Article - Atlantic Seahawks - NAS Jacksonville May 2019

Atlantic Seahawks - NAS Jacksonville

HSM-74 "Swamp Foxes"

The "Swamp Foxes" were established in June 2011, a relative newcomer to the Atlantic Seahawk Fleet and operates twelve of the MH-60R in the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface Warefare (SUW) role. HSM-74 also has a secondary non-combat role, which is Search And rescue (SAR), Medical Evacuation (MEDIVAC) Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP), Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS), and Communications Relay (COMREL). HSM-74 share the NAS Jacksonville ramp with three other Seahawk squadrons and the Naval Air Deport (NADEP) which is futher down the ramp. The "Swamp Foxes" are attached to Carrier Air Wing three (CVW-3) which deploy aboard CVN-69 the USS Dwight D Eisenhower aircraft carrier, home ported out of Norfolk Virginia along with cruisers, destroyers and frigates in the same Battle Group.

The squadron has received a number of awards over the recent years:

Retention Excellence Award

Battle Effectiveness Award

Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy

Captain Arnold J. Isbell Trophy

COMHSMWINGLANT Aviation Safety

For the visit on Naval Air Station Jacksonville Florida, Helicopter Strike Maritime Seven Four (HSM-74) would be our host MH-60R squadron for the morning photo session, the weather gods had other plans that morning with thunderstorms and heavy rain that seemed to start as we entered the Air Station. With no signs of letting up the visit was confined to the hanger only and standing under the doorways photographing over the flooded ramp, even with these conditions the MH-60s from other squadrons were still operating off the ramps.

For our hour long visit with HSM-74, Lt Shettle the squadron Public Affairs Officer, along two members of the unit were our hosts, we had a 20 minute presentation followed by a Q & A session. For the remainder of our visit we were treated to a tour of their hanger, a walk and talk around and inside a MH-60R followed by photography of their helicopters. To close the tour, 5 minutes in the doorway photographing onto the very wet ramps, sadly their squadron CAG was also sitting outside, a next time maybe?

It was now time to say farewell to the HSM-74 and be escorted back to the main gate. Sadly for us the rain stopped some 15 minutes lately, but Aviation Reporting had another visit planned early afternoon so no chance of extending the visit longer than it was.

A big thank you to the NAS Jacksonville PAO team for planning the visit, Command Atlantic for authorising the visit and the great team at HSM-74 for hosting us (full sun next time please!) whilst on base, but suppose it is typical Florida weather, rain and shine.

Author Mark Zuidmulder

Photography Steven Fenton, Mark Forest