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HSMWSP Leads DESI ASWEX 2016
Article by LT Adam Arndt, USN HSM Weapons School Pacific Public Affairs Officer
T
he ‘Honey Badgers’ of Helicopter Maritime Strike Weapons School Pacific (HSMWSP) led the charge during the bi-annual Diesel-Electric Submarine Initiative Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise (DESI ASWEX) held off the coast of San Diego, California during the period of September 14th – 19th, 2016. DESI is an international exercise hosted by Commander Submarine Force Atlantic in coordination with the Chilean Navy that provides ASW assets the opportunity to train against a foreign diesel powered submarine, the CS Thomson (SS 20). Taking place on the Southern California Offshore Range (SCORE) training area, pilots and aircrew from HSM-35, HSM-41, HSM-49, HSM-71, HSMCDR Eric Kelso watches as the crew of the CS Thomson (SS 20) oper73, HSM-75, HSM-78, HSMWSP, and ates their equipment to counter MH-60R and P-3 aircraft during the 2016 Patrol Squadron (VP) 46 all jumped at DESI ASWEX. Photo by CS Thomson (SS 20). the opportunity to participate in this rare training evolution. While operating from their home station at Naval Air Sta- think of the ASW fight in terms of a single sortie, wherein the tion North Island, it is rare that MH-60R units are able to crew can expend all its stores and burn down to minimum fuel track and train against an actual submarine in order to refine before returning to the ship to resupply and re-launch with a their ASW skills. Crews are normally limited to training in fresh crew. The submarine, however, must constantly manage simulators in canned scenarios or against submerged training its batteries, oxygen, and even crew fatigue to operate in an entargets that run automated profiles. “Units were able to per- gagement that could potentially last an entire day--often days. form effective training against a ‘thinking’ adversary, where How this limited their ability to react to any single encounter crews are challenged to operate in a dynamic environment and was eye-opening.” improve their proficiency in one of our community’s primary By the exercise’s end, crews flew 140 hours and demonmission sets,” explained LT Scott Martin, HSMWSP DESI strated their ASW aptitude by maintaining contact on the ASWEX coordinator. CS Thomson for 36.7 of the 37 hours on range. AdditionalIn addition to aircraft partaking in the event, CDR Eric ly, HSM crews executed 35 simulated torpedo attacks on the Kelso, HSMWSP Operations Officer, was afforded the oppor- submarine over the course of the four day exercise, increastunity to embark aboard CS Thomson throughout the dura- ing combat readiness and enhancing their ability to effectively tion of the exercise. “It was extremely insightful to see how the counter a subsurface threat. ASW problem is fought from the perspective of a submariner. CDR Jon “Red” Baron, Commanding Officer of HSMSpecifically, they have the benefit of assigning personnel (or WSP, stressed the importance of such international exercismultiple personnel) to one fixed task (e.g., monitoring radar, es. “These types of engagements with our allies are crucial sonar, or the periscope). The fact that they were able to effec- to expanding our combat proficiency, challenge our tactical tively process, communicate, and integrate the data from their assumptions, and learn from one another’s experiences. The various sensors to quickly determine and execute a course of environment, scenarios, and presence of a mutually dynamic action was impressive.” Concerning the differences in execu- adversary for air and submarine teams were irreplaceable attrition from the MH-60R perspective, CDR Kelso explained, butes. But the best learning came from our ability to leverage “Conversely, a helicopter with a crew of three could be respon- the reconstruction power of NUWC Keyport’s Visual Interacsible for the same tasks. This notion was a difficult concept for tive System for Training Analysis (VISTA). High fidelity post the Chileans to accept. Additionally, helicopter crews tend to mission data, collected from all players, enabled MPRF, HSM, 83
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