HSC-26

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26
An MH-60S Seahawk of HSC-26 over Bahrain in 2013
Active	1 September 1967 – present[1] (57 years, 3 months)
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Type	Helicopter Squadron
Part of	Naval Air Force Atlantic Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Atlantic
Garrison/HQ	Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia Naval Support Activity Bahrain (Det. 1)
Nickname(s)	Chargers Desert Hawks (Det. 1)
Insignia
HSC-26 emblem
Aircraft flown
Helicopter	MH-60S Seahawk

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26 (HSC-26), nicknamed the "Chargers", is a United States Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. The squadron was established on 1 September 1967 as Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 6 (HC-6), before being redesignated to its current name on 24 August 2005.^[1] Since 2005, the squadron's Detachment 1, nicknamed the "Desert Hawks", have been stationed at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, conducting combat support for the United States Fifth Fleet. In 2017, HSC-26 deployed aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) to provide disaster relief to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria.^[2][3] In 2021, members of HSC-26 deployed to the Gulf of Oman aboard USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7).^[4]

References

1. Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (11 April 2012). OPNAV INSTRUCTION 5030.4G (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Department of the Navy. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
2. "HSC-26 Command History". Naval Air Force Atlantic. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
3. "Assistance from the seas". DVIDS. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
4. "USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Aug 30, 2021". USNI News. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2022.