Last modified Wed., June 17, 2009 - 04:40 PM
Originally created Thursday, June 18, 2009

'Dusty Dogs' deliver multi-mission support to Carrier Strike Group 10

By Lt. j.g. Robert Knoerser, HS-7 Public Affairs Officer

Two Seahawk heliccopters assigned to HS-7 complete flight checks prior to lifting off from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on a May 2009 mission for Carrier Strike Group 10. Photo courtesy HS-7

The "Dusty Dogs" of HS-7 recently returned from a month of flight operations while embarked on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). The squadron rehearsed nearly every mission in its repertoire to support Carrier Air Wing 3 during Tailored Ships Training Availability (TSTA) operations off the East coast.

HS-7 began its training period with several flights in support of the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community. Two crews, led by Lt. Cmdr. Brian Bartlett and Lt. Cmdr. Jason Young practiced fast rope insertions with NSW Group 2 at Naval Base Little Creek, Va. During the evolution, the flight crews held the helicopters in a high hover while the NSW personnel roped to the ground.

The Dusty Dogs used their fast roping skills the following evening, delivering members of the NSW TraDet to the deck of the USNS Arctic during a helicopter visit, board, search and seizure exercise.

An HH-60H Seahawk of HS-7 is hooked up to supplies destined for USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) during a May 2009 training exercise in the Atlantic. Photo courtesy of HS-7

HS-7 flight crews also tested the weapons systems of their HH-60H helicopters, including firing their M-240 and GAU-16 machine guns at targets on the ground and at sea.

Pilots honed their proficiency using the helicopter's forward-looking infrared and laser designator against special targets on the ground.

The training culminated in a sink exercise with a live missile shoot against a target in the ocean. The target for the scenario was USNS Spica, a retired supply ship. Dusty Dog aircrews successfully fired several Hellfire missiles into the stack of the old ship and achieved pinpoint accuracy on each shot.

The opportunity greatly enhanced the Dusty Dogs' ability to perform the anti-surface warfare (ASUW) mission, which is vital to Carrier Strike Group 10 operations abroad.

HS-7 also supported for Carrier Air Wing 3 and the USS Harry S. Truman by flying plane guard missions during flight operations. Plane guard crews were responsible for search and rescue for fixed wing assets and medical evacuation services for all ships' companies. A Dusty Dogs aircrew answered the call for a real medical evacuation while at sea. Lt. Andrew Coates, Lt j.g. Francisco Tobio, AW2 Justin Dove and AW2 Gabriel Rodriguez successfully evacuated a patient to Jacksonville, Fla. for urgently needed medical care.

Additionally, HS-7 took part in multiple exercises to practice the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission, successfully operating with other ships and aircraft in the strike group to ensure the carrier strike group' ability to maneuver at sea.

The Dusty Dogs also enjoyed the unique privilege of working with the Norwegian Navy during TSTA. The Norwegian frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen (F 311) crossed the Atlantic to conduct operations with Carrier Strike Group 10 and HS-7.

Dusty Dog helicopters made several visits to the frigate and achieved the milestone of being the first U.S. Navy helicopter to land on the ship's deck. The crew included Lt. Cmdr. Jason Young, Lt. j.g. James Sullivan, AW2 Justin Dove and AW3 Benjamin Hill.

The flights to the ship fostered a strong working relationship between the two naval forces. The bond could be measured by the large number of patches and gifts exchanged between HS-7 crews and Amundsen personnel.

HS-7 proved they are able to operate consistently at a high level of excellence. This would not have been possible without the dedication of the squadron's maintainers and admin crew. Flight operations on a carrier are not possible without fully mission capable helicopters, and the Dusty Dogs maintenance department always made sure that mission capable helicopters were ready and available to support Carrier Strike Group 10.