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Two Helicopter Wings Merge Into HSCWINGPAC

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050419-03
Release Date: 4/19/2005 9:20:00 AM

By Journalist 2nd Class (SW) Ahron Arendes, Commander, Naval Air Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

NAS NORTH ISLAND, Calif. (NNS) -- Helicopter Sea Combat Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet (HSCWP) was established April 15 in a ceremony at Naval Air Station North Island.

The ceremony marked the merger of the former Helicopter Anti-Submarine Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet (HSWINGPAC) and Helicopter Tactical Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet (HETACWINGPAC), as the Navy moves toward a reduction in aircraft types.

“The merger took place as one step in a series of steps to consolidate and reorganize naval helicopter aviation,” said Capt. Lou Cortellini, commander, HSCWP. “This is starting now and will continue within the eight or so years to enhance the way we’re organized and how we fight. It will streamline the chain of command to make it more efficient, and give us helicopters with more warfighting and rescue capability available in more places.”

Cmdr. Robert Young, executive officer of HSCWP Weapons School Pacific, said HSCWP combines both the strike capability of the HS wing and the cargo capability of the HC wing into its primary mission.

To better handle HSCWP’s multifunction mission, all of its squadrons will eventually transition to the MH-60S Seahawk. Currently, the HSC (formerly HC) squadrons fly the MH-60S, while the HS squadrons fly the SH-60F and the HH-60H. The HS squadrons will transition over the next decade.

“A big reason the reduction in aircraft is taking place is because the newer models of aircraft have more capability,” said Young. “It’s also easier with less aircraft models to handle logistics, maintenance and training.”

According to Cortellini, HSCWP squadrons will continue to deploy with all carrier strike groups and expeditionary strike groups, carrying out the traditional helicopter fleet support missions, including search and rescue, vertical replenishment and logistical support. With the MH-60S, they add combat search and rescue in support of strike warfare, Naval Special Warfare, anti-surface ship warfare and organic airborne mine countermeasures capabilities.

“The MH-60S will, for the first time, bring a mission set and mission capability that we’ll have our carrier strike groups and expeditionary strike groups rely on, as the primary aviation asset for anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare," Commander, Naval Air Forces, Vice Adm. Jim Zortman added. "Also, at the same time it will further develop new mission areas.”

Young said he’s excited about the MH-60S transition because of the capability it adds to missions.

“I think this is very good! One of the best things about the MH-60 is it’s a state-of-the-art aircraft with all of the modern systems, and it has the ability to adapt to whatever mission it’s conducting,” Young said. “It’s a great idea and very efficient.”