User:Dekennedy92/HSL-48

HSL-48 Vipers
Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light Four Eight (HSL-48) "Vipers" is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Station Mayport, Mayport, Florida. HSL-48 is attached to Commander, Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing Atlantic and deploys detachments aboard U.S. Atlantic Fleet cruisers, destroyers and frigates.

Mission
HSL-48's primary mission is to employ combat-ready helicopter detachments in support of battle group commander's objectives. The squadron's primary missions are Surface Warfare (SUW) and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW). Secondary missions include Search and Rescue (SAR), Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP), Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC), Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS), and Communications Relay (COMREL). The Vipers of HSL-48 fly the SH-60B Seahawk multi-mission helicopter from Navy surface combatants.

Squadron History
Established on 7 September 1989 at Naval Station Mayport, the Vipers of HSL-48 employ the SH-60B helicopter. Since its inception, the Vipers have been at the forefront of helicopter operations in the Atlantic Fleet. HSL-48 has deployed over 95 detachments, flown over 131, 500 flight hours, and made approximately 129,000 small deck shipboard landings. Operationally, "Viper" detachments have deployed around the world, flying from ships forward deployed in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, as well as the Persian Gulf, Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean, Black, Red, Caribbean, and North Seas. Vipers have conducted operations and ports-of-call in 5 of the world’s continents. Impressively, on any given day, HSL-48 typically supports simultaneous commitments to 5 geographic combatant commanders (NORTHCOM, SOUTHCOM, EUCOM, CENTCOM, AFRICOM)


 * Vipers have participated in the major military operations of the last quarter-century, to include:
 * Mediterranean: Bosnia and Herzegovina (Joint Endeavor, Joint Guard, Joint Forge),  Albania (Silver Wake), and Kosovo (Allied Force)
 * 5th Fleet/Persian Gulf:
 * Desert Shield/Desert Storm/Southern Watch/Desert Fox
 * Embargo Operations
 * Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Active Endeavor
 * Anti-Piracy Operations
 * North/South America:
 * Counter-Narcotics Operations, to include Airborne Use of Force
 * Humanitarian Assistance in Haiti (Uphold Democracy, New Tomorrow), Nicaragua (2006, after Hurricane Felix)
 * United States: Noble Eagle (post 9-11), Hurricane Katrina and Rita relief


 * KATRINA/RITA Relief. HSL-48 was among the first military helicopters to respond to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort, flying more than 180 hours, rescuing 126 people, conducted 37 medevacs, and delivered thousands of pounds of food and water.


 * Operational/notable firsts:


 * First helicopter to land on the Russian Carrier Kuznetzov (1996, Det Eight Doughboys)
 * First CHSLWL Det to deploy with Core B Weapons system (Hellfire, GAU-16, and AN/AAS-44 FLIR)
 * First Det to sea with an auxiliary fuel tank
 * First night Hellfire missile shot
 * Numerous notable drug busts, including recent Detachment Two, which seized over $735 million dollars worth of narcotics
 * VENOM 500, HSL-48 showbird, was first H-60 Seahawk inducted into the National Museum of Naval Aviation


 * Vipers have set the standard for operational excellence, safety, and leadership in the community (see HSL-48 Awards history for complete listing)
 * Two-time Battle E winner
 * Four-time Golden Wrench
 * Talon Award or Isbell Award for Tactical Excellence – 10 years
 * Three time CNO-Safety Award and Two-time CNO Ship-Helicopter Safety Award
 * Nine years of annual recognition in Navy Personal Partnership Community Service and local community awards (Pathfinder/Eddy) for public affairs and community relations
 * Seven-years of Retention Excellence Awards


 * Notable former "Vipers":
 * HSL-48’s 8th skipper, William Lescher, was recently selected to Rear Admiral
 * The 3rd Viper CMC, John Hagan, was selected as MCPON
 * Current HSMWL Commodore, CAPT Carl Bush


 * Vipers who have given their lives while in service to their country: LT Nick Juron, LT Christopher Snyder, AW2 John Kaye, LCDR Eric Cranford, and LCDR Joseph Linehan.

Squadron Aircraft
SH-60B Seahawk

Squadron Awards

 * Excellence
 * Battle E –1997, 2004
 * Admiral Arleigh Burke Trophy (most improved combat unit in the entire US Atlantic Fleet) – 1993 (1st award of a helo unit since 1962); CHSMWL nominee—2008


 * Maintenance
 * COMHSLWINGLANT Maintenance Excellence Award (1993, 1994)
 * Golden Wrench (2004, 2005)


 * Safety
 * CNO Safety Award (2000, 2006, 2008)
 * CNO Ship-Helicopter Safety Award -- 1998 (Det One, embarked USS STUMP), 2006 (Det Two, embarked USS LEYTE GULF)


 * Tactical Excellence
 * HSL/HSMWINGLANT Talon Award for USW Weapons Proficiency (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003)
 * Captain Arnold J. Isbell Award for USW Excellence (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2004, 2005)
 * Deployed Acoustic Readiness Training (DARTS) – 2003, 2007


 * Public Affairs/Community Relations/Adopt-A-School
 * Pathfinder/Beacon Eddy Award (Adopt-A-School Program) – 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
 * Florida Business Partner’s Award for 10 Years relationship with Alimacani Elementary School (1999)
 * RADM Thompson Award for Excellence in Public Affairs, 1998
 * Runner Up, Navy SE Region Jacksonville Community Service Award (2000-2001)
 * Navy SE Region Community Service Personnel Partnership Award, Sea Command (2003)
 * Personnel Partnership Flagship Community Service Award, 2005


 * Retention
 * COMNAVBASE Jacksonville Silver Anchor Award (1994)
 * CINCLANTFLT Golden Anchor Award (1999, 2000)
 * Retention Excellence Award (2003, 2005, 2007, 2008)


 * Miscellaneous Awards
 * Medical Readiness/Blue M (2008)
 * NS Mayport Captain’s Cup - 1992