Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Two Three (HSC-23), also known as the "Wildcards", are a United States Navy

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 Air Station North Island

Naval Air Station North Island

Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island is located at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay and is the home port of several aircraft carriers of the United States Navy...

 in San Diego, California

San Diego, California

San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...

. The "Wildcards" currently fly the MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter. HSC-23 is the sister squadron of HSC-21 "Blackjacks" stationed at Naval Air Station North Island

Naval Air Station North Island

Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island is located at the north end of the Coronado peninsula on San Diego Bay and is the home port of several aircraft carriers of the United States Navy...

.

Command History

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 was established on October 1, 2006 at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California

San Diego, California

San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...

.

Command Emblem

The cards represent playing cards as used in a traditional deck of cards. The five cards represent the standard wild cards used in card games. The cards also add up to 23.
They may be specialty cards or pre-assigned.
The guns represent 1851 Navy Colt revolvers

Colt 1851 Navy Revolver

The Colt Revolving Belt Pistol of Naval Caliber , later known as the Colt 1851 Navy or Navy Revolver, is a cap and ball revolver. It was designed by Samuel Colt between 1847 and 1850. It remained in production until 1873, when revolvers using fixed metallic cartridges came into widespread use...

 famous for their dependability and accuracy. They present the fire power that the armed helo brings to the table and the strike capability it provides the fleet.

See also

• History of the United States Navy
  History of the United States Navy
  The 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