Helicopter Attack Squadron (Light) Three
Encyclopedia
Helicopter Attack Squadron (Light) THREE (HA(L)-3), nicknamed the “Seawolves” was an all volunteer Navy Squadron formed in support of Naval Special Warfare operations and Mobile Riverine Forces during the Vietnam War
.
for reconnaissance, Search and Rescue (SAR)
, and medical evacuation of wounded (MEDEVAC). Helicopters within the United States Navy
were used for Search and Rescue (SAR), Vertical replenishment (VERTREP), Marine amphibious envelopment
, and, experimentally, as mine sweepers
. As an offensive weapon, the Navy developed the helicopter as an anti-submarine warfare
aircraft, developing the capability to carry and launch torpedoes
. As an offensive weapon for ground-based targets, the helicopter was relatively ignored in favor of traditional, fixed-wing aircraft.
In 1965, the US Navy began joint operations off the coast southern coast of South Vietnam
in support of the growing war. In the same year, the Navy began limited river operations
in the Mekong Delta
to disrupting the Viet Cong's lines of communications, locating supply caches, and eliminating tax collecting stations. Based on the “Brown-water
” Navy’s early success, a commitment was made to continue river operations on a full scale basis in the Mekong Delta
. It was also determined that key to the survival of the boats operating in the rivers would be close air support.
Initially, the Brown-water Navy was supported by elements of the 145th Army Combat Aviation Battalion who had greater experience in helicopter gunship operations and tactics. Operating off a “Mothership”, the USS Belle Grove (LSD-2)
, the Army and Navy worked together on Operation Jackstay. Although the joint effort was a success, it was felt that Naval Aviators
and Aircrewman would be more suitable for the mission, especially since the mission would require the pilots and crews to operate off the deck of ships in all weather conditions, day and night. This, coupled with Army’s pilots and aircrews lack of training in ship board operations, identified a need for a dedicated, United States Navy, helicopter gunship program in Vietnam.
(NSW) rotary support was originated as part of the response to the ongoing war in South Vietnam. Starting with Helicopter Combat Support Squadron ONE (HC-1), detachments of helicopter gunships supported the Navy effort in the Mekong Delta region of South Vietnam. HC-1, the “Fleet Angels”, operated two-plane detachments of surplus Army UH-1B gunships, staged from amphibious vessels. Providing a quick reaction, close air-support (CAS) role for units of the Navy's Special Warfare Groups and Navy Mobile Riverine Forces (also known as the Brown-water Navy), the effectiveness of the helicopter attack mission was quickly realized.
In response, the Navy began to widen the mission requirements. This created a need for a specific Squadron in support of the mission requirements. In April 1967, HC-1 was divided into four separate units, Helicopter Combat Support Squadron THREE (Navy Vertical Replenishment), and Helicopter Combat Support Squadron FIVE (LAMPS), and Helicopter Combat Support Squadron SEVEN (Navy Combat Search and Rescue), and Helicopter Attack Squadron (Light) THREE (HAL-(3)), nicknamed the Seawolves.
In 1966, the Navy sent a message fleet-wide, asking for volunteer Naval Aviators to man HA(L)-3. From the response, eighty Aviators were chosen to be the first "Seawolves" and transferred to Vietnam. On April 1, 1967, HA(L)-3 was officially commissioned in South Vietnam under the command of LCDR Joseph B. Howard.
. Scrambling and arriving within approximately fifteen minutes, the Seawolves would claim 16 Viet Cong boats sunk or destroyed.
After the commissioning of HA(L)-3, the Seawolves continued to support Navy Operations. Missions included Search and Destroy patrols, reconnaissance, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), and SEAL Team
insertion and extraction. By the time of their decommissioning on January 26, 1972, the Seawolves flew over 120,000 combat sorties over Vietnam and Cambodia
. Over 200 Seawolves would be wounded in combat and 44 would be killed in action.
in 1976 and 1977, the Navy Gunships would once again join the fleet, though be in the United States Navy Reserve
. Although these two units would never see combat, their descendents, HCS-4, HCS-5, and HSC-84
would go on to see combat in Operation Desert Shield/Storm
, Operation Uphold Democracy
, Operation Joint Endeavor, Operation Enduring Freedom. and Operation Iraqi Freedom Freedom.
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
Beginnings of the Navy helicopter gunship
Prior to the Vietnam War, the helicopter was a valued tool within the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
for reconnaissance, Search and Rescue (SAR)
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
, and medical evacuation of wounded (MEDEVAC). Helicopters within the 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...
were used for Search and Rescue (SAR), Vertical replenishment (VERTREP), Marine amphibious envelopment
Amphibious warfare (United States)
The United States has a long history in amphibious warfare from the landings in the Bahamas during the American Revolutionary War, to some of the more massive examples of World War II in the European Theater of Operation on Normandy, and in Africa and Italy, as well as the constant island warfare...
, and, experimentally, as mine sweepers
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
. As an offensive weapon, the Navy developed the helicopter as an anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
aircraft, developing the capability to carry and launch torpedoes
Aerial torpedo
The aerial torpedo, airborne torpedo or air-dropped torpedo is a naval weapon, the torpedo, designed to be dropped into water from an aircraft after which it propels itself to the target. First used in World War I, air-dropped torpedoes were used extensively in World War II, and remain in limited...
. As an offensive weapon for ground-based targets, the helicopter was relatively ignored in favor of traditional, fixed-wing aircraft.
In 1965, the US Navy began joint operations off the coast southern coast of South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
in support of the growing war. In the same year, the Navy began limited river operations
Mobile Riverine Force
In the Vietnam War, the Mobile Riverine Force , initially designated Mekong Delta Mobile Afloat Force, and later euphemistically the Riverines, were a joint US Army and US Navy force that comprised a substantial part of the Brown Water Navy...
in the Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is the region in southwestern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. The Mekong delta region encompasses a large portion of southwestern Vietnam of . The size of the area covered by water depends on the season.The...
to disrupting the Viet Cong's lines of communications, locating supply caches, and eliminating tax collecting stations. Based on the “Brown-water
Brown-water navy
Brown-water navy is a term that originated in the United States Navy, referring to the small gunboats and patrol boats used in rivers, along with some of the larger ships that supported them as "mother ships," from which they operated...
” Navy’s early success, a commitment was made to continue river operations on a full scale basis in the Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is the region in southwestern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. The Mekong delta region encompasses a large portion of southwestern Vietnam of . The size of the area covered by water depends on the season.The...
. It was also determined that key to the survival of the boats operating in the rivers would be close air support.
Initially, the Brown-water Navy was supported by elements of the 145th Army Combat Aviation Battalion who had greater experience in helicopter gunship operations and tactics. Operating off a “Mothership”, the USS Belle Grove (LSD-2)
USS Belle Grove (LSD-2)
USS Belle Grove was a of the United States Navy, named in honor of Belle Grove Plantation, the birthplace of President James Madison in Port Conway, Virginia....
, the Army and Navy worked together on Operation Jackstay. Although the joint effort was a success, it was felt that Naval Aviators
United States Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
and Aircrewman would be more suitable for the mission, especially since the mission would require the pilots and crews to operate off the deck of ships in all weather conditions, day and night. This, coupled with Army’s pilots and aircrews lack of training in ship board operations, identified a need for a dedicated, United States Navy, helicopter gunship program in Vietnam.
The Birth of the HA(L)-3 and the Seawolves
In 1966, Naval Special WarfareUnited States Naval Special Warfare Command
The United States Naval Special Warfare Command was commissioned on April 16, 1987, at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in San Diego, California...
(NSW) rotary support was originated as part of the response to the ongoing war in South Vietnam. Starting with Helicopter Combat Support Squadron ONE (HC-1), detachments of helicopter gunships supported the Navy effort in the Mekong Delta region of South Vietnam. HC-1, the “Fleet Angels”, operated two-plane detachments of surplus Army UH-1B gunships, staged from amphibious vessels. Providing a quick reaction, close air-support (CAS) role for units of the Navy's Special Warfare Groups and Navy Mobile Riverine Forces (also known as the Brown-water Navy), the effectiveness of the helicopter attack mission was quickly realized.
In response, the Navy began to widen the mission requirements. This created a need for a specific Squadron in support of the mission requirements. In April 1967, HC-1 was divided into four separate units, Helicopter Combat Support Squadron THREE (Navy Vertical Replenishment), and Helicopter Combat Support Squadron FIVE (LAMPS), and Helicopter Combat Support Squadron SEVEN (Navy Combat Search and Rescue), and Helicopter Attack Squadron (Light) THREE (HAL-(3)), nicknamed the Seawolves.
In 1966, the Navy sent a message fleet-wide, asking for volunteer Naval Aviators to man HA(L)-3. From the response, eighty Aviators were chosen to be the first "Seawolves" and transferred to Vietnam. On April 1, 1967, HA(L)-3 was officially commissioned in South Vietnam under the command of LCDR Joseph B. Howard.
Fighting in Vietnam
The Seawolves would first major action while still part of a detachment of HC-1. On October 31, 1966, two Navy boats encountered a superior force of over 80 boats transferring a Viet Cong battalion. Encountering fierce resistance from them, the Navy boat commanders requested close air support (CAS)Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
. Scrambling and arriving within approximately fifteen minutes, the Seawolves would claim 16 Viet Cong boats sunk or destroyed.
After the commissioning of HA(L)-3, the Seawolves continued to support Navy Operations. Missions included Search and Destroy patrols, reconnaissance, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), and SEAL Team
United States Navy SEALs
The United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
insertion and extraction. By the time of their decommissioning on January 26, 1972, the Seawolves flew over 120,000 combat sorties over Vietnam and Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
. Over 200 Seawolves would be wounded in combat and 44 would be killed in action.
Post Vietnam War developments
It would take the Navy four years from the decommissioning of HA(L)-3 to realize that it still had a need for this type of specialized, special warfare aviation support. With the establishment of Helicopter Attack Squadron (Light) Four and Helicopter Attack Squadron (Light) FiveHelicopter Attack Squadron (Light) Five
Helicopter Attack Squadron Five was a US Navy Special Warfare and Close Air Support helicopter squadron in the period following Vietnam, which, along with its sister squadron HA-4 "Red Wolves", was one of the last two US Navy squadrons using "Huey" Gunships.- Genesis of the HA squadrons :In 1966,...
in 1976 and 1977, the Navy Gunships would once again join the fleet, though be in the United States Navy Reserve
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
. Although these two units would never see combat, their descendents, HCS-4, HCS-5, and HSC-84
HSC-84
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 84 "Red Wolves" is a helicopter squadron of the United States Navy Reserve. Along with the "Firehawks" of HSC-85, the “Red Wolves” are one of only two squadrons in the U.S. Navy dedicated to supporting Navy SEAL and SWCC Teams, and Combat Search & Rescue...
would go on to see combat in Operation Desert Shield/Storm
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, Operation Uphold Democracy
Operation Uphold Democracy
Operation Uphold Democracy was an intervention designed to remove the military regime installed by the 1991 Haitian coup d'état that overthrew the elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide...
, Operation Joint Endeavor, Operation Enduring Freedom. and Operation Iraqi Freedom Freedom.