Acronym Expanded: COMmander, Helicopter anti-Submarine squadron (Light) WING PACific fleet
Established in 1993 to replace the COMASWWINGPAC and provide for a type wing versus functional wing command for U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet LAMPS Mk III assets.
Located inside building G and the second floor at NAS North Island AIRPAC headquarters, the HSL Wing is commanded by a single 0-6 (Captain) addressed officially as 'Commodore.' COMHSLWINGPAC is the last of the TYCOMs to have a full captain addressed in this manner and it is considered a throwback to the earlier ASW Wing traditions.
Currently this TYCOM (TYpe COMmander,) is charged with the training, doctrine/tactics development and deployment issues of the HSL commands under it's authority at NAS North Island (San Diego,) MCAS Kaneohe Bay (Hawaii,) and NAF Atsugi (Japan).
COMHSLWINGPAC Also oversees the modification and induction into retrofit programs such as Block I, STEP and FLIR/Hellfire for assigned SH-60B assets. These modifications are carried out on NAS North Island at either the sub-custodian maintenance facility (squadron hanger,) or at the Sikorsky Maintenance Facility (commonly referred to as the Mod Hanger.)
The HSL Wing flies approximately 40,000 flight hours per year in training flights and during operational deployments ranging from Operation Southern Watch in the Persian Gulf to drug interdiction missions off of South/Central America.
COMHSLWINGPAC Squadrons:
HSL-37 Easy Riders: Deploying fleet squadron. Maintains sea duty ready detachments and is tasked with training/readiness of concerned maintenance personnel, pilots and aircrew to support those detachments. Detachment concept bearing one single shop for all personnel currently awaiting deployment, with remaining personnel constantly assigned to a given detachment.
Stationed: MCAS Kaneohe Bay. Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii
Call Sign: Easy Rider
Aircraft Side Numbers: 30-59
HSL-41 Seahawks: Non-deploying Fleet Replacement squadron used to train Fleet Replacement Pilots (FRP) and Fleet Replacement Aircrew (FRAC) personnel for deployment to operational squadrons. Squadron currently operating with a traditionally divided maintenance department versus detachment concept as with HSL-49 and HSL-51.
Stationed: NAS North Island. San Diego, California
Call Sign: Island Ruler.
Aircraft Side Numbers: 00-19
HSL-43 Battlecats: Deploying fleet squadron. Maintains sea duty ready detachments and is tasked with training/readiness of concerned maintenance personnel, pilots and aircrew to support those detachments. Full maintenance department within squadron homeguard.
Stationed: NAS North Island. San Diego, California
Call Sign: Battlecat
Aircraft Side Numbers: 20-39
HSL-45 Wolfpack: Deploying fleet squadron. Maintains sea duty ready detachments and is tasked with training/readiness of concerned maintenance personnel, pilots and aircrew to support those detachments. Full maintenance department within squadron homeguard.
Stationed: NAS North Island. San Diego, California
Call Sign: Lone Wolf.
Aircraft Side Numbers: 40-59
HSL-47 Saberhawks: Deploying fleet squadron. Maintains sea duty ready detachments and is tasked with training/readiness of concerned maintenance personnel, pilots and aircrew to support those detachments. Full maintenance department within squadron homeguard.
Stationed: NAS North Island. San Diego, California
Call Sign: Saberhawk
Aircraft Side Numbers: 60-79
HSL-49 Scorpions: Deploying fleet squadron. Maintains sea duty ready detachments and is tasked with training/readiness of concerned maintenance personnel, pilots and aircrew to support those detachments. Detachment concept bearing one single shop for all personnel currently awaiting deployment, with remaining personnel constantly assigned to a given detachment. Active detachments include Dets 2, 3, 4, and 7 with Det 1 acting as homeguard.
Stationed: NAS North Island. San Diego, California
Call Sign: Red Stinger
Aircraft Side Numbers: 100-119
HSL-51 Warlords: Deploying fleet squadron. Maintains sea duty ready detachments and is tasked with training/readiness of concerned maintenance personnel, pilots and aircrew to support those detachments. Detachment concept bearing one single shop for all personnel currently awaiting deployment, with remaining personnel constantly assigned to a given detachment. Active detachments include Dets 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 11 with Det 1 acting as homeguard. Det 11 acts as VIP transport for COM5THFLT and operates the SH-3 Sea King versus the SH-60B Seahawk.
Stationed: NAF Atsugi. Sagmino, Japan
Call Sign: Hell Fire
Aircraft Side Numbers: 01-19