This is a list of United States Navy aircraft squadrons. Navy aircraft are deliniated by Type (rotory wing, fixed wing), Model (e.g. FA-18), and Series (e.g., FA-18C vs FA-18E). As with aircraft, there are also types of navy squadrons, helicopter (or rotary wing), fixed wing, and (most recently) Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Unlike the USAF, the US Navy does not typically refer to other organizations (such as maintenance or medical units) as squadrons. An exception to this is that US Navy destroyers and submarines are grouped by squadrons.
Navy aircraft squadrons are typically composed of several aircraft (from as few as two to as many as several dozen), the officers who fly them and the men and women that maintain them. Most squadrons also have a number of other administrative support personnel. Squadrons are typically commanded by a Commander.
Naming convention
Navy aircraft squadrons can be properly referred to by three different names:
Formal name – e.g., Strike Fighter Squadron EIGHT SIX
Informal name – e.g., VFA-86. Each of the letters has a meaning. In this case, "V" stands for fixed wing, "F" stands for fighter, and "A" stands for attack.
Nickname – e.g., "Sidewinders"
Active Squadrons
Active squadrons are those in the regular US Navy. Reserve squadrons are in the US Naval Reserve and are manned by reservists. For the most part, there is no way to know by the squadron's name alone whether it is an active or reserve squadron.
Active Fixed Wing Squadrons
Most Navy fixed wing squadrons start with the letter "V".
Carrier Tactical Electronic Warfare
A typical Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron consists of 4 EA-6B Prowlers. The primary mission of the Prowler is Electronic Attack (EA), also known as Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) in support of strike aircraft and ground troops by interrupting enemy electronic activity and obtaining tactical electronic intelligence within the combat area. Navy Electronic Attack squadrons carry the letters VAQ (V-fixed wing, A-attack, Q-electronic). Most VAQ squadrons are carrier based, however a number are "expeditionary", deploying to overseas land bases.[1]
Each Carrier Airborne Early Warning squadron usually consists of 4 E-2C Hawkeyes, The Hawkeye's primary mission is to provide all-weather airborne early warning, airborne battle management and command and control (C2) functions for the Carrier Strike Group and Joint Force Commander. Additional missions include surface surveillance coordination, air interdiction, offensive and defensive counter air control, close air support coordination, time critical strike coordination, search and rescue airborne coordination and communications relay. The E-2 Hawkeye and C-2 Greyhound are built on the same airframe and have many similar charictaristics. For this reason, both airframes are trained for in the same Fleet replacement squadron.[2]
A Strike Fighter Squadron is usually made up of 10-12 F/A-18 Hornets or F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. The Hornet is an all-weather aircraft that is used for attack and fighter missions. In its fighter mode, the F/A-18 is used primarily as a fighter escort and for fleet air defense; in its attack mode, it is used for force projection, interdiction and close and deep air support. The F/A-18 is also used for SEAD and aerial refueling. [3]
All Navy helicopter (or rotary wing) squadrons start with the letter "H".
Helicopter Combat Support Special Squadrons
Both Combat Support Special Squadrons are tasked with conducting flight and ground training to maintain maximum readiness for immediate employment conduction Combat Search and Rescue and Naval Special Warfare operations and support of United States Forces for crisis response, mobilization, and Fleet contributory support. They conduct airborne operations in support of air strike operations; conduct Combat Search and Rescue operations in a combat environment and Search and Rescue operations in a non-combat environment; conduct Navy Special Warfare operations in support of other strike operations; conduct general surveillance. They currently operate the HH-60H Seahawk
Under the Navy's Helo Master Plan, HCS-5 has been decommissioned, while HCS-4 was redesignated HSC-84.[4]
Currently the only Helicopter Maritime Strike squadron is the West Coast Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) HSM-41. They are also the only squadron in the Navy to operate the MH-60R Seahawk (Romeo). The first operational fleet squadron to receive the Romeo will be HSM-71 in fiscal year 2008. The new squadron designation was created to reflect the MH-60Rs multi-mission capabilities. Eventually all Anti-submarine light squadrons will transition to the MH-60R and be redesignated HSM.[5]
The Mine Countermeasures Squadrons are each made up of 10 MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters, The primary mission of the Sea Dragon is Airborne Mine Countermeasures or (AMCM). The MH-53 can operate from carriers and other warships and is capable of towing a variety of mine hunting/sweeping countermeasures systems.[6]
The MH-53E Sea Dragon is also a capable heavy-lift asset, with three powerful turboshaft engines and a maximum take-off weight of 69,750 pounds. This gives the Sea Dragon the capability to carry an impressive amount of cargo, personnel or equipment over long distances. The Sea Dragon remains in service as the Navy's only heavy-lift helicopter.
The Sea Combat Squadron combines both the strike capability of the Helicopter Anti-submarine wing and the cargo capability of the Helicopter Combat Support wing into its primary mission. Over the next decade all HC and HS squadrons will transition to Sea Combat Squadrons upon receiving the MH-60S Knight Hawk.[7]
An MH-60S Knighthawk conducts vertical replenishment (VERTREP)
Helicopter Anti-Submarine squadrons are composite squadrons usually made up of 4 - 6 SH-60F Seahawks and 2 - 4 HH-60H Seahawks. Both Aircraft are Carrier-Based. The SH-60Fs primary mission is Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) defense of the inner zone, which includes detection, classification and destruction of hostile submarines. HH-60Hs primary mission is combat search and rescue (CSAR), Naval Special Warfare support (NSW) and anti-surface warfare (ASUW).[8]
Anti-Submarine Light squadrons each operate between 6 and 15 SH-60B LAMPS III helicopters. the SH-60Bs primary mission is to provide fully mission capable detachments aboard cruisers, destroyers, and frigates assigned to the Fleet. These detachments are an integral part of the ships weapon system, extending the ships under-sea and anti-ship warfare capabilities beyond the horizon. As of 2003 all Helicopter Anti-Submarine (Light) Squadrons are schedule to be redesignated Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadrons. This change will reflect the switch to the MH-60R Seahawk and the squadrons new multi-mission capability.[9]
The United States Navy's Helicopter Training Squadrons provide advanced helicopter flight instruction to all Navy, US Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard helicopter flight students as well as international students from several allied nations. Students who successfully complete the program earn the right to wear the coveted "Wings of Gold."[10]
There are currently two Fleet Composite Squadrons active. Their primary missions include; providing fixed wing and helicopter services to the Fleet in support of the United States and Allied operational training exercises and operating the Navy's only operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). This aircraft is utilized primarily in reconnaissance missions. Tactical employment of this unique asset primarily supports both Battle Group deployments and Amphibious Warfare Operations.[11]
RQ-2B Pioneer Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, assigned to Fleet Composite Squadron Six (VC-6).
Helicopter Combat Support Squadrons were formed in 1965, with their primary missions being combat search and rescue and fleet logistics support. These squadrons were redesignated as Helicopter Sea Combat Squadrons under the Navy's Helo Master Plan to reflect their transition from the CH-46D Sea Knight, H-1 Huey, and the H-3 Sea King to the MH-60S Knighthawk.[12]
An MH-53 Sea Dragon taking off from an amphibious assault ship
This list (which may have dates, numbers, etc.) may be better in a sortable table format. Please help improve this list or discuss it on the talk page.(August 2007)
VTN-53. There were two versions of this squadron. The first VTN-53 was the subject of a book, Night Flying Avenger, by Pete Grant, who flew in the squadron and who covers some of its activities in Okinawa; then the first VTN-53 was broken up and a new squadron, with the same designation, was formed at NAS Martha's Vineyard and soon moved to NAS Boca Chica to form part of Night Air Group 53.
^ A, C, and E models are single seat. B, D, and F models are two seat.
"F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter". USN Fact File. U.S. Navy. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
.jpg?lang=en){kind=small}
_Flight_Deck.JPG?lang=en)
_insignia,_2015.png?lang=en){kind=small}
_on_28_August_2002_(020828-N-9593M-019).jpg?lang=en)
.jpg?lang=en)
_3_(United_States_Navy_-_insignia).gif?lang=en){kind=small}
.jpg?lang=en){kind=small}
.jpg?lang=en){kind=small}
