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Helicopter Operations at Sea

Dynamic visuals of military helicopters conducting operations aboard naval ships, including in-flight refueling and vertical replenishments.

February 3, 2007 - A CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter conducts carrier qualification evolution aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5) in the Red Sea.
February 3, 2007 - A CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter conducts carrier qualification evolution aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5) in the Red Sea.
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Tow tractors move two RH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters into position on the deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ (CVN-68) prior to the start of Operation Evening Light, a rescue mission to Iran. Subject Operation/Series: EVENING LIGHT Country: Indian Ocean (IOC)U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Dec. 19, 2012) An SH-60B Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Eightballers of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8 approaches the Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10).Pacific Ocean, July 21, 2010 - U.S. Sailors aboard fast combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10) connect a cargo pendant to an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter during a replenishment at sea with aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan.110411-N-RC734-058GULF OF ADEN (April 11, 2011) A Scan Eagle unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launches from the flight deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45). Scan Eagle is a runway independent, long-endurance, unmanned aerial vehicle system designed to provide multiple surveillance, reconnaissance data, and battlefield damage assessment missions. Comstock is part of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and is underway in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.U.S. Army Soldiers with 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Alabama National Guard, and 2nd Squadron, 107th Cavalry Regiment, Ohio National Guard, conduct helocast operations from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter into Lake Margrethe during Northern Strike at Camp Grayling, Mich., Aug. 11, 2022. Northern Strike is designed to challenge approximately 7,400 service members with multiple forms of training that advance interoperability across multicomponent, multinational and interagency partners.220122-N-GF955-1129CARIBBEAN SEA - (Jan. 22, 2021) -- Chief Mineman Jesse Silcox, assigned to the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15), prepares to land an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter on the flight deck, Jan. 22, 2022. Billings is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force Souths mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Aaron Lau/Released)050101-N-0057P-048. Base: USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Country: Indian Ocean (IOC)220903-N-GF955-1089BALTIC SEA (Sept. 3, 2022) A Royal Netherlands Navy NH-90 NATO frigate helicopter (N-195) lands on the flight deck of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), Sept. 3, 2022. Paul Ignatius is part of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, under the command and control of Task Force 61/2, on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests.Sailors and their family and friends observe an MH-60S Nighthawk, attached to Tridents” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, during USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) friends and family day cruise, June 25, 2022. Friends and family members were invited aboard Ford to experience a day in the life of a Sailor at sea first-hand.Capt. Timothy Brown, center, commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf (WMSL 750), conducts a Veterans Day ceremony with the crew, off the coast of Ecuador, Nov. 11, 2022. The Alameda, Calif.-based cutter recently completed a deployment in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on a 77-day counter-narcotic patrol in support of Joint Interagency Task Force-South.220608-N-EI510-0020 STOCKHOLM (June 8, 2022) An MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter attached to the Dragon Whales of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 carrying Brig. Gen. Marcus Annibale, chief of staff, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, takes off from the Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) in Stockholm, June 8, 2022 during exercise BALTOPS22. BALTOPS22 is the premier maritime-focused exercise in the Baltic Region. The exercise, led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and executed by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, provides a unique training opportunity to strengthen combined response capabilities critical to preserving freedom of navigation and security in the Baltic Sea.220630-N-XN177-2039 EAST CHINA SEA (June 30, 2022) - An F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 121 launches from the flight deck of amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), June 30, 2022. Tripoli is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.220926-N-ZG822-1260 IONIAN SEA (Sept. 26, 2022) Spanish Navy Rear Adm. Gonzalo Villar Rodriguez, Admiral of the Spanish Expeditionary Carrier Strike Group, observes flight operations aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) during a visit to the ship, Sept. 26, 2022. The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.A U.S. Navy Sailor assigned to the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), guides a U.S. Army CH-47F Chinook from B Company, 3-2 General Support Aviation Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, onto the deck.Soldiers from B Company, 3-2 General Support Aviation Battalion, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade conducted deck landings with CH-47F Chinook helicopters on the the U.S. Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), in the waters east of the Korean peninsula on September 26, 2022. Deck landing qualifications are conducted to certify air crew members and pilots on landing on a ship. This training was conducted in part with the Maritime Counter Special Operations Exercise (MCSOFEX) to strengthen interoperability with our joint partners.U.S. Marines assigned to Reconnaissance Company, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, embark a CH-53E Super Stallion attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), 15th MEU, on the fight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific Ocean to depart for a precision raid, Jan. 10, 2024. The 15th MEU is currently embarked aboard the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group conducting integrated training and routine operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet.Members of Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadron 15 (HM-15) hold mooring lines securing a Mark 105 hydrofoil minesweeping sled. The sled will be towed by the HM-15 MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter in the background while conducting simulated mine-clearing operations during VALIANT BLITZ '89. Subject Operation/Series: VALIANT BLITZ '89 Base: Pohang Country: KoreaU.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (July 23, 2018) An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Vipers” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 48 completes the day’s flight operations on the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109). Jason Dunham is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points.MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Nov. 28, 2022) From left to right, Lt. Cmdr. Francis Atkinson, Lt. Evan Oltmanns, Lt. j.g. Dylan Cabrera, Lt. j.g. James Olsen and Lt. Cmdr. Kyle Wagner pose for a photo on the flight deck of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), Nov. 28, 2022. Roosevelt, currently attached to the Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group, is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests.050105-N-4166B-052. Base: USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Country: Indian Ocean (IOC) Scene Major Command Shown: HH-60H helo of HS-2040329-N-9630B-023. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: USS George Washington (CVN 73)050905-N-0535P-223. Base: New Orleans State: Louisiana (LA) Country: United States Of America (USA)A flight deck director aboard the amphibious assault ship USS TARAWA (LHA-1) guides in a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter during the combined Thai/U.S. joint exercise Thalay Thai '89. The helicopter is from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (HMM-163), the reinforced aviation combat element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU). Subject Operation/Series: THALAY THAI '89 Country: Gulf Of ThailandWESTERN ATLANTIC OCEAN (Sept. 17, 2022) Sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) conduct flight operations with an MH-60R Romeo attached to Navy Helicopter Squadron Spartans (HSM) 70, during UNITAS LXIII, Sept. 17, 2022. UNITAS is the worlds longest-running maritime exercise. Hosted this year by Brazil, it brings together multinational forces from Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Namibia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and the United States conducting operations in and off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. The exercise trains forces to conduct joint maritime operations through the execution of anti-surface, anti-submarine, anti-air, amphibious and electronic warfare operations that enhance warfighting proficiency and increase interoperability among participating naval and marine forces.220420-N-NK931-739 PACIFIC OCEAN (April. 20, 2022) - Brothers Lt. Angelo Lonero, left, and Cmdr. Dustin Lonero, commanding officer of Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Montgomery (LCS 8), talk in front of an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter. Lt. Lonero embarked aboard Montgomery, the ship his brother commands during routine underway operations in the Eastern Pacific. LCS is a fast, agile, mission-focused platform designed to operate in near-shore environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCS is capable of supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence.000928-N-5024R-001. Base: Uss George Washington (CVN 73) Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)An aerial view of a SH-60B Seahawk helicopter of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light Four (HSL-44) in flight over Naval Air Station Mayport. Base: Mayport State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)