No. It is a type of squadron although they are transitioning to HSC these days. Here is a history of a HS squadron*:
HELICOPTER ANTISUBMARINE SQUADRON FIFTEEN
HELICOPTER ANTISUBMARINE SQUADRON FIFTEEN was commissioned to fly the SH-3 Sea King in October 1971 at Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, New Jersey. In November 1973, the squadron moved from Lakehurst to Jacksonville, and in 1992 HS-15 transitioned to the SH-60F and HH-60H Seahawk helicopters. As an aircraft carrier-based squadron, HS-15 has operated aboard ten East Coast carriers: USS NIMITZ, USS AMERICA, USS INDEPENDENCE, USS FORRESTAL, USS SARATOGA, USS ENTERPRISE, USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, USS RONALD REAGAN and USS JOHN F. KENNEDY.
Over the years, operations have taken HS-15 to the Atlantic, Arctic, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Adriatic, Arabian, Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Norwegian Seas. During deployments the Red Lions have long played a role in U.S. foreign policy and military actions, including Iraq and Afghanistan; Contingency Operations with the U.S. Multinational Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon; in combat operations during URGENT FURY in Grenada; in extensive North Atlantic antisubmarine warfare (ASW) operations with NATO, Operation PROVIDE COMFORT in Iraq, Operation PROVIDE PROMISE/DENY FLIGHT in the former Yugoslavia, Operations DECISIVE ENDEAVOR and SOUTHERN WATCH in the Arabian Gulf, and Operations DELIBERATE GUARD and COOPERATIVE ASSEMBLY supporting U.S. involvement in the Balkans conflict.
While conducting peacekeeping operations off the coast of Lebanon in 1982, the Red Lions were specifically tasked with shuttling U.S. Special Envoy Phillip Habib to and from Beirut as he negotiated a settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. During the USS INDEPENDENCE (CV 62) 1983-84 deployment, HS-15 was deployed as an element of CVW-6. Throughout hostilities in Grenada, the Red Lions provided combat search and rescue (CSAR) service as well as small boat interdiction patrols while operating a forward detachment from the deck of the USS MOOSBRUGGER (DD 980).
The squadron returned to the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean for a last deployment on USS INDEPENDENCE before reassignment. Embarked in USS FORRESTAL, the squadron deployed to the Mediterranean Sea in June 1986 and in August 1987 to the Norwegian Sea as participants in OCEAN SAFARI '87. The squadron's 1988 deployment took the Red Lions to the Persian Gulf through the Mediterranean Sea and included an impressive 108 consecutive days at sea. Among the high points of the deployment was the opportunity to meet the Commander-in-Chief, President George Bush, prior to his "Summit on the Sea" with Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.
Following the first Persian Gulf War, HS-15 returned to Jacksonville and left CVW-6 with the decommissioning of USS FORRESTAL. HS-15 transitioned in 1992 to the H-60F/H and was subsequently assigned to the CVW-17/USS SARATOGA team. The Red Lions returned to sea in June 1993, and joined CVW-17 on USS SARATOGA?s last deployment.
In 1994, the Red Lions moved to USS ENTERPRISE, deploying in 1996 and participating in Operations DECISIVE ENDEAVOR and SOUTHERN WATCH. In 1997, HS-15 welcomed its first female aviators and moved to USS EISENHOWER. 1998 found the Red Lions once again on deployment in the Mediterranean Sea and ended with the squadron receiving the Battle ?E? and the Safety ?S?.
In 1999, the Red Lions transitioned to USS GEORGE WASHINGTON. The Red Lions were honored with the Arleigh Burke Award for the most improved squadron, ship or submarine in the entire U.S. Atlantic Fleet for their outstanding performance in 1998. In 2000, the Red Lions deployed to the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, returning just prior to the holiday season.
HS-15 entered the global war on terror on September 12th, 2001, the day after the tragic terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Within twenty-four hours the Red Lions had four aircraft and over half of their Sailors aboard USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, in New York City Harbor, supporting Combat Air Patrols.
Throughout 2002 the Red Lions continued their involvement in the war on terror. During the first three months of their 2002 deployment in USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, HS-15 actively participated in operations ENDURING FREEDOM and SOUTHERN WATCH, providing numerous SAR flights and Combat SAR alerts, enabling CVW-17 aircraft to constantly provide airpower in support of U.S. ground forces in Afghanistan. During deployment, the Red Lions also participated in numerous Coalition exercises with allied countries, including ?Med Shark? with the Moroccan Air Force; ?Destined Glory? with the Italian Navy; ?Joint Wings 2002? in Pula, Croatia; and ?PHIBLEX 02? over Albania.
Constant training throughout 2003 and the first half of 2004 was followed by a June through December 2004 deployment on USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) to the Middle East. The Red Lions logged over 2,000 hours supporting a wide array of missions, including over 200 sorties supporting Special Operations units in Southern Iraq, as well as the rescue of six Iranian nationals off their sinking vessel.
In 2005 the Red Lions began preparations for the Secretary of Defense directed, Central Command Navy Air Ambulance combat MEDVAC mission to Kuwait. Throughout the year squadron pilots and aircrew completed U.S. Army Medical Evacuation doctrine schools, flew training missions with Army MEDEVAC pilots at Fort Rucker, Alabama and successfully completed a Helicopter Advanced Readiness Program specially designed to earn U.S. Army MEDVAC certification prior to deployment. During this unique and intensive training period the Red Lions also sent a two helicopter detachment on board USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75) to assist with the evacuation and rescue efforts in the wake of the devastation left along the U.S. gulf coast following Hurricane Katrina. In November, the Red Lions, as the lead squadron, along with the Island Knights of HSC-25, formed the 2515th Navy Air Ambulance Detachment, and relieved the 236th Army Air Ambulance Company as the primary MEDVAC asset in Kuwait and Southern Iraq. It is with great pride that HS-15 assumed the long distinguished ?DUSTOFF? call sign which is synonymous with all Medical Evacuation Units.
2006 began with one half of the Red Lions deployed to Kuwait and the other half continuing MEDEVAC training. In May 2006, the Red Lions deployed their second detachment to Kuwait to complete the year-long deployment. The squadron was reunited on Thanksgiving. While deployed, the 2515th Navy Air Ambulance Detachment flew 1,443 sorties, 2,503 hours, and conducted 331 MEDVACS, transporting 324 patients to follow-on medical care. The Red Lions? tireless contribution in Kuwait and Iraq embodied the DUSTOFF credo ?When I have your wounded? while instilling the Navy Search and Rescue credo ?So Others May Live? in the rich tradition of U.S. Army MEDVAC.
HS-15 began 2007 with a HS-15/HS-3 combined detachment in January to the USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN-75) following a HS-3 mishap. The two week detachment provided Plane Guard assets for Fleet Replenishment Squadron and Training Wing Carrier Qualifications. In February, the squadron provided two days of MEDVAC Training support to U.S. Army Special Operations operating out of Camp Blanding.
In March, due to heavy maintenance requirements for HS-2 and a lack of HH-60H assets at Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC), the squadron flew two HH-60Hs to NAS Fallon in support of HS-2?s Helicopter Advanced Readiness Program (HARP) and the NSAWC Seahawk Weapons and Tactics Instructor (SWTI) Course. In April, the Red Lions continued its assistance to NSAWC and HS-2 by providing aircraft in support of Anti-Submarine and Anti-Surface training at AUTEC, Andros Island , Bahamas .
From mid May to mid June, HS-15 returned to sea in support of another Fleet and Fleet Replenishment Squadron Carrier Qualification Detachment on board the USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN-75). While in port for five days during the detachment the squadron used the time to update Strike Qualifications at Felker Army Airfield.
During July and August, HS-15 switched to the USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN-69) to support carrier qualification detachments again. During the down time between the two detachments the squadron updated its own Anti-Surface Warfare proficiency with CATMEX training during 21-23 July.
September required the squadron to provide Plane Guard assets to the USS George Washington for carrier qualifications. In mid-October, the Red Lions sent one helicopter to Miami, Florida to back-up Distinguished Visitor Transport of the Chief of Naval Operations to the USNS Comfort.
The year was closed out with two more carrier qualification detachments on board the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73) and preparation for TSTA and Partnership of the Americas Cruise scheduled for April of 2008.
*although CVWs traditionally had embarked with HS squadrons, the HS community is transitioning with advent of MH-60R/S helos:
HSC-8 New Name, New Mission, New Helicopter
Story Number: NNS070929-10
Release Date: 9/29/2007 12:09:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Porter Anderson, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (HS) 8 became the first HS squadron to transition to a Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) Sept. 28 at Naval Air Station North Island.
Despite the name change (HSC-8), new aircraft (MH-60S), and new missiion, at least one thing remained unchanged, the squadron?s nickname, ?Eightballers.?
?It?s going to change the mission entirely because you?re going from anti-submarine warfare to search and rescue (SAR), to VERTREP [vertical replenishment] and SAR type events,? said Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class (AW) Michele Reynolds, HSC-8 helicopter mechanic.
Due to the new aircraft that replaced the SH-60F in the transition, new training has been implemented to maintain and service the new MH-60S.
?We are sending our AZs [Aviation Maintenance Administrationman] and AEs [Aviation Electrician?s Mate] to a full two-month training course to learn how to work on the aircraft,? said HSC-8 Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Lawrence S. Vincent.
This transition to HSC-8 is another benchmark for the Eightballers past endeavors, which date back to June 1, 1956.
Guest speaker Rear Adm. Gerard M. Mauer, commandant, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, said he had a history with HS-8. Mauer said that in 1975, when he took his first flight in a U.S. Navy aircraft, it was with HS-8. That flight made such an impact with him that it led him to joining the naval aviation field.
The transition of mission, name and aircraft are big changes for the squadron, but the men and women who make up the Eightballers have accepted each change and are incorporating them into its long and proud history.
