U.S. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 Det. 1 and Det. 6 returned to Guam Dec. 7 and 8 after completing seven month deployments, respectively.

Det. 1 completed its deployment aboard USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11) and USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8), providing logistics and munitions support to USS George Washington (CVN 73) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) carrier strike groups during their patrols. Det. 1 flew four MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters and sailed with 41 Guam Sailors, completing 208 operational sorties and 682 flight hours. They moved more than 3,458,550 tons of ammunition and supplies for Carrier Task Force 73 over the course of the deployment.

Det. 1 trained with Navy Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 75 and the U.S. Marine Corps in Japan. The detachment also participated in the large multinational exercise Talisman Saber in Australia, providing air asset support to Naval Special Warfare Unit 1, SEAL Team 7 and the Australian Special Air Service.

The detachment crossed the equator aboard Chambers, marking an important rite of passage for Sailors. Port calls included the Japanese cities of Sasebo, Atsugi, Okinawa and Iwakuni, as well as Australia and South Korea.

During Det. 6's deployment, the Island Knights flew 1,051 mishap-free flight hours in support of Task Force 76 while embarked aboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and at Naval Air Facility Atsugi and Kadena Air Base from May to December.

Det. 6 worked closely with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Battalion Landing Tea and Maritime Raiding Force (MRF) while aboard Bonhomme Richard. While working with the Marines, the detachment conducted helicopter rope suspension operations, sniper live-fire operations and litter training. At Kadena, Det. 6 continued to work with the 31st MEU MRF conducting live-fire exercises.

With the return of Det. 6, the next rotation of aircrews deployed Nov. 28 to continue the mission of providing an anti-surface warfare and armed helicopter capability, logistical support, search-and-rescue capabilities and humanitarian assistance in the Pacific.


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