 | This article has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
| Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Four (HSC-4) | |
|---|---|
_patch_2012.png) HSC-4 Insignia | |
| Active | 30 June 1952 – present |
| Country |  United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Type | Helicopter Sea Combat |
| Role | Logistics, Strike, Medevac, HA/DR,Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW) CombatSearch & Rescue (CSAR) Search & Rescue (SAR) Special Operations (SpecOps) Vertical replenishment (VERTREP) |
| Part of | CVW-2 |
| Garrison/HQ | NAS North Island |
| Nickname | Black Knights |
| Engagements | Vietnam War Operation Formation Star Operation Restore Hope Operation Southern Watch 1994 North Korean nuclear crisis Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Prosperity Guardian Operation Poseidon Archer |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Utility helicopter | HO4S-3 SH-34 Seabat SH-3 Sea King SH-60 Seahawk |
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Four (HSC-4) (previouslyHelicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Four (HS-4)), also known as theBlack Knights, is a multi-role combat helicoptersquadron of theUnited States Navy based atNaval Air Station North Island which operatesSikorsky MH-60S Seahawk helicopters deployed aboardaircraft carriers. The squadron was originally established as HS-4 on 30 June 1952 atU.S. Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Imperial Beach with theSikorsky HO3S-1 and was redesignated HSC-4 on 29 March 2012. It is currently assigned toCarrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) which deploys aboardUSS Carl Vinson (CVN-70).
Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron FOUR (HS-4) was established on 30 June 1952 aboardNaval Air Station Imperial Beach flying theSikorsky HO3S-1. It was the first anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter squadron of the U.S. Navy to deploy aboard an aircraft carrier, the escort carrierUSS Rendova (CVE-114). In 1954/55 HS-4 was deployed inEssex-classaircraft carrierUSS Princeton (CV-37). In 1956 the squadron transitioned to the dipping sonar equippedHSS-1 Seabat vastly improving its antisubmarine capability and deployed aboardUSS Boxer (CV-21). This was followed by a cruise aboardPrinceton again in 1958. In 1959 the squadron upgraded to the doppler radar and autopilot equippedHSS-1N Seabat helicopter giving it the ability to operate at night and in marginal weather. HS-4 could be identified at that time by the tail code "TA" (1955–1960). In 1961, it became the first ASW squadron in Commander Naval Air Forces Pacific (COMNAVAIRPAC) to achieve around-the-clock ASW capability, earning HS-4 the name "Black Knights".
From 1960 to 1968 HS-4 made six deployments aboardUSS Yorktown (CV-10) to the Western Pacific as part of Carrier Anti-Submarine Air Group 55 (CVSG-55) (tail code "NU"). In September 1962 the squadron's HSS-1N helicopters were re-designated to theSH-35G Seabat in compliance with the1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system. In 1964 the squadron converted to theSikorsky SH-3A Sea King. HS-4 was initiated into combat during its 1966 cruise toSoutheast Asia. While operating in theGulf of Tonkin, HS-4 pilots and aircrew rescued 24 downed airmen under hostile fire, a record for an ASW squadron in a single deployment. In 1968 HS-4 aboardYorktown was part of theTask Force sent to the Sea of Japan at the beginning of theUSS Pueblo incident.
In 1968 the squadron transitioned to the multi-sensor equippedSH-3D Sea King.From 1968 to 1970 HS-4 was assigned to Carrier Anti-Submarine Air Group 59 (CVSG-59) (tail code "NT") aboardUSS Hornet (CVS-12). From late 1968 through the spring of 1970, theBlack Knights of HS-4 participated in and pioneered techniques for the Apollo capsule recoveries. HS-4 was on scene for Apollo missions8,10,11,12, and13. The recovery was always made by "Helicopter 66". The helicopter's side number was changed from "66" to "740" after the Apollo 11 recovery as the U.S. Navy had switched to a three digit aircraft number system – but the helicopter was repainted with the number "66" for each recovery thereafter for public relations reasons. HS-4 earned a Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) for these recoveries. For the recovery ofApollo 10 in May 1969, HS-4 was assigned to the Amphibious Assault Ship USS Princeton (CV-37). For the recovery ofApollo 13 in April 1970, HS-4 was assigned to the Amphibious Assault ShipUSS Iwo Jima (LPH-2).
In 1971 HS-4 was deployed for the last time in an anti-submarine carrier,USS Ticonderoga (CVS-14). Between 1973 and 1979, HS-4 made three cruises aboardUSS Ranger (CV-61) andUSS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) as a part ofCarrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11) where they helped to develop the CV concept which integrated the former "Anti-Submarine Air Group" and "Attack Carrier Air Wing" into the new "Carrier Air Wing". They briefly sifted toCarrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) for the second cruise but shifted back to CVW-11 afterwards. On 15 October 1976, HS-4's official homeport changed from NAS Imperial Beach toNAS North Island. In 1977 the squadron's SH-3D helicopters were replaced by theSH-3H Sea King which the squadron would fly for the next decade and a half. HS-4 was then assigned toCarrier Air Wing Fifteen (CVW-15) and made one more deployment aboardKitty Hawk, followed by seven cruises aboardUSS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) between 1983 and 1990.
HS-4 won numerous awards during this period: seven-time winner of the Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award,Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy in 1978, five-time winner of the Battle 'E' (Battle Efficiency), three-time winner of the Captain Arnold J. Tobell trophy for ASW excellence and the Sikorsky 'Excellence in Maintenance' Award for 1979, 1982 and 1983.
In 1991, HS-4 transitioned from the SH-3H Sea King to theSikorsky SH-60F and HH-60H Seahawk helicopters and returned toKitty Hawk as part ofCVW-15 for three deployments between 1991 and 1994. They supported OperationsRestore Hope andSouthern Watch in 1994, and supported the carrier battle group duringKorean contingency operations with detachments to both Korea and Japan.
When CVW-15 was deactivated, HS-4 was reassigned toCVW-14 in January 1995. In 1996 HS-4 made a single deployment aboardCarl Vinson before CVW-14 and theBlack Knights were assigned toUSS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) from 1998 to 2003. Their duties included military operations inPakistan, detachments inKuwait and combat search and rescue training inAustralia, all in support of "Operation Southern Watch" andOperation Enduring Freedom. DuringOperation Iraqi Freedom, HS-4 supportedNavy SEAL,British Commando and PolishGROM forces in Kuwait andIraq. The nine and one half month deployment (a record since the Second World War) included 1283 sorties and 3228 flight hours flown.[citation needed]
In 2004, HS-4 and CVW-14 were reassigned toUSS John C. Stennis (CVN-74). On boardStennis, HS-4 completed a cruise to the Western Pacific, which took the squadron from San Diego, toAlaska,Victoria, British Columbia,Canada,Japan,Malaysia and Australia. In 2006 HS-4 and CVW-14 transferred toUSS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) for her maiden deployment. On this deployment HS-4 detached its HH-60Hs intoBasra, Iraq to support coalition troops in the region.[citation needed]
HS-4 deployed in 2007 and again in 2008 when the squadron supported theTyphoon Fengshen survivors in the Philippines before heading to the North Arabian Sea to support U.S. and Coalition forces on the ground in Afghanistan. In 2009, HS-4 completed a Surge deployment, supporting operations in Afghanistan. From 12 MAR to 4 MAY 2011, theBlack Knights participated in Operation Tomadochi in Japan to help the stricken country by airlifting medical supplies and food. The9.0 earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan had the helicopters assigned toUSS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) working around the clock. This humanitarian relief effort and subsequent movement to the 5th fleet AOR for Operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom, completed the final SH-60F/HH-60H deployment for HS-4.[citation needed]
On 29 March 2012, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Four (HS-4) became Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Four (HSC-4) in conjunction with its transition to theMH-60S Seahawk. Upon completion of the transition, the squadron was reassigned to Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2). The inaugural deployment of the MH-60S with HSC-4 is on the horizon for 2017.[1]
| Electronic Attack (VAQ) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier Airborne Early Warning (VAW) | |||||
| Strike Fighter (VFA) | |||||
| Fleet Air Reconnaissance (VQ) | |||||
| Fleet Fighter Composite (VFC) | |||||
| Fleet Logistics Support (VR) | |||||
| Carrier Fleet Logistics Support (VRC) | |||||
| Carrier Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission (VRM) | |||||
| Patrol |
| ||||
| Unmanned (VUP) | |||||
| Training (VT) | |||||
| Helicopter Mine Countermeasures (HM) | |||||
| Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) | |||||
| Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) | |||||
| Helicopter Training (HT) | |||||
