Recently, a C-5 Galaxy originating from San Diego, California landed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii carrying Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light (HSL) Three Seven’s first four MH-60R helicopters. The Easyriders, stationed at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, accepted the helicopters in advance of their official transition to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) Three Seven. Commander Danny Nowicki, HSL-37 commanding officer said, “Being stationed in Hawaii, the Easyrider’s transition to the MH-60R required a great deal of planning and teamwork. The Easyriders, our Wing, the fleet replacement squadron(HSM-41), and many others have worked very hard in advance of the transition. It is great to see all the planning, teamwork, and effort from all hands start coming together as the execution phase of our transition begins.”
As part of the transition, HSL-37 sends squadron members to HSM-41 in San Diego, for training to operate the MH-60R. Pilots, aircrew, and maintenance personnel bring new skills back to the squadron allowing HSL-37 to stand-up MH-60R detachments. HSM-37 will operate as a composite squadron, still providing legacy SH-60B support to the fleet during our transition to the MH-60R throughout 2014.
The MH-60R Seahawk helicopter brings enhanced capabilities over the legacy SH-60B. These improvements include, all glass cockpit displays, upgraded radar, improved avionics suite, defensive countermeasures, multispectral targeting system (MTS), acoustics processor upgrade, and dipping sonar. “With its improved capabilities the Romeo is a game changer for our detachments and their future deployments in the Pacific region,” said Commander Brannon Bickel, squadron executive officer.
