HM-15
Encyclopedia
Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 (HM-15) is a United States Navy
helicopter squadron based at Naval Station Norfolk
, Virginia
. Nicknamed the "Blackhawks" and flying the MH-53E Sea Dragon
, it is staffed by both active duty and reserve personnel. It is the sister squadron to HM-14
, the "Vanguard", based a half-mile away at Naval Station Norfolk
, Virginia
.
The Blackhawks were established on 2 January 1987, as the first of two similar active duty squadrons at Naval Station Norfolk
, Virginia
. On 1 October 1987, the squadron's permanent duty station changed to Naval Air Station Alameda
, California
(just outside of Oakland).
In October 1989 the squadron was called upon to provide support for disaster relief effort after an earthquake
devastated Loma Prieta
, California
. To assist they lifted full size construction backhoe
tractors and assisted in other air-lift operations. The unit was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal
for their efforts.
The squadron was involved in its first major conflict in 1991 when it deployed a three aircraft, 100 man detachment to the Persian Gulf
in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The squadron remained in theater until April 1992 after transporting over 3.2 million pounds of cargo and more than 4,000 personnel. They have also been involved in Operation Enduring Freedom most notably through deployments to Bahrain.
HM-15 and the reserve squadron HM-19
were the first squadrons in the U.S. Navy to combine and fully integrate active and reserve squadrons. HM-19
was soon afterwards decommissioned, with the integrated squadron maintaining the HM-15 designation, mascot, and insignia. The integration was completed on 5 November 1994.
Due to Base Realignment and Closure
(BRAC), with the slated closure of Naval Air Station Alameda
, California
, on 30 June 1996, the permanent duty station of the squadron was officially moved to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
, Texas
. In 2010 it was moved due to BRAC once again, and now calls Norfolk, Virginia home.
At times, HM-15 has had more than 750 personnel. Her largest work center, the "Line Division" boasts at times nearly a hundred personnel, supporting rotating "round the clock" operations. Her second largest work center, the "Airframes and Hydraulics Shop" has almost 60 personnel. She also has one of the "World's Greatest" Administrative Departments. Broken down into Admin and Personnel, this handful of about 10 Sailors take care of all 750 HM-15 members pay, special requests, leave, evaluations, fitreps, and awards.
The squadron has deployed to locations like Bahrain, South Korea
, the Middle East
via the Persian Gulf
, Indonesia
, and in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. HM-15 also took part in Joint Task Force Katrina and was part of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts while working with the USS Bataan. She has operated from the flight decks of the USS Tripoli (LPH-10)
, the USS Juneau (LPD-10)
, the USS Denver (LPD-9)
, the USS Inchon (LPH-12)
, the USS Saipan (LHA-2)
, the USS Bataan (LHD-5)
, and the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3)
.
In 1995, HM-15 was awarded the Chief of Naval Operations
Safety Award and a Meritorious Unit Commendation
.
Again affected by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission in 2005, the squadron moved from Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
, Texas
back to where they first started at NAVSTA Norfolk.
The current Commanding Officer is Commander Richard B. Thomas who is slated to be relieved by the Executive Officer, Commander Sara "Nitro" Santoski in May 2012. The squadron's Command Master Chief is Master Chief Petty Officer
Bobby Anderson.
Using the MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter, they patrol foreign and domestic waters to locate and destroy sea-based mines that would harm water craft, and map safe sea-lanes of travel. Mines can be triggered by any number of methods ranging from contact to electronic signature. While the aircraft hovers safely above the sea, it is capable of dragging through the water a wide variety of instruments and machines to accomplish the mission. In harbors, coordination with EOD
Divers
helps to clear more shallow waters safely.
Squadron deployments have been executed all over the globe, for operational, training, humanitarian, and foreign relations tasking.
Due to the capabilities of the huge heavy-lift aircraft used, the squadron also performs the missions of assault support
and cargo transport when deployed. The squadron has even air lifted a full size construction back-hoe tractor and assisted in other air-lift operations in the Oakland, California
area during the aftermath of the devastating Loma Prieta earthquake
in October 1989.
HM-15 was the first squadron to load two MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters into a U.S. Air Force C-5 Galaxy
transport aircraft. To do so, all seven blades and the main rotor head is removed, the tail folded, and the helicopter inched slowly into the cabin. Pressure in tires and struts must be lowered and raised at appropriate stages in order to get the main gear box shaft to clear the overhead while going up the ramp.
It is not rare to see the squadron maintaining an operational "home" detachment while supporting two separately located far-flung deployments in other places of the world.
HM-15 is the first U.S. Navy squadron to combine and consolidate training requirements between the USN and the USNR. Changes here had ripple effects all the way up to the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) as instructions were researched and updated.
HM-15 is the first squadron to utilize a fully computerized training documentation system with a graphical user interface (GUI), called "Train'em!". This training planning and documentation system replaced hundreds of man-hours of hand-documentation, with one or two personnel and a networked database that synchronized with the administration personnel database, and generated the necessary government training logs required for training documentation and inspections, for "ground-pounder", "aircrew", and "officer" training. This system was eventually distributed to sister squadron, HM-14
, and to other naval commands.
They are the first squadron to boast its own modern IT work center with certified staff to support all IT functions including cabling, networking, database management, and computer maintenance. This capability was replaced by the Navy and Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) in 2002.
HM-15 maintains a trainer with a full size articulated mockup of the cabin and gear of an MH-53E
for training Enlisted Aircrew in the roles of mine countermeasures and operational procedures. It is a fairly significant "stage", looking reminiscent of a huge theme park reality ride, and a brand new building was constructed to house both it and the Squadron Training Department.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
helicopter squadron based at Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Nicknamed the "Blackhawks" and flying the MH-53E Sea Dragon
CH-53E Super Stallion
The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is the largest and heaviest helicopter in the United States military. It was developed from the CH-53 Sea Stallion, mainly by adding a third engine, a seventh blade to the main rotor and canting the tail rotor 20 degrees. Sailors commonly refer to the Super...
, it is staffed by both active duty and reserve personnel. It is the sister squadron to HM-14
HM-14
Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron FOURTEEN is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. Nicknamed the "Vanguard" and flying the MH-53E Sea Dragon, it comprises both active duty and reserve personnel...
, the "Vanguard", based a half-mile away at Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
History
Naval Station Norfolk
Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia, is a base of the United States Navy, supporting naval forces in the United States Fleet Forces Command, those operating in the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. On 1 October 1987, the squadron's permanent duty station changed to Naval Air Station Alameda
Naval Air Station Alameda
Naval Air Station Alameda was a United States Navy Naval Air Station in Alameda, California, on San Francisco Bay.NAS Alameda had two runways: 07-25 and 13-31...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
(just outside of Oakland).
In October 1989 the squadron was called upon to provide support for disaster relief effort after an earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
devastated Loma Prieta
Loma Prieta earthquake
The Loma Prieta earthquake, also known as the Quake of '89 and the World Series Earthquake, was a major earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay Area of California on October 17, 1989, at 5:04 p.m. local time...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. To assist they lifted full size construction backhoe
Backhoe
A backhoe, also called a rear actor or back actor, is a piece of excavating equipment or digger consisting of a digging bucket on the end of a two-part articulated arm. They are typically mounted on the back of a tractor or front loader...
tractors and assisted in other air-lift operations. The unit was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
The Humanitarian Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States armed forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under...
for their efforts.
The squadron was involved in its first major conflict in 1991 when it deployed a three aircraft, 100 man detachment to the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The squadron remained in theater until April 1992 after transporting over 3.2 million pounds of cargo and more than 4,000 personnel. They have also been involved in Operation Enduring Freedom most notably through deployments to Bahrain.
HM-15 and the reserve squadron HM-19
HM-19
The HM-19 "Goldenbears" is a decommissioned U.S. Navy Reserve MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter mine countermeasures squadron, formerly based at NAS Alameda, California, USA....
were the first squadrons in the U.S. Navy to combine and fully integrate active and reserve squadrons. HM-19
HM-19
The HM-19 "Goldenbears" is a decommissioned U.S. Navy Reserve MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter mine countermeasures squadron, formerly based at NAS Alameda, California, USA....
was soon afterwards decommissioned, with the integrated squadron maintaining the HM-15 designation, mascot, and insignia. The integration was completed on 5 November 1994.
Due to Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
(BRAC), with the slated closure of Naval Air Station Alameda
Naval Air Station Alameda
Naval Air Station Alameda was a United States Navy Naval Air Station in Alameda, California, on San Francisco Bay.NAS Alameda had two runways: 07-25 and 13-31...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, on 30 June 1996, the permanent duty station of the squadron was officially moved to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
Naval Air Station Corpus Christi , also known as Truax Field, is a naval base located six miles southeast of the central business district of Corpus Christi, in Nueces County, Texas, USA.-History:...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. In 2010 it was moved due to BRAC once again, and now calls Norfolk, Virginia home.
At times, HM-15 has had more than 750 personnel. Her largest work center, the "Line Division" boasts at times nearly a hundred personnel, supporting rotating "round the clock" operations. Her second largest work center, the "Airframes and Hydraulics Shop" has almost 60 personnel. She also has one of the "World's Greatest" Administrative Departments. Broken down into Admin and Personnel, this handful of about 10 Sailors take care of all 750 HM-15 members pay, special requests, leave, evaluations, fitreps, and awards.
The squadron has deployed to locations like Bahrain, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
via the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, and in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. HM-15 also took part in Joint Task Force Katrina and was part of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts while working with the USS Bataan. She has operated from the flight decks of the USS Tripoli (LPH-10)
USS Tripoli (LPH-10)
USS Tripoli , an , was laid down on 15 June 1964 at Pascagoula, Mississippi, by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation; launched on 31 July 1965; sponsored by Mrs. Jane Cates, the wife of General Clifton B. Cates, former Commandant of the Marine Corps; and commissioned on 6 August 1966 at the...
, the USS Juneau (LPD-10)
USS Juneau (LPD-10)
USS Juneau , an Austin-class amphibious transport dock, is the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for the capital of Alaska...
, the USS Denver (LPD-9)
USS Denver (LPD-9)
USS Denver , an Austin-class amphibious transport dock, is the third ship of United States Navy to bear this name. Denver’s keel was laid 7 July 1964 at Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, Seattle, Washington. She was launched 23 January 1965, christened by Mrs. John A...
, the USS Inchon (LPH-12)
USS Inchon (LPH-12)
USS Inchon , an Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the battle of Inchon, a turning point of the Korean War....
, the USS Saipan (LHA-2)
USS Saipan (LHA-2)
USS Saipan is a , the second United States Navy ship named in honor of the World War II Battle of Saipan.-History:Saipan was laid down on July 21, 1972 by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division, Litton Industries, Pascagoula, Mississippi; launched on July 20, 1974; sponsored by Mrs. J...
, the USS Bataan (LHD-5)
USS Bataan (LHD-5)
USS Bataan is a commissioned in 1997. She is named to honor the defense of the Bataan Peninsula on the western side of Manila Bay in the Philippines during the early days of US involvement in World War II.-Christening:...
, and the USS Kearsarge (LHD-3)
USS Kearsarge (LHD-3)
USS Kearsarge is the third of the United States Navy. She is the fifth ship to be named in honor of the USS Kearsarge, a sloop-of-war that gained fame during the American Civil War, which was in turn named for Mount Kearsarge in New Hampshire.-Construction:Kearsarges keel was laid down on 6...
.
In 1995, HM-15 was awarded the Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
Safety Award and a Meritorious Unit Commendation
Meritorious Unit Commendation
The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
.
Again affected by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission in 2005, the squadron moved from Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
Naval Air Station Corpus Christi , also known as Truax Field, is a naval base located six miles southeast of the central business district of Corpus Christi, in Nueces County, Texas, USA.-History:...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
back to where they first started at NAVSTA Norfolk.
The current Commanding Officer is Commander Richard B. Thomas who is slated to be relieved by the Executive Officer, Commander Sara "Nitro" Santoski in May 2012. The squadron's Command Master Chief is Master Chief Petty Officer
Master Chief Petty Officer
- Master Chief Petty Officer :U.S. Coast GuardMaster ChiefPetty OfficerCap & Collar deviceU.S. Coast GuardMaster ChiefPetty OfficerinsigniaGood conductRating badgeMaster ChiefPetty OfficerCap & Collar Insignia...
Bobby Anderson.
Operations
EOD
EOD may refer to:* Explosive Ordnance Disposal, the disposal of bombs* End Of Day, a financial markets term* Evolve Or Die, A Political Party, started in Montana, with the beliefs that humanity must move forward or die out...
Divers
United States Navy Diver
A Navy Diver refers to a member of the community of Unrestricted Line Officer Officers, Medical Corps Officers and enlisted personnel in the United States Navy who are qualified in underwater open/closed circuit breathing apparatus, deep sea type diving apparatus and saturation diving. Personnel...
helps to clear more shallow waters safely.
Squadron deployments have been executed all over the globe, for operational, training, humanitarian, and foreign relations tasking.
Assault Support
Assault Support is one of the six functions of United States Marine Corps aviation and comprises those actions required to airlift personnel, supplies or equipment into or within a battle area by helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft. It provides the Marine Air-Ground Task Force commander the...
and cargo transport when deployed. The squadron has even air lifted a full size construction back-hoe tractor and assisted in other air-lift operations in the Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
area during the aftermath of the devastating Loma Prieta earthquake
Loma Prieta earthquake
The Loma Prieta earthquake, also known as the Quake of '89 and the World Series Earthquake, was a major earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay Area of California on October 17, 1989, at 5:04 p.m. local time...
in October 1989.
HM-15 was the first squadron to load two MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters into a U.S. Air Force C-5 Galaxy
C-5 Galaxy
The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. It provides the United States Air Force with a heavy intercontinental-range strategic airlift capability, one that can carry outsize and oversize cargos, including all air-certifiable cargo. The Galaxy has many...
transport aircraft. To do so, all seven blades and the main rotor head is removed, the tail folded, and the helicopter inched slowly into the cabin. Pressure in tires and struts must be lowered and raised at appropriate stages in order to get the main gear box shaft to clear the overhead while going up the ramp.
It is not rare to see the squadron maintaining an operational "home" detachment while supporting two separately located far-flung deployments in other places of the world.
Training and Other Notables
HM-15 is the first U.S. Navy squadron to combine and consolidate training requirements between the USN and the USNR. Changes here had ripple effects all the way up to the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) as instructions were researched and updated.
HM-15 is the first squadron to utilize a fully computerized training documentation system with a graphical user interface (GUI), called "Train'em!". This training planning and documentation system replaced hundreds of man-hours of hand-documentation, with one or two personnel and a networked database that synchronized with the administration personnel database, and generated the necessary government training logs required for training documentation and inspections, for "ground-pounder", "aircrew", and "officer" training. This system was eventually distributed to sister squadron, HM-14
HM-14
Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron FOURTEEN is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. Nicknamed the "Vanguard" and flying the MH-53E Sea Dragon, it comprises both active duty and reserve personnel...
, and to other naval commands.
They are the first squadron to boast its own modern IT work center with certified staff to support all IT functions including cabling, networking, database management, and computer maintenance. This capability was replaced by the Navy and Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) in 2002.
HM-15 maintains a trainer with a full size articulated mockup of the cabin and gear of an MH-53E
CH-53E Super Stallion
The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is the largest and heaviest helicopter in the United States military. It was developed from the CH-53 Sea Stallion, mainly by adding a third engine, a seventh blade to the main rotor and canting the tail rotor 20 degrees. Sailors commonly refer to the Super...
for training Enlisted Aircrew in the roles of mine countermeasures and operational procedures. It is a fairly significant "stage", looking reminiscent of a huge theme park reality ride, and a brand new building was constructed to house both it and the Squadron Training Department.
See also
- History of the United States NavyHistory of the United States NavyThe history of the United States Navy divides into two major periods: the "Old Navy", a small but respected force of sailing ships that was also notable for innovation in the use of ironclads during the American Civil War, and the "New Navy", the result of a modernization effort that began in the...
- List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons]
External links
- Official Department of the Navy - Naval Historical Center - HM-15 Squadron History
- Official U.S. DOD BRAC 2005 Impacts By State (PDF)
- Unofficial site noting BRAC effects on HM-15
- HM-15 Brief History Narrative (not an official site, with bulk of text obviously condensed from other sites)
- The Airborne Mine Countermeasures Website (not an official site)