HSC-6

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6
HSC-6 Indians Insignia
Active	1 June 1956 - present
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron
Role	SAR/CSAR, Logistics, ASuW, Strike, Medevac, HA/DR, Vertrep
Part of	CVW-11
Garrison/HQ	NAS North Island
Nickname(s)	Indians
Motto	"One Team...One Scream"

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6 (HSC-6), also known as Indians is a helicopter squadron of the United States Navy established in 1956. The squadron was commissioned as Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 6 (HS-6) and completed transition to Helicopter Sea Combat on 8 July 2011. Based at Naval Air Station North Island, HSC-6 is part of Carrier Air Wing 11 and deploys aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68).

History

Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 6 (HS-6) was established on 1 June 1956 aboard USS Princeton (CVS-37) midway between the islands of Formosa and Okinawa. Initially, the squadron flew the Sikorsky HO4S, but two years later transitioned to the Sikorsky HSS-1N Seabat and gained a new mission, anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

File:HSS-1 of HS-6 on USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) c1959.jpg

HSS-1 Seabats of HS-6 aboard USS Kearsarge, 1959.

In April 1960, the squadron joined Carrier Anti-Submarine Group 53 aboard USS Kearsarge (CVS-33). In March 1962 the squadron again changed aircraft when the Sikorsky SH-3A Sea King entered the fleet. The Sea King, incorporating upgrades over the years, would take HS-6 into the 1990s. HS-6 recovered Mercury Program astronauts Wally Schirra in 1962 and Gordon Cooper in 1963. In 1966, during U.S. strikes into Vietnam, the Indians rescued 16 downed aviators, for which the squadron received the Navy Unit Commendation. A 7th Fleet Commendation followed in 1969 for services provided following the collision at sea between USS Frank E. Evans (DD-754) and HMAS Melbourne (R21). In 1971, the Indians recovered the crew of Apollo 14 returning from the moon. Later that year, the squadron deployed to the east coast to join Carrier Air Wing 7 aboard USS Independence (CVA-62) to conduct an evaluation of the emerging CV concept.

File:ASTP Apollo command module recovery by HS-6 Sea King in 1975.jpg

A SH-3A of HS-6 during the recovery of Apollo-Soyuz, 24 July 1975.

In 1974, the squadron began a nine-year association with USS Constellation (CV-64) and Carrier Air Wing 9. This successful partnership resulted in Battle “E” Awards in 1974 and 1978 and back-to-back Captain Arnold Jay Isbell Trophies for ASW excellence in 1977 and 1978. The squadron also won the CNO Safety ‘S’ Award in 1977. In 1975, HS-6 briefly revisited its participation in the space program, recovering the Apollo-Soyuz astronauts. The squadron’s final deployment on board the Constellation was highlighted by 19 open ocean rescues. HS-6 again won back-to-back Captain Arnold Jay Isbell Trophies in 1985 and 1986. Additionally, in 1986, the squadron received the Admiral Jimmy Thach Award for carrier-based ASW excellence and the CNO Safety ‘S’ Award. In 1988 the Indians received worldwide recognition for rescuing a seriously injured Japanese fisherman. That year, HS-6 would also receive the Sikorsky Maintenance Award, the CNO Safety ‘S’ Award, and the Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation. HS-6 later joined Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN (CVW-11) and began deploying on board USS Enterprise (CVN-65) until 1989 when the Indians finished with an Around the World cruise. On that cruise, HS-6 won the first ever DESRON 21 “Order of the Pummeled Dolphin” award for excellence in ASW. In 1990, the squadron transitioned to Sikorsky SH-60F/HH-60H Seahawk helicopters. Armed with these new aircraft, the Indians remained part of CVW-11 and from 1990 to 2003 conducted several deployments aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), and USS Nimitz (CVN-68), to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf.

In 2001, during the opening days of the Global War on Terrorism, HS-6 conducted a joint detachment with HS-11, staging their HH-60H helicopters at a forward base in Pakistan to provide Combat Search and Rescue for the initial Operation Enduring Freedom air strikes into Afghanistan. Following another 5th Fleet deployment in 2003, the Indians deployed in the summer of 2004 aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) for its South American inter-fleet transit. WESTPAC 2005 found HS-6 focused on Operation Iraqi Freedom, flying over 2,500 hours and nearly 1,000 sorties from USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and Camp Arifjan, Kuwait to patrol the skies of Southern Iraq. That year, the Indians were awarded the CNO Safety ‘S’ Award, COMPACFLT Retention Excellence Award, and Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy. The squadron’s support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom during WESTPAC ’07, and their performance in the 7th Fleet throughout 2008 earned the Indians the 2007 Battle “E”, and back to back CNO Safety ‘S’ Awards in 2007 and 2008. In March 2010, the squadron completed its final cruise with SH-60F/HH-60H helicopters, an eight-month deployment to 5th Fleet in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

File:A U.S. Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6 prepares to land aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in the Indian Ocean June 11, 2013 130611-N-TI017-220.jpg

A HSC-6 MH-60S Seahawk landing abord USS Nimitz, in 2013.

HS-6 began the transition the Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk in early 2011 and was redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6 (HSC-6) on 8 July 2011. The squadron was again assigned to CVW-11 aboard USS Nimitz and participated in exercise RIMPAC 2012. This was followed by a deployment aboard Nimitz to the Western Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea from March to December 2013.

See also

• History of the United States Navy
• List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons

References

• HS-6 Indians Website
• HS-6 veterans website