List of inactive United States Navy helicopter squadrons

There are hundreds of US Navy aircraft squadrons which are not currently active dating back to before World War II (the U.S. Navy operated aircraft prior to World War I, but it did not organize them in squadrons until after that war). To be more accurate: there are hundreds of former U.S. Navy aircraft squadrons which have been disestablished and no longer exist and there are approximately 40 or so U.S. Navy aircraft squadrons which have been deactivated and which currently exist only "on paper" in an inactive status. These disestablished and/or deactivated squadrons are sometimes incorrectly referred to as "decommissioned" squadrons, but proper usage prior to 1998, was that squadrons were "established" and "disestablished" and after 1998, squadrons are "established", "deactivated" and sometimes "reactivated". It has never been correct to refer to U.S. Navy aircraft squadrons as being "commissioned" and "decommissioned", ships are commissioned and decommissioned, U.S. Navy aircraft squadrons are not.

Disestablished or deactivated helicopter squadrons

Utility (HU) squadrons and Combat Support (HC) squadrons and HC designations no longer in use

The HU designation was the first designation created for Navy helicopter squadrons. It was created in 1948 with the establishment of the Navy's first two operational helicopter squadrons: "Utility" squadrons One and Two (HU-1 and HU-2). In July 1965 the "Combat Support" designation (HC) was created when the three existing "Utility" squadrons (HU-1, HU-2 and HU-4) were redesignated "Combat Support" squadrons. The HC designation was used to designate squadrons whose primary function was either logistics or the provision of utility services with two notable exceptions; HC-7 and HC-9 were Combat Search and Rescue squadrons. In April 2005 all existing HC squadrons but one were redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) squadrons and the single remaining HC squadron (the second squadron to be designated HC-4) was deactivated on 28 September 2007. Since 28 September 2007 the HC designation exists only as the designation for that single inactive squadron.

HU/HC squadrons were numbered sequentially beginning with HU-1/HC-1 with odd numbers given to Pacific Fleet squadrons and even numbers to Atlantic Fleet squadrons. The jump from HC-11 to HC-16 occurred because HC-16 was originally established by the Naval Air Training Command as HCT-16 to provide Plane Guard services aboard the Naval Air Training Command's training Aircraft Carrier USS Lexington (AVT-16). It was redesignated HC-16 when it was administratively transferred from the Naval Air Training Command to Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic Fleet in 1977. HC-85 was a redesignation of the Navy Reserve's HS-85 and it kept its designation number through the redesignation.

The table below does not list disestablished squadrons; it is a list of squadron designations which are no longer in use. Some of the squadron designations in the table belonged to squadrons which have been disestablished, some are former designations of HSC squadrons which are still active, and one is a designation of a currently inactive squadron.

Note: The parenthetical (1st), (2nd), (3rd) etc... appended to some designations in the table below are not a part of the squadron designation system. They are added to indicate that the designation was used more than once during the history of U.S. Naval Aviation and which use of the designation is indicated. Absence indicates that the designation was used only once.

Designation	Insignia	Nickname	Aircraft	Establishment and Redesignation (if applicable) Dates	Disestablished/ Deactivated as (or current designation)	Disestablished/ Deactivated Date	Notes
HU-1		Pacific Fleet Angels	HO3S HTL HUL HUK HUP HO4S/CH-19 HSS/SH-34 HUS/CH-34 UH-2A,B UH-46A RH-3A	HU-1: 1 Apr 1948 – 4 Jul 1965 HC-1: 4 Jul 1965 – 29 Apr 1994	HC-1 Disestablished	29 April 1994
HU-2		Atlantic Fleet Angels	HO3S HTL HRP HO4S HTK HUL HUP/UH-25C HSS/SH-34 UH-2A	HU-2: 1 Apr 1948 – 4 Jul 1965 HC-2(1st): 4 Jul 1965 – 30 Sep 1977	HC-2(1st) Disestablished	30 September 1977
HU-4		Invaders	HTL/TH-13 HUL/UH-13 HRS/CH-19 HSS/SH-34 HUS/UH-34	HU-4: 1 July 1960 – 4 July 1965 HC-4: 4 July 1965-Mar 1972 HSL-30: Mar 1972-30 Sep 1993 (same sqdn listed in HSL section)	HSL-30 Disestablished	30 September 1993	"Split out" of HU-2 on 1 Jul 1960
HC-1		Fleet Angels	HH-3A RH-3A UH-1B UH-46A,D UH-2A,B,C HH-2C SH-3A,G,D,H CH-53E	HU-1: 1 Apr 1948-4 Jul 1965 HC-1: 4 Jul 1965 – 29 Apr 1994	HC-1 Disestablished	29 April 1994	HC-1 "split out" HAL-3 on 1 Apr 1967 and HC-3, HC-5(1st) and HC-7 on 1 Sep 1967. H-3 FRS 1989-1993
HC-2 (first use)		Fleet Angels	SH-34J UH-2A,C HH-2D SH-3G	HU-2: 1 Apr 1948-4 Jul 1965 HC-2(1st): 4 Jul 1965 – 30 Sep 1977	HC-2(1st) Disestablished	30 September 1977
HC-2 (second use)	(1987) (1994)	Circuit Riders (1987), Fleet Angels (1994)	CH-53E MH-53E VH-3A SH-3G UH-3H	HC-2(2nd): 1 Apr 1987 – 1 Jan 2006 HSC-2: 1 Jan 2006–present	HSC-2	Not applicable, still active	Adopted the name "Fleet Angels" in 1994 when HC-1 was disestablished. Both HU-1 and HU-2 were nicknamed "Fleet Angels" and both carried the name through their redesignations to HC-1 and HC-2(1st). Adopted the insignia of HC-2(1st) in 1994 at the same time the nickname was adopted. H-3 FRS 1997-2006
HC-3		Packrats	H-46 MH-60S	HC-3: 1 Sep 1967 – 1 Apr 2005 HSC-3: 1 Apr 2005–present	HSC-3	Not applicable, still active	"Split out" of HC-1 on 1 Sep 1967. H-46 FRS 1982–2002, MH-60S FRS from 2002
HC-4 (first use)		Invaders	TH-13 UH-13 CH-19 SH-34 UH-34 UH-46A UH-2B HH-2D SH-2D	HU-4: 1 July 1960 – 4 July 1965 HC-4(1st): 4 July 1965-Mar 1972 HSL-30: Mar 1972-30 Sep 1993 (same sqdn listed in HSL section)	HSL-30 Disestablished	30 September 1993
HC-4 (second use)		Black Stallions	CH-53E MH-53E	HC-4(2nd): 6 May 1983 – present (inactive 30 Sep 2007–present)	HC-4 (2nd) Deactivated	30 September 2007	Provided Vertical Onboard Delivery (VOD) services to Carrier Battle Groups operating in the Mediterranean Sea
HC-5 (first use)		Arch Angeles	CH-19E UH-2 SH-3A RH-3A SH-34J HH-2D SH-2D	HC-5(1st): 1 Sep 1967-Mar 1972 HSL-31: Mar 1972-31 July 1992 (same sqdn listed in HSL section)	HSL-31 Disestablished	31 July 1992	"Split out" of HC-1 on 1 Sep 1967
HC-5 (second use)		Providers	H-46 MH-60S	HC-5(2nd): 3 Feb 1984 – 21 Apr 2005 HSC-25: 21 Apr 2005–present	HSC-25	Not applicable, still active
HC-6		Chargers	UH-43C UH-34D UH-2B RH-3A VH-3A RH-53A H-46 MH-60S	HC-6: 1 Sep 1967-Apr 2005 HSC-26: Apr 2005–present	HSC-26	Not applicable, still active	"Split out" of HC-4 on 1 Sep 1967
HC-7		Seadevils	UH-2 SH-3A RH-3A UH-34D UH-46A HH-2C HH-3A	HC-7: 1 Sep 1967 – 30 Jun 1975	HC-7 Disestablished	30 June 1975	"Split out" of HC-1 on 1 Sep 1967. Western Pacific (Japan based) utility squadron and Vietnam War Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) squadron
HC-8		Dragon Whales	H-46 MH-60S	HC-8: 3 Dec 1984-Apr 2005 HSC-28: Apr 2005–present	HSC-28	Not applicable, still active
HC-9		Black Cats, Protectors	HH-3A	HC-9: 1 Aug 1975 – 31 Jul 1990	HC-9 Disestablished	31 July 1990	United States Navy Reserve Squadron Combat Search and Rescue Squadron established upon disestablishment of active component CSAR squadron HC-7
HC-11		Gunbearers	UH-3H H-46 MH-60S	HC-11: 1 Oct 1977-Apr 2005 HSC-21: Apr 2005–present	HSC-21	Not applicable, still active
HCT-16		Bullfrogs	UH-2C HH-46A	HCT-16: 1 Nov 1974-May 1977 HC-16: May 1977-1 Apr 1994	HC-16 Disestablished	1 April 1994	"Training Support" squadron, provided SAR and Plane Guard services for Naval Air Training Command operations in the Pensacola area
HC-16		Bullfrogs	HH-46D UH-1N SH-3D	HCT-16: 1 Nov 1974-May 1977 HC-16: May 1977-1 Apr 1994	HC-16 Disestablished	1 April 1994	Plane Guard squadron for Naval Air Training Command training aircraft carrier, H-46 FRS 1977–1982, HH-1N FRS 1979-1994
HC-85		Golden Gators	UH-3H MH-60S	HS-85: 1 Jul 1970-Oct 1994 (same sqdn listed in HS section) HC-85: Oct 1994-Feb 2006 HSC-85: Feb 2006–present	HSC-85	Not applicable, still active	United States Navy Reserve Squadron

Anti-submarine (HS) squadrons and HS designations no longer in use

The HS designation was created in 1951 to designate Anti-Submarine squadrons and was in use until the last active HS squadron was redesignated to Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) squadron on 1 June 2016. The designation has not been in active use since.

HS designations were numbered sequentially beginning with HS-1 without regard to carrier air group (later carrier air wing) assignment, though; odd numbered designations were given to Atlantic Fleet squadrons and even numbered designations to Pacific Fleet squadrons (the opposite of the HC designation scheme). USNR HS designations were numbered in accordance with the Reserve Carrier Air Antisubmarine Groups (CVSGR) for which they were established for assignment: HS-74 and HS-75 to CVSGR-70, and HS-84 and HS-85 to CVSGR-80.

The table below does not list disestablished squadrons; it is a list of squadron designations which are no longer in use. Some of the squadron designations in the table belonged to squadrons which have been disestablished but some are former designations of HSC squadrons which are still active. There are currently two inactive HS squadrons, HS-75 which was deactivated in 2007 and HS-10 which was deactivated in 2012.

Note: The parenthetical (1st), (2nd), (3rd) etc... appended to some designations in the table below are not a part of the squadron designation system. They are added to indicate that the designation was used more than once during the history of U.S. Naval Aviation and which use of the designation is indicated. Absence indicates that the designation was used only once.

Designation	Insignia	Nickname	Aircraft	Establishment and Redesignation (if applicable) Dates	Disestablished/ Deactivated as (or current designation)	Disestablished/ Deactivated Date	Notes
HS-1		Seahorses	HUP HTL TBM HRS HO4S HSS-1 SNB HSS-1N/SH-34J HSS-2/SH-3A SH-3D,G,H VH-3A HH-3A SH-60F	HS-1: 3 Oct 1951 – 30 Jun 1997	HS-1 Disestablished	30 June 1997	East coast FRS
HS-2		Golden Falcons	HO4S HSS-1,1N HSS-2/SH-3A SH-3D,H SH-60F HH-60H	HS-2: 7 Mar 1952 – 6 Aug 2009 HSC-12: 6 Aug 2009–present	HSC-12	Not applicable, still active
HS-3		Tridents	HUP HO4S HSS-1,1N HSS-2/SH-3A SH-3D,H SH-60F HH-60H	HS-3: 18 Jun 1952 – 1 Jun 2009 HSC-9: 1 Jun 2009–present	HSC-9	Not applicable, still active
HS-4		Black Knights	HO4S HSS-1 HSS-1N/SH-34J SH-3A,D,H SH-60F HH-60H	HS-4: 30 Jun 1952 – 29 Mar 2012 HSC-4: 29 Mar 2012–present	HSC-4	Not applicable, still active
HS-5		Night Dippers	HSS-1N/SH-34J SH-3A,D,H SH-60F HH-60H	HS-5: 3 Jan 1956 – 24 Jan 2014 HSC-5: 24 Jan 2014–present	HSC-5	Not applicable, still active
HS-6		Indians	HO4S HSS-1N HSS-2/SH-3A SH-3D,H SH-60F HH-60H	HS-6: 1 Jun 1956 – 8 Jul 2011 HSC-6: 8 Jul 2011–present	HSC-6	Not applicable, still active
HS-7 (first use)		Big Dippers	HSS-1 HSS-1N/SH-34J	HS-7(1st): 2 Apr 1956 – 31 May 1966	HS-7 (1st) Disestablished	31 May 1966
HS-7 (second use)	(1969) (1995)	Big Dippers (1969) Shamrocks (1973) Dusty Dogs (1995)	SH-3D,H SH-60F HH-60H	HS-7(2nd): 15 Dec 1969 – 15 Apr 2011 HSC-7: 15 Apr 2011–present	HSC-7	Not applicable, still active	Adopted name and insignia from disestablished HS-7(1st)
HS-8 (first use)		Eightballers	HSS-1N/SH-34J SH-3A	HS-8 (1st): 1 Jun 1956 – 31 Dec 1968	HS-8 (1st) Disestablished	31 December 1968
HS-8 (second use)		Eightballers	SH-3D,H SH-60F HH-60H	HS-8 (2nd): 1 Nov 1969 – 28 Sep 2007 HSC-8: 28 Sep 2007–present	HSC-8	Not applicable, still active	Adopted name and insignia from disestablished HS-8(1st)
HS-9 (first use)		Sea Griffins	HSS-1N/SH-34J SH-3A	HS-9(1st): 1 June 1956 – 1 Oct 1968	HS-9 (1st) Disestabished	1 October 1968
HS-9 (second use)		Sea Griffins	SH-3H SH-60F HH-60H	HS-9(2nd): 4 Jun 1976 – 30 Apr 1993	HS-9 (2nd) Disestablished	30 April 1993	Adopted name and insignia from disestablished HS-9(1st)
HS-10		Task Masters, War Hawks (1990s)	HSS-1N HSS-2/SH-3A SH-3D,G,H SH-60F	HS-10: 1 July 1960 – present (inactive 12 Jul 2012–present)	HS-10 Deactivated	12 July 2012	West coast FRS
HS-11		Dragon Slayers	HSS-1,1N SH-3,D,H SH-60F HH-60H	HS-11: 27 Jun 1957 – 1 Jun 2016 HSC-11: 1 Jun 2016–present	HSC-11	Not applicable, still active
HS-12		Wyverns	SH-3H	HS-12: 15 Jul 1977 – 30 Nov 1994	HS-12 Disestablished	30 November 1994
HS-13		Sub Choppers	HSS-1 HSS-1N/SH-34J	HS-13: 25 Sep 1961 – 1 Oct 1962	HS-13 Disestablished	1 October 1962
HS-14		Chargers	SH-3H SH-60F HH-60H	HS-14: 10 Jul 1984-Jul 2013 HSC-14: Jul 2013–present	HSC-14	Not applicable, still active
HS-15		Red Lions	SH-3G,H SH-60F HH-60H	HS-15: 29 October 1971-Nov 2102 HSC-15: Nov 2012–present (inactive 31 Mar 2017–present) (same sqdn listed in HSC section)	HSC-15 Deactivated	31 March 2017
HS-16		Nighthawks	SH-3H	HS-16: 10 March 1987 – 1 Jun 1988	HS-16 Disestablished	1 June 1988
HS-17		Neptune's Raiders	SH-3H	HS-17: 4 April 1984 – 30 Jun 1991	HS-17 Disestablished	30 June 1991
HS-74		Minutemen	SH-3A,D	HS-74: 1 June 1970-Jan 1985 HSL-74: Jan 1985-1 Apr 1994 (same sqdn listed in HSL section)	HSL-74 Disestablished	1 April 1994	United States Navy Reserve Squadron
HS-75		Emerald Knights	SH-3A,D,H SH-60F HH-60H	HS-75: 1 June 1970 – present (inactive 1 Apr 2007–present)	HS-75 Deactivated	1 April 2007	United States Navy Reserve Squadron
HS-84		Thunderbolts	SH-3A,D	HS-84: 1 July 1970-Apr 1984 HSL-84: Apr 1984–present) (inactive 30 Jun 2001–present) (same sqdn listed in HSL section)	HSL-84 Deactivated	30 Jun 2001	United States Navy Reserve Squadron
HS-85		Golden Gators	SH-3A,D,H	HS-85: 1 Jul 1970-Oct 1994 HC-85: Oct 1994-Feb 2006 (same sqdn listed in HC section) HSC-85: Feb 2006–present	HSC-85	Not applicable, still active	United States Navy Reserve Squadron

Sea Combat (HSC) squadrons

The "Sea Combat" (HSC) designation was instituted April 2005 when the "Combat Support" (HC) squadrons conducting at sea logistics had completed their transitions from the Boeing-Vertol H-46 Sea Knight to the multi-mission Sikorksy MH-60S Seahawk. Beginning in 2007 the "Helicopter Anti-submarine" (HS) squadrons began transitioning to the MH-60S as well relinquishing the anti-submarine role aboard the aircraft carrier to the new "Maritime Strike" (HSM) squadrons. The HSC designation identifies squadrons with the primary functions of Naval Special Warfare support, Anti-surface Warfare, Combat Search and Rescue, and Vertical Replenishment.

Designation	Insignia	Nickname	Aircraft	Establishment and Redesignation Dates	Deactivated as	Deactivated Date	Notes
HSC-15		Red Lions	MH-60S	HS-15: 29 October 1971-Nov 2102 (same sqdn listed in HS section) HSC-15: Nov 2012-present (inactive 31 Mar 2017-present)	HSC-15 Deactivated	31 March 2017
HSC-84		Redwolves	HH-60H	HAL-4: 1 Jul 1976-Oct 1989 (same squadron listed in HAL/HCS section) HCS-4: Oct 1989-Oct 2006 (same squadron listed in HAL/HCS section) HSC-84: Oct 2006–present (inactive 31 Mar 2016–present)	HSC-84 Deactivated	31 March 2016	United States Navy Reserve Squadron Operated in a Naval Special Warfare Support role

HSL: Anti-submarine (Light) squadrons

The "Anti-submarine Squadron (Light)" (HSL) designation was established in 1972 to designate anti-submarine squadrons which operated the "light" Kaman SH-2 Seasprite helicopter (as compared to the HS squadrons' much larger Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King helicopters) in detachments aboard surface force ships as a part of the Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS Mk I) program to provide surface ships with a helicopter to extend the ship's sensor and weapons ranges.

HSL designations began at HSL-30 and squadrons were numbered sequentially; even numbers assigned to Atlantic Fleet squadrons and odd numbers to Pacific Fleet squadrons (the opposite of the HS numbering system). The new HSL squadrons established to operate LAMPS Mk III system (Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk) were designated from HSL-40 and continued the even Atlantic and odd Pacific scheme. HSL-74 and HSL-84 were redesignations of the Navy Reserve's HS-74 and HS-84 and they kept their designation numbers through the redesignation. When HSL-94 was established it was designated to fit the pattern HSL-74, 84, 94.

The designation was discontinued in active use in July 2015 when the last HSL squadron was redesignated a Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) squadron. The designation currently exists only in two HSL squadrons which were deactivated in 2001.

Designation	Insignia	Nickname	Aircraft	Establishment and Redesignation	Disestablished/ Deactivated	Notes
HSL-30		Neptune's Horsemen	SH-2F HH-2D	HU-4: 1 July 1960 HC-4(1st): 4 July 1965 HSL-30: Mar 1972	Disestablished 30 September 1993	East coast FRS
HSL-31		Arch Angels	SH-2F HH-2D	HC-5(1st): 1 Sep 1967 HSL-31: Mar 1972	Disestablished 31 July 1992	West coast FRS
HSL-32		Invaders	SH-2F	HSL-32: 17 Aug 1973	Disestablished 31 January 1994
HSL-33		Seasnakes	SH-2F	31 July 1973	Disestablished 29 April 1994
HSL-34		Greencheckers	SH-2F	27 Sep 1974	Disestablished 30 November 1993
HSL-35		Magicians	SH-2F	HSL-35: 15 Jan 1974	Disestablished 4 December 1992
HSL-36		Lamplighters	SH-2F	HSL-36: 26 Sep 1975	Disestablished 30 September 1992
HSL-37		Easy Riders	SH-2F SH-60B	HSL-37: 3 Jul 1975	redesignated HSM-37 Oct 2013
HSL-40		Airwolves	SH-60B	HSL-40: 4 Oct 1985	redesignated HSM-40 Nov 2009	East coast FRS
HSL-41		Seahawks	SH-60B	HSL-41: 21 Jan 1983	redesignated HSM-41 : Dec 2006	West coast FRS
HSL-42		Proud Warriors	SH-60B	HSL-42: 5 Oct 1984	redesignated HSM-72 15 Jan 2013
HSL-43		Battle Cats	SH-60B	HSL-43: 5 Oct 1984	redesignated HSM-73 Feb 2012
HSL-44		Swamp Foxes	SH-60B	HSL-44: 21 Aug 1986	redesignated HSM-74 9 Jun 2011
HSL-45		Wolfpack	SH-60B	HSL-45: 3 Oct 1986 HSM-75	redesignated HSM-75 : Feb 2011
HSL-46		Grandmasters	SH-60B	HSL-46: 7 Apr 1988	redesignated HSM-46 Mar 2012
HSL-47		Saberhawks	SH-60B	HSL-47: 25 Sep 1987	redesignated HSM-77 2 Apr 2009
HSL-48		Vipers	SH-60B	HSL-48: 7 Sep 1989	redesignated HSM-48 May 2014
HSL-49		Scorpions	SH-60B	HSL-49: 23 Mar 1990	redesignated HSM-49 1 Apr 2015
HSL-51		Warlords	SH-60B	HSL-51: 1 Oct 1991	redesignated HSM-51 7 Mar 2013	squadron also operated the Sikorsky UH-3H in a VIP transport detachment 1991 - 2006 in support of Commander, Seventh Fleet
HSL-60		Jaguars	SH-60B	HSL-60: 1 Apr 2001	redesignated HSM-60 Jul 2015	United States Navy Reserve Squadron
HSL-74		Demon Elves	SH-2F	HS-74: 1 June 1970 HSL-74: Jan 1985	Disestablished 1 April 1994	United States Navy Reserve Squadron
HSL-84		Thunderbolts	SH-2F SH-2G	HS-84: 1 July 1970 HSL-84: Apr 1984	Deactivated 30 Jun 2001	United States Navy Reserve Squadron
HSL-94		Titans	SH-2F SH-2G	HSL-94: 1 Oct 1985	Deactivated 1 April 2001	United States Navy Reserve Squadron

Light Attack (HAL) and Combat Support (Special) (HCS) squadrons

The "Light Attack" (HAL) designation was created in 1967 when HC-1's attack helicopter detachment was established as a separate squadron. In 1988 the functions of the two Navy Reserve Light Attack squadrons were merged with the function of the single Navy Reserve Combat Search and Rescue Squadron (HC-9) the two light attack squadrons were redesignated to "Combat Support (Special)" (HCS). The HCS designation remained in active use until 2006 when one of the squadrons was redesignated to Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) squadron and the other was deactivated.

Designation	Insignia	Nickname	Aircraft	Establishment and Redesignation	Disestablished/ Deactivated as (or current designation)	Disestablished/ Deactivated Date	Notes
HAL-3		Seawolves	UH-1B UH-1C UH-1L UH-1M HH-1K	HAL-3: 1 April 1967 – 26 Jan 1972	HAL-3 Disestablished	25 January 1972	"Split out" of HC-1 on 1 Apr 1967. Light Attack Squadron, operated during Vietnam War
HAL-4		Redwolves	HH-1K	HAL-4: 1 Jul 1976-Oct 1989 HCS-4: Oct 1989-Oct 2006 HSC-84: Oct 2006–present (same squadron listed in HSC section) (inactive 31 Mar 2016–present)	HSC-84 Deactivated	31 March 2016	United States Navy Reserve Squadron
HAL-5		Blue Hawks	HH-1K	HAL-5: 1 Mar 1977-Oct 1989 HCS-5: Oct 1989–present (inactive 31 Dec 2006–present)	HCS-5 Deactivated	31 December 2006	United States Navy Reserve Squadron
HCS-4		Redwolves	HH-60H	HAL-4: 1 Jul 1976-Oct 1989 HCS-4: Oct 1989-Oct 2006 HSC-84: Oct 2006–present (same squadron listed in HSC section) (inactive 31 Mar 2016–present)	HSC-84 Deactivated	31 March 2016	United States Navy Reserve Squadron
HCS-5		Firehawks	HH-60H	HAL-5: 1 Mar 1977-Oct 1989 HCS-5: Oct 1989–present (inactive 31 Dec 2006–present)	HCS-5 Deactivated	31 December 2006	United States Navy Reserve Squadron. (The currently active Navy Reserve squadron HSC-85 adopted the Firehawks insignia and nickname in 2011)

Mine Countermeasure (HM) squadrons

The HM designation was established in 1971 to designate "Mine Countermeasures" squadrons. It remains in use to the present day. Squadrons were equipped with various variants of the Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion

Designation	Insignia	Nickname	Aircraft	Establishment	Disestablished	Notes
HM-12 (first use)		Sea Dragons	RH-53A RH-53D CH-53E MH-53E	1 Apr 1971	30 September 1994	"Split out" of HC-6 on 1 Apr 1971. FRS
HM-14		Vanguard	RH-53D MH-53E	12 May 1978	30 April 2023
HM-16		Seahawks	RH-53D	27 Oct 1978	2 January 1987	"Split out" of HM-12(1st) on 27 Oct 1978
HM-18		Norsemen	RH-53D MH-53E	1 Oct 1986	4 March 1995	United States Navy Reserve Squadron. Personnel and aircraft were integrated into HM-14 upon disestablishment
HM-19		Golden Bears	RH-53D MH-53E	9 Jan 1989	5 November 1994	United States Navy Reserve Squadron. Personnel and aircraft were integrated into HM-15 upon disestablishment

Other helicopter squadrons

Designation	Insignia	Nickname	Aircraft	Establishment	Disestablished	Notes
VX-3 (first use)			Sikorsky HNS-1 Sikorsky HOS-1 HO3S-1 Bell HTL-1 Piasecki HRP-1	1 July 1946	1 April 1948	"Helicopter Development Squadron" Aircraft and personnel used to establish the first two U. S. Navy operational helicopter squadrons (HU-1 and HU-2)
HUQ-1			MQ-8	20 September 2012	March 2014	"Unmanned Helicopter Reconnaissance Squadron" Established to function as a FRS to train the operators of Vertical Takeoff Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV) systems who would then report to HSC and HSM squadrons or other units operating them. Was transitioned into a MQ-8 maintenance organization in March 2014

See also

• List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
• List of United States Navy aircraft wings
• Modern US Navy carrier air operations
• List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)
• List of active United States naval aircraft
• Naval aviator (United States}
• Naval flight officer
• United States Marine Corps Aviation

References and notes

Notes

References

Bibliography

Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons:

• Grossnick, Roy A. (1995). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons Volume 1 - The History of VA, VAH, VAK, VAL, VAP and VFA Squadrons. Naval Historic Center, Department of the Navy. ISBN 0-945274-29-7.
• Roberts, Michael D. (2000). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons Volume 2 T- The History of VP, VPB, VP(HL) and VP(AM) Squadrons. Naval Historic Center, Department of the Navy. Archived from the original on 15 September 2008.

External links

• DANAS Volume 1 - The History of VA, VAH, VAK, VAL, VAP and VFA Squadrons (1995)

• Chapter 1 – The Evolution of Aircraft Class and Squadron Designation Systems
• Appendix 4 – U.S. Navy Squadron Designations and Abbreviations
• Appendix 6 – Lineage Listing for VA, VA(AW), VAH, VA(HM), VAK, VAL, VAP, and VFA Squadrons (2000)

• DANAS Volume 2 - The History of VP, VPB, VP(H) and VP(AM) Squadrons

• Chapter 2 – Guidelines for Navy Aviation Squadron Lineage and Insignia
• Appendix 4 – Lineage Listing for VP, VB, VPB, VP(HL), VP(ML), VP(MS) and VP(AM) Squadrons

• OPNAVINST 5030.4G – Navy Aviation Squadron Lineage and Naval Aviation Command Insignia (2012)