Military

Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light Wing, Pacific [COMHSLWINGPAC]
Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing, Pacific [COMHELMARSTRKWINGPAC]

On April 1, 2005, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light Wing, Pacific transistioned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing, Pacific.

Based at NAS North Island, San Diego, Calif., Commander Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing, Pacific extends the shipboard sensor and weapons capabilities against several types of enemy threats: submarines, surface ships and patrol craft that might be armed with anti-ship missiles. The "light" squadrons deploy aboard surface ships and fly the SH-60B, but will soon be transistioning to the MH-60R. When the squadrons have transistioned to the MH-60R, they will be redesignated HSM from HSL.

Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light Wing, U. S. Pacific Fleet provided policy guidance, training, technical and administrative support to HSL 37 at Naval Air Station, Barbers Point, Hawaii, HSL 41, HSL 43, HSL 45, HSL 47, HSL 49 at Naval Air Station North Island, California and HSL 51 at Naval Air Facility, Atsugi, Japan. COMHSLWINGPAC provided direct operational support to numbered Fleet and Battle Group Commanders in the Pacific Area of Responsibility, and acted as COMNAVAIRPAC's representative in the functional specialty of HSL, clearing all matters with COMNAVAIRPAC. This duty included, but was not limited to coordinating efforts to improve HSL tactics, doctrine and operating procedures in addition to monitoring and making recommendations to COMNAVAIRPAC on matters concerning readiness and training of HSL squadrons.

Commander, Helicopter Antisubmarine Light Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet was officially established on 5 May 1993, with Captain J. R. Brown assuming command. The COMHSLWINGPAC staff set up permanent headquarters in Bldg G, NAS North Island on 15 September, and on 30 September 1993, COMASWWINGPAC was officially disestablished, completing the transition from Functional Wing to Type Wing organization within the ASW community.

With a 35 member military staff and a complement of 11 civilians, COMHSLWINGPAC served as the Immediate Superior in Command for seven subordinate LAMPS squadrons, and managed the administrative, operational and training requirements of 86 aircraft and over 1500 military personnel.

The largest Typewing at NAS North Island, COMHSLWINGPAC consisted of six fleet squadrons and one Fleet Replacement Squadron. Two fleet squadrons are forward deployed, HSL 37 in MCB Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, which supports Pearl Harbor based combatants, and HSL 51 in Atsugi, Japan which supports Yokosuka based combatants. COMHSLWINGPAC squadrons deploy 25 aircraft in 20 detachments on an average daily basis, and fly over 40,000 flight hours per year in support of our Navy's many forward presence missions worldwide.