Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 49 (HSM-49) is a

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

Maritime Strike helicopter squadron based

Naval Air Station North Island Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island , at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay in San Diego, California, is part of the largest aerospace-industrial complex in the United States Navy – Naval Base Coronado (N ...

, California. The ''Scorpions'' of HSM-49 are an operational fleet squadron based at NAS North Island. Their tailcode is TX and their radio callsign is "Red Stinger". The squadron provides combat-ready pilots, aircrewmen, technicians, and aircraft to Pacific Fleet warships. The squadron operates the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter.

History

SH-60B Seahawk helicopter HSL-49 Tailbird Point Loma San Diego 2006

HSM-49 was redesignated on 1 April 2015, formerly being Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 49 (HSL-49). HSL-49 was established on 23 March 1990 as the U.S. Navy transitioned the Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light community from the

SH-2 Seasprite The Kaman SH-2 Seasprite is a ship-based helicopter originally developed and produced by American manufacturer Kaman Aircraft Corporation. It has been typically used as a compact and fast-moving rotorcraft for utility and anti-submarine warfar ...

to the SH-60B Seahawk. The ''Scorpions'' first deployed in November 1990 with Detachment 1 embarked in . The squadron - then and now - deploys its personnel and aircraft in an expeditionary model. Detachments are led by an Officer-in-Charge, normally a Lieutenant Commander, and typically deploy with one or two helicopters, and a complement of pilots, Naval Aircrewmen, mechanics and technicians. Detachments embark Arleigh Burke class destroyers and Ticonderoga class cruisers in support of Carrier Strike Groups (CSG), Surface Action Groups (SAG), or independent deployed operations. Recent deployed detachments have engaged in missions ranging from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), counter-piracy, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR), and Counter-Illicit Trafficking.

Aircraft

Crews from HSM-49 operate the MH−60R Seahawk, a helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft and equipped with two front-drive T700−GE−401C turboshaft engines manufactured by the General Electric Company. The helicopter has fixed landing gear, an external cargo hook, a rescue hoist, and bomb racks for carrying and launching external stores. In addition, it is equipped with a

sonobuoy A sonobuoy (a portmanteau of sonar and buoy) is a relatively small buoy – typically diameter and long – expendable sonar system that is dropped/ejected from aircraft or ships conducting anti-submarine warfare or underwater acoustic rese ...

launch system, a Helicopter In−Flight Refueling ( HIFR) system, and the necessary avionics and instrumentation for instrument flight and mission accomplishment. The helicopter can operate from a variety of naval ships. HSM-49 transitioned from the SH-60B to the MH-60R variant of the Seahawk in the spring of 2015.

Mission

The MH-60R is designed to combine the features of the legacy SH-60B and SH-60F airframes. The aircraft includes an Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE) package, FLIR, multi-mode radar/IFF interrogator, airborne fleet data link, and a more advanced airborne active sonar. It is not equipped with the

Magnetic Anomaly Detection A magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) is an instrument used to detect minute variations in the Earth's magnetic field. The term refers specifically to magnetometers used by military forces to detect submarines (a mass of ferromagnetic material crea ...

(MAD) that the SH-60B employed. Pilot instrumentation is provided by a glass cockpit, using digital monitors instead of dials and gauges.

Primary Missions

In an

Anti-Submarine Warfare Anti-submarine warfare (ASW, or in older form A/S) is a branch of underwater warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, submarines, or other platforms, to find, track, and deter, damage, or destroy enemy submarines. Such operations are t ...

(ASW) role, Scorpion aircrews use

radar Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, we ...

Electronic Support Measures In military telecommunications, electronic support (ES) or electronic support measures (ESM) gather intelligence through passive "listening" to electromagnetic radiations of military interest. They are an aspect of electronic warfare involving ac ...

(ESM),

sonobuoys A sonobuoy (a portmanteau of sonar and buoy) is a relatively small buoy – typically diameter and long – expendable sonar system that is dropped/ejected from aircraft or ships conducting anti-submarine warfare or underwater acoustic resear ...

, and ship sensors to localize, classify, track, and if necessary attack when a submarine has been detected. Aircraft can be equipped with various different torpedoes for the mission. In an

Anti-Surface Warfare Anti-surface warfare (ASuW or ASUW) is the branch of naval warfare concerned with the suppression of surface combatants. More generally, it is any weapons, sensors, or operations intended to attack or limit the effectiveness of an adversary's s ...

(ASuW) role, Scorpion aircrews observe, identify, and localize threat platforms using radar, ESM, and

FLIR Forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras, typically used on military and civilian aircraft, use a thermographic camera that senses infrared radiation. The sensors installed in forward-looking infrared cameras, as well as those of other thermal ...

. When a suspected threat is detected, data can be provided to the parent ship for surface−to−surface weapon engagement. Aircraft equipped with Hellfire missiles ( AGM-114) may conduct independent or coordinated attacks. The MH-60R can also be equipped with the

GAU-21 The M2 machine gun or Browning .50 caliber machine gun (informally, "Ma Deuce") is a heavy machine gun that was designed towards the end of World War I by John Browning. Its design is similar to Browning's earlier M1919 Browning machine gun, w ...

(.50 caliber) and M240D (7.62 mm) crew served machine guns. SH-60B Seahawk helicopter SAR jumps 2008

Other enhanced capabilities include an ASE package, FLIR, multi-mode radar/IFF interrogator, airborne fleet data link, and an advanced airborne active sonar.

Secondary Missions

Vertical Replenishment - In the

VERTREP Vertical replenishment, or VERTREP, is a method of supply of seaborne vessels by helicopter. The United States Department of Defense defines VERTREP as: ...the transfer of cargo between ships using helicopters. VERTREP is often used to supplement ...

mission, the aircraft is able to transfer material between ships, or between ship and shore. Search and Rescue - In the SAR mission, the aircraft is designed to search for and locate a particular target/object/ship or plane and to rescue personnel using the rescue hoist. Medical Evacuation - In the MEDEVAC mission, the aircraft provides for the medical evacuation of patients. Communications Relay - In the COMREL mission, the aircraft relays communications between units. Naval Surface Fire Support - In the NSFS mission, the aircraft provides a platform for spotting and controlling naval gunfire from surface ships. SH-60B Seahawk helicopter sunset Point Loma San Diego 2014

SH-60B Seahawk helicopter sunset Point Loma San Diego 2014

Unit awards

References

*NATOPS Flight Manual Navy Model SH-60B Helicopter, A1-H60BB-NFM-000, 1 June 2012. ''(Unclassified, for official use (FOUO) or administrative, or operational purposes only. Requests for the document shall be referred to the Commander, Naval Air Systems Command (PMA-299), 47123 Buse Road, Bldg 2272, Patuxent River, MD, 20670-1547.)''
Naval Historical Center Website for HSL Squadron Insignia
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External links

HSL-49 Scorpions WebsiteHSL-49 Scorpions Past and Present Facebook page
{{DEFAULTSORT:HSM-49 Military units and formations in California Helicopter anti-submarine squadrons of the United States Navy