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Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 (HSC-25) "Island Knights" is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The "Island Knights" are the Navy's only forward deployed Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron. HSC-25 flies the MH-60S "Knighthawk" helicopter, manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation in Stratford, Connecticut. ==History== Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Two Five (HSC-25) was initially established as Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Five (HC-5) at NAS Agana, Guam on 3 February 1984. As the “Providers”, HC-5 flew the H-46D “Sea Knight,” moving to Andersen AFB in 1995 during the closure of NAS Agana. Redesignated as the “Island Knights” on 21 APR 2005, HSC-25 provides logistic support for the U.S. Pacific Fleet in the Navy’s newest helicopter, the MH-60S “Knighthawk”. The squadron employs approximately eighty officers and four hundred enlisted personnel to fly and maintain the fleet of 14 MH-60S. HSC-25 is the first and only forward-deployed vertical replenishment (VERTREP) squadron in the Navy and is tasked with supporting Seventh Fleet units in the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, North Arabian Sea, and Persian Gulf. To provide this support, HSC-25 embarks two-aircraft detachments aboard Military Sealift Command vessels which provide transportation of equipment, fuel, supplies and ammunition to sustain U.S. forces worldwide. In addition, the squadron was tasked in 1992 to provide a permanent Search and Rescue (SAR) detachment aboard the USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3). In the spring of 1996, HSC-25 deployed their first night vision device capable amphibious SAR detachment to USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3). In the fall of 2000, the SAR detachment was permanently moved from the USS Belleau Wood to the USS Essex (LHD-2). In the winter of 2011, the SAR detachment was again permanently moved from the USS Essex (LHD 2) to the USS Bonhome Richard (LHD 6) whose homeport is Sasebo, Japan. In the Fall of 2005, HSC-25 was again the first HSC Squadron to assume a new mission, providing essential Air Ambulance services for Coalition Forces, and Compotent Command (CFLCC) in Camp Buering, Kuwait. The only Navy squadron on board Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, HSC-25 rapidly incorporated itself into “Team Andersen”. In addition to VERTREP, HSC-25 provides 24-hour (overland/over-water) SAR/Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) services for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Averaging over 30 rescues and 70 MEDEVACs per year, HSC-25 also conducts airborne firefighting utilizing externally carried buckets, Vertical Onboard Delivery (VOD), drone and torpedo recovery, special operations airborne support, and fleet logistics support for all military activities in the Guam area, including the Maritime Prepositioned Ships (MPS) operating in the local area. Since February 1984, HSC-25 has moved millions of tons of supplies and ammunition, as well as thousands of personnel, providing much of the logistic power to the 7th and 5th Fleets. The aircraft of HSC-25 have operated as “angels of mercy” on numerous occasions, accomplishing emergency MEDEVAC and rescue missions and participating in Operations TRI-CRAB, Southern Watch, United Shield, Cobra Gold, Vigilant Sentinel, Tandem Thrust and most recently Unified Assistance, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「HSC-25」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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