page_title: HM-15
section_title: Operations
hierarchical_section_title: HM-15 / Operations
caption_attribution_description: English: US Navy (USN) aircrewmen assigned to the "Blackhawks" of Helicopter Mine Counter Measure Squadron One Five (HM-15), perform an MK-103 mine sweeping mission from the rear ramp of an MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter in the Persian Gulf off Bahrain (BHR).
context_page_description: Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 is a United States Navy helicopter squadron established in 1987 and based at Naval Station Norfolk. Nicknamed the "Blackhawks" and flying the MH-53E Sea Dragon, it is staffed by both active duty and reserve personnel. It is the sister squadron to HM-14, the "Vanguard", based a half-mile away at NS Norfolk.
context_section_description: Using the MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter, they patrol foreign and domestic waters to locate and destroy sea-based mines that would harm watercraft and map safe sea-lanes of travel. Mines can be triggered by any number of methods ranging from contact to an electronic signature. While the aircraft hovers safely above the sea, it is capable of dragging through the water a wide variety of instruments and machines to accomplish the mission.  In harbors, coordination with EOD Divers helps to clear more shallow waters safely.
  Squadron deployments have been executed all over the globe, for operational, training, humanitarian, and foreign relations tasking.
  Due to the capabilities of the huge heavy-lift aircraft used, the squadron also performs the missions of assault support and cargo transport when deployed.
  HM-15 was the first squadron to load two MH-53Es into a U.S. Air Force C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft. To do so, all seven blades and the main rotor head is removed, the tail folded, and the helicopter inched slowly into the cabin. The pressure in tires and struts must be lowered and raised at appropriate stages in order to get the main gearbox shaft to clear the overhead while going up the ramp.
  It is not rare to see the squadron maintaining an operational "home" detachment while supporting two separately located far-flung deployments in other places of the world.
caption: An aircrew member from HM-15 on a MK-103 mine sweeping mission aboard an MH-53E near Bahrain
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