cmdr. Jeffrey Dodge said he has seen the squadron grow as they experienced their first deployment.

"Many of our people had never gone to sea before," said Dodge. "There was a lot of training we had to do, but everyone rose to the challenge."

Dodge said a large part of their training was on the helicopter systems, which were new to everyone in the squadron.

"Most of our training was [on the job training], and we've made more than 500 changes to the maintenance and flight publications," said Dodge. "We've had three major upgrades since we've gotten the aircraft and have set the foundation for the entire community to build upon."

Maintenance Master Chief (AFCM) (AW) Walter Butac, who has been with the squadron since its commissioning, said the major challenge was working with brand new aircraft, which were the first ones of their type to be manufactured in the world.

"We have been learning how to maintain it from day one," said Butac.

Butac said the squadron's electronics technicians had to be retrained to maintain the new helicopter.
When the Navy first established the squadron, personnel being assigned to the "Raptors" came from various backgrounds and job experiences.

"We had people coming from fixed-wing aircraft and different helicopter squadrons, and they all had different ways of doing business," said Butac. "That was the real challenge – to make them work together. But we learned a lot during the workups, and it worked out pretty good."

According to Dodge, the high point of HSM-71's maiden deployment was the USWEX [undersea warfare exercise].

"Since one of our primary missions is ASW [anti-submarine warfare], the USWEX that we did in February really showed the tactical capabilities of what we can do with the aircraft," said Dodge. "It was nice to see because it validated everything else that we've done."

During the USWEX, HSM-71 deployed multiple aircraft to simulate engagements with U.S. and Japanese submarines.

The squadron kept three helos airborne throughout the entire four-day exercise for a total 222 flight hours and conducted 28 simulated attacks on two U.S. and two Japanese submarines.

Dodge said he was proud of what his squadron accomplished during the USWEX, but he really saw them come together as a team when a helo had to be downed due to mechanical failure.

"One of the aircraft had a problem with its sensors," said Dodge. "It was replaced by another aircraft that launched within 15 minutes. So the crew and the maintainers had that aircraft prepped and ready to go. The failed system was fixed within two hours and was ready to go back into the rotation. From the warfare commander's perspective, there was no gap. It was pretty impressive."

As the "Raptors" approach the end of their first deployment, Dodge said the squadron has been blessed to be incident free while still meeting all their mission requirements.

During their workups and maiden deployment, HSM-71 flew more than 4,690 hours with a 95 percent sortie completion rate and earned the right to fly the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Pennant.

First HSM Squadron Embarks Stennis

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Damien E. Horvath, USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs

Aviation Boatswain's Mate Handling 3rd Class Ralph Laduke guides an MH-60R Seahawk assigned to the "Raptors" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 as it takes off from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are conducting Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA) off the coast of Southern California. TSTA is a three-phase evolution that incrementally enhances the ship's operating proficiency while simultaneously integrating the air wing. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Elliott J. Fabrizio)

USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea (NNS) -- Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71, a new component to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, is the first squadron of its kind to embark a carrier as part of an air wing.

Their mission is to employ the Navy's most technologically sophisticated rotary aircraft in the fleet to carry out the objectives of strike group commanders, their weapon is the MH-60R Seahawk.

"It feels great. The whole air wing and ship have really come together smoothly; the espirit de corp has been great, and we're just happy to be a part of it," said HSM-71 commanding officer, Cmdr. Michael Nortier.

"We bring some dramatic improvements to the strike group. We combine the capabilities of two older helicopters as well as radar capabilities from the S-3 and we also have Link-16 which no rotary aircraft has ever had before," said Nortier.

With state-of-the-art avionics, mission and weapons systems, the multipurposed MH-60R specializes in everything from various warfare areas to logistical support, and search and rescue operations to communication relay.

"The Raptors are very excited and motivated to operate as an integral component of Carrier Air Wing 9 and Carrier Strike Group 3," said HSM-71 pilot Lt.j.g. Chris Yost. "Personnel are working extremely hard to bring the 'Romeo' to the fleet, providing an unparalleled ASW (anti-submarine warfare) and ASuW (anti-surface warfare) support asset for the carrier strike group."

Not only will HSM-71 deploy aircraft aboard Stennis, but the squadron will simultaneously support combat elements embarked aboard cruisers and destroyers in the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group.

"Basically, any platform that can support our aircraft, we will be landing on and conducting daily operations with," said Aviation Electrician's Mate 2nd Class John Gonzalez of HSM-71. "Our contribution to the mission of the other ships in the carrier strike group will, no doubt, be just as significant as our presence aboard Stennis."

Raptors conduct Hellfire missile fining

An MH-60R Seahawk assigned to the "Raptors" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 fires the first of four live Hellfire missiles fired by aircraft assigned to a deployable squadron. The first MH-60R squadron aircraft is replacing the SH-60B and SH-60F aircraft to combine the capabilities of the two aircraft and has the capability to deploy the AGM-114 series Hellfire missile laser-guided precision air-to-surface missile. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mark A. Leonesio)

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.”

Navy Establishes First MH-60R Squadron

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/NAC) David C. Mercil, Fleet Public Affairs Center Pacific
Sailors assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 service a MH-60R Seahawk.

The Navy established Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 in a ceremony held at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, Oct. 4.

The first MH-60R squadron, HSM 71's aircraft is replacing the SH-60B and SH-60F aircraft due to possessing the combined capabilities of the two aircraft.

“The (MH-60R) aircraft changes the way we fly, the way we fight and the way we go to sea,” said Rear Adm. Garry E. Hall, commander, Amphibious Group 2.

The Navy has been working to implement the MH-60R for more than a decade. HSM 71 is the first of five MH-60R squadrons; other MH-60R squadrons are expected to be established in the future.

“Now, we have one aircraft with all the capabilities of every (previous) aircraft,” said Cmdr. Michael K. Nortier, HSM-71's commanding officer. “That’s a significant change.”

Although the mission requirements of the MH-60R will be similar to the SH-60B and SH-60F, the new aircraft features upgraded mission and flight displays, an improved advanced flight control computer and an integrated self-defense suite.

“This aircraft is the aircraft that is taking over the anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare helicopter missions for the U.S. Navy,” said Lt. Carey Castilian, HSM 71's readiness officer. “It has the radar of the SH-60B and the sonar from the SH-60F.”

Unlike traditional helicopter anti-submarine light squadrons, which deploy in separate detachments to small ships, HSM 71 will deploy to an aircraft carrier as part of the carrier air wing. HSM 71’s first deployment is scheduled to be aboard USS John C. Stennis’ (CVN 74) next deployment.

“We just got a new ‘bird,’ and it’s a new squadron,” said Aviation Machinist’s Mate Airman Joseph Grandas, assigned to HSM 71. “I feel it’s more exciting than challenging.”

HSM 71’s primary mission will be to support surface and anti-submarine warfare, command, control and communications, command and control warfare and mobility and non-combat operations. The secondary mission will be to support search and rescue, medical evacuation, vertical replenishment, naval surface fire support and communications relay.