Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 48 Det 10 Returns Home
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS091031-05
Release Date: 10/31/2009 7:26:00 PM
By Lt. Anthony Piunno, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 48 Detachment 10 Public Affairs
MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HSL) 48 Detachment 10 (Det 10), "Circus Freaks," returned to Naval Station Mayport Oct. 5 after completing a six-month counter illicit trafficking (CIT) deployment.
Det 10 was deployed in the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO) Area of Focus on board the Norfolk-based frigate USS Hawes (FFG 53).
Members of Det 10 were welcomed home on the Mayport pier by excited family members and fellow HSL 48 squadron members.
When asked how it felt to finally be home and see his girlfriend and dog after six months, Lt. Kevin "Sidecar" Shikuma, Det 10 maintenance officer, said, "I am so happy to see them, and I can't wait to take a shower without wearing shower shoes."
HSL 48 Det 10 participated in several multinational operations in support of the CIT mission spanning the duration of their six-month deployment. In the early summer months of 2009, Det 10 was attached to a multinational coalition conducting maritime security operations in support of the 5th Summit of the Americas Conference, a conference hosted in Trinidad and Tobago that featured world leaders from the Americas, including President Barack Obama.
Det 10 flew maritime surveillance missions and provided logistical support during the conference.
After the conclusion of the 5th Summit of the Americas Conference, Det 10 was tasked to the Western Caribbean Sea to participate in Operation Carib Shield, where they flew numerous missions monitoring merchant traffic for possible drug trafficking activity flowing from South America to the Northern Caribbean Sea and the Gulf Mexico. Three U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDET), LEDET 401, 405 and 408, augmented Hawes and Det 10 to provide a complete law enforcement capability.
In mid-summer 2009, Det 10 was reassigned to Operation Flying Fish and Operation Carib Royale, which involved counter-drug operations in the Eastern Caribbean Sea. Both operations were multinational and intra-agency collaborations involving the French Navy, the French Air Force, the British Navy and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
Det 10 flew maritime interdiction operations and brought the airborne use of force capability to both operations.
In addition to conducting counter-drug operations throughout the Caribbean Sea, Det 10 was privileged to enjoy six port visits. In the early months of their deployment, Det 10 visited Dutch Curacao and Cartagena, Columbia. Several members of Det 10 participated in a community relations project in Curacao helping to revitalize an aging nursing home.
In the latter half of their deployment, Det 10 visited Barbados, Cartagena, Jamaica and Aruba.
When asked about which port was his favorite, Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Donald Hackney, Det 10 lead aviation machinist's mate, said, "Barbados was spectacular; Oystins Bay Fish Market had the best Mahi Mahi this mouth has ever tasted!"
In total, HSL 48 Det 10 flew 430 mishap-free flight hours in support of both U.S. and allied interests in the Caribbean Sea. Together with the Sailors of Hawes and several U.S. Coast Guard LEDETs, the "Circus Freaks" had a significant impact on the counter-drug mission in the NAVSO Fleet Area of Focus.
As the Navy component command of U.S. Southern Command, NAVSO's mission is to direct U.S. Naval forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Operations include CIT, theater security cooperation, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.
For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns/.
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