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Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron SIX (HSC-6),is a helicopter squadron of theUnited States Navy.It was established as Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron SIX (HS-6) on 1 June 1956. Its nickname isScreamin’ Indians.On 8 July 2011 it was redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron SIX (HSC-6). It is based atNaval Air Station North Island,is part ofCarrier Air Wing 17and deploys aboard the aircraft carrierUSSNimitz(CVN-68).
| Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6 | |
|---|---|
 HSC-6IndiansInsignia | |
| Active | 1 June 1956 - present |
| Country |  United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Type | Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron |
| 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-17 |
| Garrison/HQ | NAS North Island |
| Nickname(s) | Indians |
| Motto(s) | "One Team...One Scream" |
History
editHelicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron SIX (HS-6) was established on 1 June 1956 aboardUSSPrinceton(CVS-37)midway between the islands ofFormosaandOkinawa.Initially, the squadron flew theSikorsky HO4S-3,but two years later transitioned to theSikorsky HSS-1N Seabatgreatly enhancing the ability of the squadron to conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
In April 1960, the squadron joined Carrier Anti-Submarine Group 53 aboardUSSKearsarge(CVS-33).In March 1962 the squadron again changed aircraft when theSikorsky HSS-2 Sea Kingentered the fleet. In September of that year the HSS-2 was redesignated theSH-3A Sea Kingwith the Navy's adoption of the1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system.The Sea King, incorporating upgrades over the years, would take HS-6 into the 1990s. HS-6 recoveredMercury ProgramastronautsWally Schirrain 1962 andGordon Cooperin 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 betweenUSSFrank E. Evans(DD-754)andHMASMelbourne(R21).By the end of the decade the squadron had transitioned to theSH-3D Sea King.In 1971, theIndiansrecovered the crew ofApollo 14returning from the Moon. Later that year, the squadron deployed to the east coast to join Carrier Air Wing 7 aboardUSSIndependence(CVA-62)to conduct an evaluation of the emerging CV concept.
In 1974, the squadron began a nine-year association withUSSConstellation(CV-64)andCarrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9).In 1975 the squadron transitioned aircraft again, this time to theSH-3H Sea Kingwhich it would fly for most of the next two decades. The successful HS-6, CVW-9, USSConstellationpartnership 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 theApollo–Soyuzastronauts. The squadron’s final deployment on boardConstellationwas 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 joinedCarrier Air Wing ELEVEN (CVW-11)and began deploying on boardUSSEnterprise(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 1991, the squadron transitioned to theSikorsky SH-60F SeahawkandHH-60H Seahawkhelicopters. Armed with these new aircraft, the Indians remained part of CVW-11 and from 1990 to 2003 conducted several deployments aboardUSSAbraham Lincoln(CVN-72),USSKitty Hawk(CV-63),USSCarl Vinson(CVN-70),andUSSNimitz(CVN-68),to theWestern Pacific,Indian OceanandPersian Gulf.
In 2001, during the opening days of theGlobal War on Terrorism,HS-6 conducted a joint detachment withHS-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, theIndiansdeployed in the summer of 2004 aboardUSSRonald 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 fromUSSNimitz(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 ofOperation Iraqi FreedomandOperation Enduring Freedomduring 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.
HS-6 began the transition theSikorsky MH-60S Seahawkin early 2011 and was redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6 (HSC-6) on 8 July 2011. As an HSC squadron theIndiansno longer conduct Anti-Submarine Warfare, their primary rolls now are Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Naval Special Operations Support, Search and Rescue (SAR) and Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) in support of the carrier strike group. The squadron was again assigned to CVW-11 aboard USSNimitzand participated in exerciseRIMPAC2012. This was followed by a deployment aboardNimitzto the Western Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea from March to December 2013. In 2016 the squadron was assigned toCarrier Air Wing 17 (CVW-17)which deploys aboardUSSTheodore Roosevelt(CVN-71).
In 2019, the squadron, along with the rest ofCVW-17transferred to theUSSNimitz.
See also
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