Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 40, based at Naval Station, Mayport, Florida, was established on 04 October 1985 to serve Naval Station Mayport’s Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. The mission of HSM-40 is to provide quality training to fleet replacement pilots and aircrew so they may “fight and win at sea.”
Operating the Navy’s ASW weapons system, the SH-60B and the MH-60R “Seahawk," led the way in being the most widely used resource for protecting U.S. waters and naval battle groups. HSM-40 is the only SH-60B and MH-60R Fleet Readiness Squadrons in the world and trains pilots and aircrew of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, along with foreign students from around the globe. New acquisitions and upgrades in helicopter hardware have brought in a new Fleet of MH-60R helicopters to be outfitted with our newly trained pilots and crewmembers.
Operational flight training consists of aircraft, ground, and simulator events, conducted by 58 fleet-seasoned pilot and aircrew instructors. The squadron is comprised of multiple aircraft, weapons/tactics trainers, and full-motion, full visual operational flight simulators. Computer integrated training devices economically produce complete mission simulation and dynamic aircrew training without ever leaving the ground.
Regardless of the curriculum, each student receives extensive classroom and hands-on training designed to prepare him or her for the challenge of serving on an operational SH-60B and MH-60R. In every theater of operations, in every climate, and in every projection of force, there will be Airwolves, past, present, and future, ready to serve!