MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Sailors with Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 14 Detachment 1 out of Pohang, Korea, visited the station to conduct external vertical replenishment training July 8.
HM-14 is homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., and its mission is to stand ready to deploy anywhere in the world within 72 hours to provide airborne mine countermeasures and vertical onboard delivery support, as well as humanitarian and disaster relief.
Vertical replenishment is used to transport equipment or supplies to seaborne vessels or remote locations inaccessible by any other means.
“External vertical replenishment training is important for consistency,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Erik Cotton, aviation structure mechanic with HM-14 Det. 1. “Our aircraft is used for many different things, and the crewmen need to be familiar with everything.”
The aircraft used for the training was an MH-53E Sea Dragon, which is similar to the CH-53E Super Stallion used in the Marine Corps.
The main difference is that the CH-53 is able to drop its fuel tanks and has dual lift points, whereas the MH-53E’s fuel tanks are attached to the aircraft and only has a single lift point, said Lt. Troy Kelly, helicopter aircraft commander for HM-14 Det. 1.
“We’re one of the few heavy-lift squadrons in (the area),” said Kelly, “(Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force) HM-111 has the same aircraft, but their capabilities are a little different from ours.”
Due to the fuel capacity of the MH- 53E, the aircraft is capable of staying on scene for about five hours or indefinitely with aerial refueling, said Kelly.
The training was held on the airfield here due to the lack of resources in Pohang.
“Where we are in Korea, we haven’t been able to do any external (vertical replenishments) so our pilots are out of practice,” said Kelly. “A lot of aircrew in order to make it to the next level of their training have to get sign offs, so they’re kind of put on hold until we can get (the training done).”
Pilots are required to maintain a certain number of flying hours in order to keep their credentials, so this training will go toward their hours, said Kelly.
“A lot of places you go, they just try to keep their bare minimums,” said Kelly. “That’s just to stay current. That’s not proficient. We try to fly as many hours as we possibly can.”
HM-14 also conducts training regularly in night operations, pattern work, navigation, approaches, towing devices in water, and classifying and neutralizing mines.