VS-37

Last updated

Sea Control Squadron 37
Anti-Submarine Squadron 37 (US Navy) insignia c1992.png
Active1946 (as VA-76E) - 1 March 1995
Country United States of America
Branch United States Navy
Role Anti-Submarine Warfare
Garrison/HQ NAS North Island
Equipment TBM-3S/W Avenger

S-2 Tracker AF-2 Guardian

S-3A/B Viking
Engagements Cold War

Korean War
Vietnam War
Operation Desert Shield
Operation Restore Hope
Operation Southern Watch

Contents

1994 North Korean nuclear crisis

Sea Control Squadron 37 or VS-37 also known as the "Sawbucks" was an Anti Submarine Warfare squadron that was decommissioned in 1995 along with CVW-15. [1] During its active history, it flew during the Korean and Vietnam Wars [2] as well as operating the last S-2 Trackers inservice with the US Navy in 1975. [3]

History

Pre VS-37 (1946–1953)

VS-37 was established as Attack Reverse Squadron VA-76E in 1946 at NAS Oakland, California (Now Oakland International Airport). [4] The squadron then changed to VC-871 (Composite Squadron) before being changed to Anti Submarine Warfare Squadron 871 or "VS-871". [2] While based at NAS Los Alamitos, the squadron was called to active duty to take part in the Korean War. [4] Between 28 October 1952, and 9 February 1953, the squadron made a deployment to the region with the TBM-3S/W Avenger on board USS Bataan. [2] The squadron then switched to the USS Badoeng Strait for the rest of their time in the Korean War until 26 May 1953, when they returned home. [2]

VS-37 during the 1950s (1953-1959)

VS-871 changed to the designation of VS-37 on 24 June 1953, flying the Grumman AF-2S/W Guardian. Between 1954 and 55, they deployed on board the USS Princeton (CV-37) in helping the evacuation of Republic of China (Nationalist China) forces fleeing the Tachen Islands. [4] After this, the squadron made three more deployments that decade with the Grumman S2F-1 and S2F-2 Tracker. [2]

An AF-2W of VS-37 in July 1957. AF-2W VS-37 Jul1957.jpg
An AF-2W of VS-37 in July 1957.

1960s and 70s

The last S-2G Tracker in VS-37 with an S-3A Viking of VS-21 the red tails. S-2G and S-3A in flight 1976.jpg
The last S-2G Tracker in VS-37 with an S-3A Viking of VS-21 the red tails.

Starting in 1960, the squadron made its long association with the USS Hornet CVS-12 that would last until 1969. The following year (1961), the squadron split in two with one part remaining VS-37 while the other becoming VS-35. [4] In 1965, '67 and finally in 1969, the squadron deployed with the Hornet to the Vietnam War [2] as well as taking part in the recovery of the test spaceflight Apollo 3 on 25 August 1966. Between October 1970 and February 1971, VS-37 deployed aboard the USS Ticonderoga (CVS-14), travelling to the Indian Ocean once although they did not deploy to Vietnam during that period. After this, the squadron received the US Navy's first S-2G Tracker [4] and moved to CVW-11 on board the USS Kitty Hawk CV-63. During the 1973-1974 deployment CV-63 entered south Vietnam waters where it received a battle pendent from RVN LTGEN KHANG for prior deployment operations, as well as an extended at sea period in the Indian Ocean that included a visit from the Shah of Iran. The final deployment with the S-2G occurred in 1975. [2] In August 1976, the squadron retired the last US Navy Grumman Tracker, [3] replacing it with the Lockheed S-3A Viking. [4] Between September 1978 and May 1979, they deployed with CVW-9 on board the USS Constellation (CV-64) to the Indian Ocean. [2] This included operating the US-3A COD (Carrier Onboard Delivery) aircraft. [4]

an S-3A Viking of VS-37 assigned to Carrier Air Wing 14 in 1986. Lockheed S-3A Viking of VS-37 in flight on 11 December 1986 (6654933).jpg
an S-3A Viking of VS-37 assigned to Carrier Air Wing 14 in 1986.

1980s

In 1981, they deployed USS Ranger (CV-61) as part of CVW-2 and USS Enterprise (CVN-65) as part of CVW-11 in late 1982 to 1983. [2] Between February 1985 and May 1990, VS-37 deployed with the USS Constellation again with CVW-14 for six deployments in the West and North Pacific as well as the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. [2] This included the escorting of US reflagged Kuwaiti tankers in Operation Earnest Will during the Iran-Iraq War in 1987. [4]

1990s (Final Years)

In June 1990, VS-37 deployed with CVW-14 on the USS Independence CV-62. During that deployment, Iraq invaded Kuwait which led to the ship heading to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Shield. During that time, the squadron helped in enforcing the blockade against Iraq with maritime patrols. [4] On 1 November 1990, the Independence was relieved by the smaller USS Midway CV-41 and her air wing CVW-5 [5] allowing the Independence to return home in December 1990. [2]

S-3B Viking of VS-37 as part of CVW-15 in 1992 at NAS North Island. S-3A Viking of VS-37 at NAS North Island 1992.jpeg
S-3B Viking of VS-37 as part of CVW-15 in 1992 at NAS North Island.

With CVW-15 changing to the Kitty Hawk from the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) in 1991, [1] VS-37 moved to back to Kitty Hawk to their new home base of NAS North Island, [4] leaving behind CVW-14 after seven deployments. It was during this time in 1992 that the squadron transitioned to the newer S-3B Viking which had newer systems and capabilities [4] included the ability to fire the AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship cruise missile. [6]

Lockheed S-3B Viking US Navy VS-37 NL700 1992 (1987) Improved.tif
NL700 was not painted as a CAG bird, instead in the squadron standard visibility paint.
Lockheed S-3B Viking US Navy VS-37 NL705 (1987) Improved.tif
The last visibility painted S-3B Viking of VS-37 reflecting the diversity of paint schemes of the squadron in 1992.

During their last two deployments, they took part in Operation Restore Hope in the war-torn country of Somalia and Operation Southern Watch in Iraq and Kuwait. On 19 January 1993, they supported strikes against Iraq in response to an attack by their anti-aircraft defences. [4]

The following year, they deployed to the Korean peninsula during the 1994 tensions between North and South Korea over the former's Nuclear Program. Among the Vikings that VS-37 deployed was an S-3B 'Outlaw Viking', which was fitted with special Over-the-horizon sensory equipment. [7] [8] [9]

Towards the end of the deployment, their aircraft were involved in a little known incident between the U.S. and P.R.C. On 27 October, several Vikings from the squadron were deployed 450 miles (724 km) northwest of the Kitty Hawk Battlegroup which the latter was west of Kyushu, A PLAN Han class submarine was then detected visually from periscope depth 100 km west of Kyushu shadowing the Kitty Hawk, [10] and was later tracked by their own Vikings, [11] all along the Korean Coast with the aid of sonobouys and Vikings' magnetic anomaly detector (MAD boom). [10] This also provided considered an opportunity to record the Han class's sonar signature. [12]

The following day the P.R.C. scrambled PLANAF J-6 Farmer aircraft to intercept the Vikings. [10] one of their S-3s soon joined up with the Chinese fighter aircraft which flew around them for around five minutes. [13] The incident then soon ended. During the entire incident, the Han class submarine came as close as 21 miles (around 30 km) towards the Kitty Hawk Battlegroup, much closer than normal battlegroup operating procedures. [10] [12]

At the end of 1994, VS-37 returned from their last ever deployment which was with CVW-15 on the Kitty Hawk. After this on 1 March 1995, VS-37 was disestablished ending 49 years of history. [1] [4] During its last years of service, the squadron had won the COMNAVAIRPAC's 1994 Battle E award, the Golden Wrench for its maintenance record as well as the Admiral Jimmy Thach and Arnold J. Isabel awards for its attributes in ASW. It also won the Top Hook honors as part of CVW-15. [14]

In Fiction

VS-37 and CVW-15 were both featured in the novel by Joe Weber, 'Honorable Enemies' as being depicted operating from the Kitty Hawk as what happened in early 90s. [15]

Aircraft

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed S-3 Viking</span> Carrier-based anti-submarine and aerial refueling aircraft

The Lockheed S-3 Viking is a four-crew, twin-engine turbofan-powered jet aircraft designed and produced by the American aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Corporation. Because of its characteristic sound, it was nicknamed the "War Hoover" after the vacuum cleaner brand.

USS <i>Kitty Hawk</i> (CV-63) Decommissioned aircraft carrier of the US Navy

USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), formerly CVA-63, was a United States Navy supercarrier. She was the second naval ship named after Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the site of the Wright brothers' first powered airplane flight. Kitty Hawk was the first of the three Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carriers to be commissioned and the last to be decommissioned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea Control Squadron 21</span> Military unit

Sea Control Squadron 21 (VS-21) was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. It served from 1945 to 2005 and was mainly tasked with anti-submarine warfare while operating from aircraft carriers. It was the only squadron to receive the designations VA-1E, VC-21, or VS-21.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFA-37</span> United States military unit

Strike Fighter Squadron 37 (VFA-37), also known as the "Ragin' Bulls", is a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana. They are a part of Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8) and are attached to USS George H. W. Bush. Their radio callsign is Ragin' and their tail code is AJ.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrier air wing</span> Group of aircraft units operating from an aircraft carrier

A carrier air wing is an operational naval aviation organization composed of several aircraft squadrons and detachments of various types of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. Organized, equipped and trained to conduct modern US Navy carrier air operations while embarked aboard aircraft carriers, the various squadrons in an air wing have different but complementary missions, and provide most of the striking power and electronic warfare capabilities of a carrier battle group (CVBG). While the CVBG term is still used by other nations, the CVBG in US parlance is now known as a carrier strike group (CSG).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrier Air Wing Nine</span> Military unit

Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The Air Wing is currently assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). The Tail Code of aircraft assigned to CVW-9 is NG.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VF-51</span> Military unit

VF-51, Fighter Squadron 51 was an aviation unit of the United States Navy known as the "Screaming Eagles". It was originally established as VF-1 on 1 February 1943, redesignated as VF-5 on 15 July 1943, redesignated as VF-5A on 15 November 1946, redesignated VF-51 on 16 August 1948, and disestablished in March 1995. Until its disestablishment, VF-51 was the oldest fighter squadron in continuous service with the Pacific Fleet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFA-195 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

Strike Fighter Squadron 195 (VFA-195), also known as the "Dambusters", is a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. They are a part of Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) and their tail code is NF. Their radio callsign is "Chippy".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrier Air Wing Five</span> Military unit

Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. It was initially formed in 1943. It has participated in the Second World War, the Korean War, the Gulf War, Operation Southern Watch, the War in Afghanistan, and the War in Iraq.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrier Air Wing Eleven</span> Military unit

Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HSC-4</span> Military unit

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Four (HSC-4), also known as the Black Knights, is a multi-role combat helicopter squadron of the United States Navy based at Naval Air Station North Island which operates Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk helicopters deployed aboard aircraft carriers. The squadron was originally established as HS-4 on 30 June 1952 at U.S. Naval Auxiliary Landing Field Imperial Beach with the Sikorsky HO3S-1 and was redesignated HSC-4 on 29 March 2012. It is currently assigned to Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) which deploys aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VS-22</span> Military unit

Sea Control Squadron 22 (VS-22) Checkmates was a carrier-based United States Navy squadron based out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida. The squadron flew the Lockheed S-3B Viking and their mission was mining, undersea and surface warfare, electronic reconnaissance and analysis, over the horizon targeting, and aerial refueling. The squadron was last attached to Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17) and was the last squadron flying the Viking. VS-22 was disestablished in a ceremony at NAS Jacksonville on 29 January 2009, and officially on 31 March 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HSC-6</span> Military unit

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron SIX (HSC-6), is a helicopter squadron of the United States Navy. It was established as Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron SIX (HS-6) on 1 June 1956. Its nickname is Screamin’ Indians. On 8 July 2011 it was redesignated Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron SIX (HSC-6). It is based at Naval Air Station North Island, is part of Carrier Air Wing 17 and deploys aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HSC-14</span> Military unit

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 14 (HSC-14) "Chargers" is an aviation unit of the United States Navy based at Naval Air Station North Island, California (USA). HSC-14 was established as Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 14 (HS-14) in 1984 and was redesignated HSC-14 in 2013. The squadron is equipped with the Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fighter Squadron 1 (United States Navy)</span> Military unit

Fighter Squadron 1 (VF-1) was a fighter squadron of the United States Navy. Originally established on 14 October 1972 it was disestablished on 30 September 1993. It was the fifth US Navy squadron to be designated VF-1. Known as the "Wolfpack" the squadron saw combat during the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. The squadron was de-activated and its personnel reassigned in 1993 when its carrier, USS Ranger, was decommissioned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VS-24</span> United States Navy squadron

Sea Control Squadron 24 (VS-24) was a squadron of the United States Navy. Originally established as VB-17 on 1 January 1943, it was redesignated as VA-5B on 15 November 1946, redesignated as VA-64 on 27 July 1948, redesignated as VC-24 on 8 April 1949 and redesignated as VS-24 on 20 April 1950, it was disestablished on 1 June 1956. It was however reestablished again before being decommissioned in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrier Air Wing Fifteen</span> Military unit

Carrier Air Wing Fifteen (CVW-15) is a former United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing that was decommissioned on 31 March 1995. It was previously known as Carrier Air Group Fifteen (CVG-15) before 1963 before being renamed in December of that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VS-35 (1986–1988)</span> Military unit

Air Anti-Submarine Squadron 35 known as the Boomerangs was reestablished in 1986 as the Anti-Submarine Warfare squadron of CVW-10 which was also created that same year. During its short active service, it flew the Lockheed S-3A Viking before CVW-10 along with it were disestablished in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VS-38</span> United States Navy Anti-Submarine Warfare

Sea Control Squadron 38 or VS-38, nicknamed the "Red Griffins" was a former United States Navy Anti-Submarine Warfare and later Sea-Control squadron between 1950 and 2004. During its service life, they took part in the Korean War, Vietnam War, the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 Invasion of Iraq.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VS-29</span> Military unit

Sea Control Squadron 29 (VS-29) or the "Dragonfires" was a former Sea Control and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) squadron of the US Navy that existed between 1960 and 2004.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "CVW-15(NL)". gonavy.jp. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "VS-37". gonavy.jp. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  3. 1 2 "VS-37 Sea Control Squadron THIRTY SEVEN". 28 May 2017. Archived from the original on 28 May 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Naval Aviation News. Chief of Naval Operations. 1996.
  5. ↑ "Appendix A: Chronology - November 1990". NHHC. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  6. ↑ "The Lockheed S-3 Viking". www.airvectors.net. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  7. 1 2 Airborne Log - Spring 1995 Issue - Outlaw Viking (PDF). 1995.
  8. 1 2 Koku Fan - March 1995 Issue. Bunrindo Co Ltd. 1995. p. 64.
  9. 1 2 Famous Airplanes of the World - Lockheed S-3 Viking. Bunrindo Co Ltd. 2010.
  10. 1 2 3 4 encyclopedia, david bocquelet-Naval. "Type 091 (Han class) nuclear attack submarines (1970)". naval-encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  11. ↑ "Faceoff Between U.S. Ship, Chinese Sub Is Revealed : Military: October incident in Yellow Sea highlights growing chance of naval conflict. Beijing sounds warning". Los Angeles Times. 14 December 1994. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  12. 1 2 C Bussert, James; A Elleman, Bruce (2011). People's Liberation Army Navy: Combat Systems Technology, 1949-2010. Naval Institute Press.
  13. ↑ Harris, John F.; Lippman, Thomas W. (15 December 1994). "CHINESE WATCHED AS U.S. NAVY TRACKED SUB". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  14. ↑ "VS-37 Sea Control Squadron THIRTY SEVEN". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  15. ↑ Weber, Joe (15 September 2016). The Steve Wickham Boxed Set: DEFCON One, Shadow Flight, Honorable Enemies. Ignition Books®. ISBN   978-1-937868-49-9.
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