View source for HSC-6

{{nofootnotes|date=February 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6
|image=Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6 (US Navy) patch 2015.png
|image_size=200px
|caption=HSC-6 ''Indians'' Insignia
|dates= 1 June 1956 - present
|country= {{flag|United States of America}}
|allegiance=
|branch= {{nowrap|[[File:United States Department of the Navy Seal.svg|30px|United States Navy Seal]] [[United States Navy]]}}
|type= Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron
|role= Logistics, Strike, Medevac, HA/DR, [[Anti-Surface Warfare]] (ASUW)<br />Combat [[Search & Rescue]] (CSAR)<br />[[Search & Rescue]] (SAR)<br /> [[Special Operations]] (SpecOps) <br /> [[Vertical replenishment]] (VERTREP)
|size=
|command_structure= [[CVW-17]]
|garrison= [[Naval Air Station North Island|NAS North Island]]
|garrison_label=
|equipment=
|equipment_label=
|nickname= ''Indians''
|patron=
|motto= "One Team...One Scream"
|colors=
|colors_label=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|aircraft=
|battle_honours=
}}
'''Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron SIX (HSC-6)''', is a helicopter squadron of the [[United States Navy]]. It was established as Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron SIX (HS-6) on 1 June 1956. Its nickname is ''Screamin’ Indians''. On 8 July 2011 it was redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron SIX (HSC-6).  It is based at [[Naval Air Station North Island]], is part of [[Carrier Air Wing 17]] and deploys aboard the aircraft carrier {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68}}.
==History==
Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron SIX (HS-6) was established on 1 June 1956 aboard {{USS|Princeton|CVS-37}} midway between the islands of [[Formosa]] and [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]].  Initially, the squadron flew the [[Sikorsky H-19|Sikorsky HO4S-3]], but two years later transitioned to the [[Sikorsky H-34|Sikorsky HSS-1N Seabat]] greatly enhancing the ability of the squadron to conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
[[File:HSS-1 of HS-6 on USS Kearsarge (CVS-33) c1959.jpg|thumb|left|HSS-1N Seabats of HS-6 aboard {{USS|Kearsarge|CVS-33|6}}, 1959.]]
In April 1960, the squadron joined Carrier Anti-Submarine Group 53 aboard {{USS|Kearsarge|CVS-33}}.  In March 1962 the squadron again changed aircraft when the [[Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King|Sikorsky HSS-2 Sea King]] entered the fleet.  In September of that year the HSS-2 was redesignated the [[Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King|SH-3A Sea King]] with the Navy's adoption of the [[1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system]]. The Sea King, incorporating upgrades over the years, would take HS-6 into the 1990s. HS-6 recovered [[Mercury Program]] astronauts [[Wally Schirra]] in 1962 and [[Gordon Cooper]] in 1963.  In 1966, during U.S. strikes into Vietnam, the Indians rescued 16 downed aviators, for which the squadron received the Navy Unit Commendation.  A 7th Fleet Commendation followed in 1969 for services provided following the collision at sea between {{USS|Frank E. Evans|DD-754}} and {{HMAS|Melbourne|R21}}.  By the end of the decade the squadron had transitioned to the [[Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King|SH-3D Sea King]]. In 1971, the ''Indians'' recovered the crew of [[Apollo 14]] returning from the Moon.  Later that year, the squadron deployed to the east coast to join Carrier Air Wing 7 aboard {{USS|Independence|CVA-62}} to conduct an evaluation of the emerging CV concept.
[[File:ASTP Apollo command module recovery by HS-6 Sea King in 1975.jpg|thumb|A SH-3D of HS-6 during the recovery of [[Apollo–Soyuz]], 24 July 1975.]]
In 1974, the squadron began a nine-year association with {{USS|Constellation|CV-64}} and [[Carrier Air Wing Nine|Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9)]]. In 1975 the squadron transitioned aircraft again, this time to the [[Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King|SH-3H Sea King]] which it would fly for most of the next two decades.  The successful HS-6, CVW-9, USS ''Constellation'' partnership resulted in Battle "E" Awards in 1974 and 1978 and back-to-back Captain Arnold Jay Isbell Trophies for ASW excellence in 1977 and 1978.  The squadron also won the CNO Safety ‘S’ Award in 1977.  In 1975, HS-6 briefly revisited its participation in the space program, recovering the [[Apollo–Soyuz]] astronauts.  The squadron’s final deployment on board ''Constellation'' was highlighted by 19 open ocean rescues.  HS-6 again won back-to-back Captain Arnold Jay Isbell Trophies in 1985 and 1986.  Additionally, in 1986, the squadron received the Admiral Jimmy Thach Award for carrier-based ASW excellence and the CNO Safety ‘S’ Award.  In 1988 the Indians received worldwide recognition for rescuing a seriously injured Japanese fisherman.  That year, HS-6 would also receive the Sikorsky Maintenance Award, the CNO Safety ‘S’ Award, and the Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation.  HS-6 later joined [[Carrier Air Wing Eleven|Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN (CVW-11)]] and began deploying on board {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65}} until 1989 when the Indians finished with an Around the World cruise.  On that cruise, HS-6 won the first ever DESRON 21 "Order of the Pummeled Dolphin" award for excellence in ASW.  In 1991, the squadron transitioned to the [[Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk|Sikorsky SH-60F Seahawk]] and [[Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk|HH-60H Seahawk]] helicopters.  Armed with these new aircraft, the Indians remained part of CVW-11 and from 1990 to 2003 conducted several deployments aboard {{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72}}, {{USS|Kitty Hawk|CV-63}}, {{USS|Carl Vinson|CVN-70}}, and {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68}}, to the [[Western Pacific Ocean|Western Pacific]], [[Indian Ocean]] and [[Persian Gulf]].
In 2001, during the opening days of the [[Global War on Terrorism]], HS-6 conducted a joint detachment with [[Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 11 (United States Navy)|HS-11]], staging their HH-60H helicopters at a forward base in Pakistan to provide Combat Search and Rescue for the initial Operation Enduring Freedom air strikes into Afghanistan.  Following another 5th Fleet deployment in 2003, the ''Indians'' deployed in the summer of 2004 aboard {{USS|Ronald Reagan|CVN-76}} for its South American inter-fleet transit.  WESTPAC 2005 found HS-6 focused on Operation Iraqi Freedom, flying over 2,500 hours and nearly 1,000 sorties from {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68}} and Camp Arifjan, Kuwait to patrol the skies of Southern Iraq.  That year, the Indians were awarded the CNO Safety ‘S’ Award, COMPACFLT Retention Excellence Award, and Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy.  The squadron’s support of [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] and [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] during WESTPAC ’07, and their performance in the 7th Fleet throughout 2008 earned the Indians the 2007 Battle "E", and back-to-back CNO Safety ‘S’ Awards in 2007 and 2008.  In March 2010, the squadron completed its final cruise with SH-60F/HH-60H helicopters, an eight-month deployment to 5th Fleet in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
[[File:A U.S. Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6 prepares to land aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in the Indian Ocean June 11, 2013 130611-N-TI017-220.jpg|thumb|A HSC-6 MH-60S Seahawk landing aboard {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68|6}}, in 2013.]]
HS-6 began the transition the [[Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk|Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk]] in early 2011 and was redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6 (HSC-6) on 8 July 2011. As an HSC squadron the ''Indians'' no longer conduct Anti-Submarine Warfare, their primary rolls now are Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW), Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Naval Special Operations Support, Search and Rescue (SAR) and Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) in support of the carrier strike group. The squadron was again assigned to CVW-11 aboard USS ''Nimitz'' and participated in exercise [[RIMPAC]] 2012. This was followed by a deployment aboard ''Nimitz'' to the Western Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea from March to December 2013.  In 2016 the squadron was assigned to [[Carrier Air Wing Seventeen|Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW-17)]] which deploys aboard {{USS|Theodore Roosevelt|CVN-71}}.
In 2019, the squadron, along with the rest of [[CVW-17]] transferred to the {{USS|Nimitz}}.
==See also==
{{Commons category|Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6 (United States Navy)}}
* [[History of the United States Navy]]
* [[List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
*[http://www.hsc6.navy.mil/ HS-6 Indians Website]
*[http://raunchyredskins.us/ HS-6 veterans website]
==External links==
{{US Navy navbox}}
{{United States Navy Aircraft Squadrons}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hs-6}}
[[Category:Helicopter anti-submarine squadrons of the United States Navy]]