Branch United States Navy | Part of Carrier Air Wing Three | |
 | ||
Active June 9, 2011 to present Country United States of America Type Navy Helicopter Squadron Role Surface Warfare (SUW)
Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) | ||
Helicopter Maritime Strike Seven Four (HSM-74), the "Swamp Foxes", is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida. HSM-74 is attached to Carrier Air Wing Three and deploys aboard cruisers, destroyers, frigates, and aircraft carriers in support of a carrier strike group.
Contents
Mission
The squadron employs the MH-60R multi-mission helicopter. Primary missions include Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Warfare (SUW), Command, Control, Communications (CCC), Command and Control Warfare (C2W), Mobility (MOB), and Non-Combat Operations (NCO). Secondary missions consist of Search and Rescue (SAR), Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC), Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP), Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS), and Communications Relay (COMREL).
Transition from HSL-44
HSM-74 was established on 9 June 2011 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, when the squadron was re-designated HSM-74 from their previous designation of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light Four Four (HSL-44). The change reflected their transition from employing the SH-60B to the MH-60R, as well a from a detachment-based, expeditionary squadron to its realignment in support of a carrier air wing. As part of this transition, then-HSL-44 relocated to NAS Jacksonville from their previous home of Naval Station Mayport in November 2009.
General Information
HSM-74 operates twelveMH-60R helicopters in four combat elements. These combat elements (or CELs) consist of the carrier element and Detachments 1, 2, and 3. The carrier element deploys and maintains five helicopters while the detachments maintain two each. Each CEL can work independently of every other CEL.