After nearly 45 years of flying Sikorsky’s family of H-53 Sea Stallion helicopters in US Navy service Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 14 (HM-14) ‘Vanguard’ has completed its final operational MH-53E Sea Dragon flight ahead of the unit’s planned deactivation in July 2023.

HM-14 completed its final MH-53E sortie from the unit’s home base, Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, on December 8. It will be the first of the Navy’s three Anti Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) squadrons – comprising two operational units: HM-14 ‘Vanguard’ and HM-15 ‘Blackhawks’; and a Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS): HM-12 ‘Sea Dragons’ – to be formally disbanded as the MH-53E enters its twilight years of US military service. Following its disbandment, some Sea Dragons and personnel will be transferred to the HM-12 and HM-15, which are also based at Naval Station Norfolk.

The move to deactivate HM-14 will leave just the two AMCM squadrons operational in US Navy service as the air arm plots the eventual retirement of its Sea Dragon fleet. It comes as the Navy aims to develop and field new technologies and approaches to AMCM operations beyond 2025, which will involve a family of both manned and unmanned systems. For the latter, AMCM capabilities have already been trialled by US Navy-operated Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopters.

Activated on May 12, 1978, HM-14 was initially outfitted with eight RH-53D Sea Stallions before it started its transition to the Sea Dragon on April 9, 1989. Throughout its 45-year history, the unit has supported numerous military operations and participated in a variety of US-led campaigns, including Operations Intense Look; Earnest Will; Desert Shield; Desert Storm; Toxic Look; Noble Eagle; Enduring Freedom; Iraqi Freedom; New Horizon; Caring Response; Unified Response and Tomodachi.

Highlighting the important work carried out by the unit over its 45-year history, Cmdr Nicklaus ‘Cheddar Bob’ Smith – the final commander of HM-14 – said: “I’m so proud of all the sailors of the ‘Vanguard’, both past and present, who have served with distinction… I’m most proud of the young men and women who gave blood, sweat and tears, in challenging environments across the world, and kept the ‘Big Iron’ flying!”

The MH-53E completed its maiden flight on December 23, 1981, before entering US Navy service in 1986. A number of MH-53E helicopters were exported to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), which operated the type (under the S-80-M-1 designation) until March 2017. While the Sea Dragon’s days are numbered in US Navy service, a formal retirement date for the fleet has yet to be publicly declared.