· Overview
· Command and Personnel Awards
· Rosters
· HCS-5 Disestablishment Video
Navy Special Warfare (NSW) rotary support originated in 1966, with the establishment of the legendary HA(L)-3 "Seawolves", flying the UH-1B/C Huey. In 1966, the Seawolves were established in Vietnam as part of Operation GAME WARDEN, supporting Navy Special Warfare personnel and Navy PBR boats along the Mekong Delta. They became one of the most decorated Naval Aviation units in history, earning over 20,000 unit and personnel awards. Nearing the end of the Vietnam War in 1972, the Navy disestablished the Seawolves in Vietnam, marking the end of this critical capability. It only took four years to realize their mistake. In 1976, the Navy established two Navy Reserve Helicopter Attack (Light) units, HA(L)-4 "Redwolves" and HA(L)-5 "Bluehawks", flying the HH-1K Huey. They were co-located with East and West coast SEAL teams, in Point Mugu, CA and Norfolk, VA. The decision was made to place this capability in the Reserves, so as to capture Seawolf talent leaving the Navy and have units with no need to meet Carrier Air Group deployment cycles. The Navy also established a reserve helicopter wing to oversee the new units; Commander, Helicopter Wing Reserve (COMHELWINGRES).
Navy Combat Search and Rescue rotary support began even earlier. The Navy's first helicopter squadron, HU-1 "Fleet Angels", performed CSAR operations during the Korean War. In 1966, the squadron was redesignated HC-1, and deployed to the Vietnam area of operations. However, HC-1 was not a dedicated CSAR asset, and the Navy opted to establish a squadron specifically to perform CSAR. Personnel were sourced from HC-1 to form the "Seadevils" of HC-7, flying the HH-3A Sea King and the UH-2B Seasprite helicopters. Over the course of six years, HC-7 crews performed 156 high-risk rescue missions into Vietnam. One such mission on 19 June 1968 earned the Medal of Honor for pilot Lt. Clyde Lassen. In 1975, HC-7 ceased operations in Vietnam, and disestablished. However, eight aircraft and dozens of personnel transferred to the "Protectors" of HC-9, a newly established reserve squadron in San Diego, CA, designed to keep the Navy's CSAR skills alive and well-honed. HC-9 began operations stateside in 1976, conducting CSAR training for Carrier-based HS (Helicopter Anti-Submarine) squadrons at NAS Fallon, Nevada. Eventually, HC-9 formalized training conducted at Fallon, and established the Navy's first Helicopter Strike Rescue School. This school would later become a part of NSAWC (Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center), and be renamed SWTI (Seahawk Weapons and Tactics Instructor School) in 1998.
In 1983, a proposal was made by the Chief of Naval Operations to form two new squadrons, blending the CSAR/NSW mission into one unit. The plan called for the construction of a new aircraft specifically for those squadrons. Sikorsky was tasked with designing the new aircraft, based on the SH-60F Seahawk airframe recently entering service with HS squadrons. The HH-60H Rescue Hawk was born. The contract called for the construction of 63 aircraft. Upon receipt of the new aircraft, both HA(L) squadrons and HC-9 would disestablish and become HCS (Helicopter Combat Support Special) squadrons. The HH-60H was a heavily modified version of the Seahawk, with left side gunner's windows and right/left weapon mounts, Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE), secure communications, infrared suppression systems, and missile countermeasure systems. In addition, it would employ the M-60 machine gun, the GAU-17A minigun, and eventually the M-240 machine gun and FLIR/AGM-114 Hellfire missile systems. Only 42 'Hotels' were built, 21 airframes were cancelled due to budget cuts.
HCS-5 was commissioned on 2 October 1988, becoming the first Navy unit to fly and evaluate the capabilities of the HH-60H. HCS-5 was able to rapidly deploy four two-aircraft detachments worldwide, remaining on 72-hour alert for the 16 years that it was commissioned. The unit's CSAR skills were tested almost immediately, with a 4-month deployment in support of Operation DESERT STORM combat operations. From 1991 to 2003, the unit deployed numerous times in support of fleet, NSW, and SPECWAR training and operational requirements.
In 2003, HCS-5 deployed in support of joint special operations as part of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. The first of four HCS aircraft arrived in Kuwait on March 23rd, 2003, two days after the start of hostilities, and flew their first mission within 24 hours. From March to October 2003, HCS-5 flew 900 missions and 1700 hours in direct support of combat operations, earning the Navy Unit Commendation Medal and the Combat Action ribbon. HCS-4 personnel and aircraft began augmenting the HCS detachment in May 2003, beginning a three-year cycle of fully-integrated HCS support. After the fall of Baghdad in May 2003, HCS-5 moved North to an abandoned HAS (hardened aircraft structure) at Baghdad International Airport, and began direct NSW combat support operations in the central Iraq/Baghdad region. HCS squadrons became the first forward-deployed Navy aviation assets into Iraq.
From March 2003 to December 2006, HCS squadrons flew over 2500 missions and 6000 flight hours of direct combat support, earning 2 Navy Distinguished Flying Crosses, 12 Bronze Stars, 220 Single Action Air Medals, and over 1600 Strike/Flight Air Medals. 64% of missions flown were with the cover of darkness.
In August 2006, HCS-5 was issued disestablishment orders by direction of the Chief of Naval Operations, to comply with the guidelines set forth in the Navy's "Helicopter Master Plan". This was a roadmap designed to guide the future of Navy Rotary Aviation; HCS was not included on that roadmap. The squadron was removed from the forward edge of battle in Iraq, and ordered home by the end of August. In December 2006, the squadron held an official Disestablishment ceremony, and all personnel and aircraft were spread across the fleet before the end of the month. The last Commanding Officer of HCS-5 said it best; "Today we disestablished the Navy's most combat effective helicopter squadron of the past 30 years".
The dedicated Navy CSAR/SOF mission now carries on with the "Redwolves" of HSC-84, previously HCS-4. The Redwolves were redesignated HSC-84 in July 2006, and adopted four HH-60H airframes from HCS-5. Comprised of both Active Component and Reserve Component personnel, they continue on as the only "dedicated" Navy rotary CSAR/NSW asset, supporting operations worldwide.
From 1988 to 2006, HCS-5 suffered NO aircraft losses or personnel casualties in the line of duty. The squadron flew over 40,000 hours of NSW, SPECWAR, CSAR and fleet logistics support, deployed in support of two wars and participated in numerous exercises including Cope Thunder, Tandem Thrust, RIMPAC, Woodland Cougar, Cobra Gold, Operations DESERT STORM, UPHOLD DEMOCRACY, ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM.
