Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron EIGHT FIVE (HSC-85) was a United States Navy Reserve forces helicopter squadron (RESFORON) based out of Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California. The "FIREHAWKS" of HSC-85 are Reserve and Active Component Sailors who operate and maintain Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk helicopters.

HSC-85 is an MH-60S Sea Hawk expeditionary helicopter squadron supporting Naval Special Warfare and other special operations forces training and readiness requirements.

HSC-85 operates in support of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and provides training and readiness support to Naval Special Warfare (WARCOM) and other service’s special operations units. As a Naval Air...

On 8 August 2023, the U.S. Navy deactivated its only special operations support squadron. A target of the service’s divest-to-invest initiative, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 85 was a reserve helicopter squadron based in San Diego, California, that deployed to the Indo-Pacific region to support Special Operations Command, Pacific.

Aug 8, 2023 · The ceremony honored not only HSC-85, but also its heritage from its forebears specializing in Naval Special Warfare (NSW) and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), dating back to the Vietnam War with...

In a response to real-world tasking, the U.S. Navy identified HSC-85 as the most capable unit to fill a critical gap in a high-threat CSAR environment. From the Pacific Theater of Operations, HSC-85 redeployed to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and commenced operations from a remote location within that theater.

Aug 8, 2023 · The Navy’s last special warfare-dedicated helicopter squadron, the Navy Reserve’s “Firehawks'' of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 85, held a deactivation ceremony in the squadron’s hangar,...

HSC-85 traces its lineage back through a number of previous aviation units, both active and reserve, all the way to the U.S. Navy’s first operational helicopter squadron, the FLEET ANGELS of...

HSC-85, otherwise known as the "Firehawks", is a United States Navy Reserve helicopter squadron that, since July 8th 2011 has been tasked with Special Operations Forces (SOF) support, with an emphasis on Naval Special Warfare. The squadron is based at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California. It operates HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopters.

Jul 19, 2023 · Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85 (HSC-85), a reserve squadron based at Naval Air Station North Island, California, made its final flight on June 30, 2023, prior to its deactivation ceremony, according to a release from Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve.