VS-22

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Sea Control Squadron 22


caption= VS-22 Insignia
dates= May 18, 1960 - present
country= United States
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branch= United States Navy
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role= In-flight refueling
Anti-submarine warfare
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garrison= NAS Jacksonville
garrison_label= Homeport
equipment= Lockheed S-3B "Viking"
equipment_label= Aircraft
nickname= "Checkmates"
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Sea Control Squadron 22 (VS-22) "Checkmates" is a carrier-based United States Navy squadron based out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida. The squadron flies the Lockheed S-3B "Viking" and their mission is mining, undersea and surface warfare, electronic reconnaissance and analysis, over the horizon targeting, and aerial refueling. Currently the squadron is attached to Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17). As the last squadron flying the "Viking", VS-22 will be disestablished in 2009.

History

1945-1956

The original VS-22 squadron was established as torpedo squadron VT-42 on 19 June 1945 at NAS Brunswick, Maine (USA), also named "Checkmates". It was equipped with the Grumman TBM-3E/-3W "Avenger". It was redesignated attack squadron VA-2E on 15 November 1946 at NAS Oceana, Virginia, and to composite squadron VC-22 on 15 September 1948. Finally the squadron became anti-submarine squadron VS-22 on 20 April 1950 at NAS Norfolk, Virginia. In the early 1950s the squadron transitioned to the Grumman AF-2S/-2W "Guardian" and was identified by the tail code "SL". The squadron served aboard the following carriers: USS "Block Island", USS "Kula Gulf", USS "Salerno Bay", USS "Sicily", USS "Palau", and the USS "Wright". VS-22 was disestablished at NAS Quonset Point on 1 June 1956.

1960-2009

A new anti-submarine squadron VS-22 was established at NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island (USA), on 18 May 1960. It is hereby to note, that the U.S. Navy does not acknowledge squadron traditions, so officially the old VS-22 and the new VS-22 were two different squadrons. From 1960 to 1976, the "Checkmates" flew the Grumman S-2 "Tracker", better known as "Stoof" from its pre-1962 designation "S2F". VS-22 was assigned to "Carrier Anti-Submarine Air Group 54 (CVSG-54)" at NAS Quonset Point and operated from Essex-class anti-submarine carriers, mostly in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea:
USS "Lake Champlain", June 1960 - May 1965;
USS "Essex", June 1967 - August 1967;
USS "Wasp", March 1969 - November 1971;
USS "Intrepid", March 1972 (as part of CVSG-56).

Besides the typical submarine hunting role for which the aircraft was designed, the "Checkmates" held a significant role in the United States space program. Alan B. Shepard, the United States' first astronaut and also a naval aviator, was tracked and located by VS-22 on 5 May 1961. In August 1965, while embarked on USS "Lake Champlain", VS-22 recovered Gemini 5 astronauts Gordon Cooper and Pete Conrad. Finally, VS-22 was engaged in the recovery of Apollo 7 astronauts while deployed aboard the USS "Essex".

Jet transitions started in the summer of 1974 with pilots training in Rockwell T-2C "Buckeye"s and Douglas TA-4J "Skyhawk"s at NAS Meridian, Mississippi, making VS-22 the first east coast based S-3 squadron. With the retirement of the anti-submarine carriers the anti-submarine squadrons were inegrated into the former attack carrier air wings. From 1976 to 2001 VS-22 was assigned to Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3). Between 1976 and 1980 VS-22 made four deployments aboard the USS "Saratoga".

This was followed by seven cruises aboard the USS "John F. Kennedy", including participation in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in 1990/91. Operation "Desert Storm" commenced on 17 January 1991. VS-22 aircrews flew over 1100 combat hours and 324 combat sorties in direct support of the coalition forces. Target information gleaned by VS-22 aircraft played a major role in the suppression of enemy air defences during the first days of Desert Storm. From 22 January 1991 until the cease-fire on 28 February 1991, the "Checkmates" flew in every CVW-3 strike against Iraq .VS-22 was also employed in support of CJTF-4 counter narcotics operations during the last part of 1991 through the first part of 1992 earned the "Checkmates" the "Joint Meritorious Unit Award" for locating over 1500 contacts, confirming 50 as suspected offenders. After a long pre-deployment work-up schedule, VS-22 embarked on the carrier USS "John F. Kennedy" in October 1992. Concentrating on multi-national Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea exercises during the first half of deployment, VS-22 provided initial in-flight refueling training for Egyptian Air Force Mirage 2000 pilots and practiced ASW skills while leading over 40 multi-national, integrated and air wing exercise strikes against NATO ships. Later VS-22 participated in Operations Provide Comfort and Provide Promise, providing radar locating and command and control information. In February of 1994, VS-22 joined "CVW-3" and the USS "Dwight D. Eisenhower". It was at this time that United States Congress passed laws permitting the embarkation of women in combat units. VS-22 had the distinction of being the first S-3B command to be assigned female sailors. On 16 April 1995, VS-22 returned from their Mediterranean deployment onboard "Dwight D. Eisenhower". On 26 November 1996, VS-22 deployed onboard USS "Theodore Roosevelt" to the Mediterranean and the North Arabian Gulf. VS-22 participated in operations "Southern Watch" and "Decisive Endeavor" as well as numerous other joint exercises. On 21 April 1997, in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Checkmates became the first S-3B squadron to launch the AGM-65F Infrared Maverick missile. VS-22 next deployed onboard USS "Enterprise". VS-22 participated in various exercises such as "Desert Fox", "Juniper Stallion" and "Noble Anvil", mostly providing electronic warfare support.

In November 2000 VS-22 and "CVW-3" embarked on the USS "Harry S. Truman"'s maiden deployment. On 16 February 2001, CVW-3 participated in strikes against Iraq as a part of Operation Southern Watch. The "Checkmates" deployed for a second time with the "Truman" in December 2002, this time participating in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, launching missions from the Eastern Mediterranean. October 2004 saw VS-22 deploying with CVW-3 and the USS "Harry S. Truman" for the last time. VS-22 flew 1170 sorties and 3220 hours in support of "Operation Iraqi Freedom", patrolling the oil infrastructure in the Arabian Gulf during "Operation Sea Dragon II" missions.

Since 2006 VS-22 made two deployments on the USS "George Washington", being assigned to CVW-17. VS-22 last deployment was from 7 April to 27 May 2008, when the "George Washington" sailed around South America to San Diego, California to be stationed in Japan. "CVW-17" left the carrier at San Diego and returned to the U.S. East Coast. As the last squadron flying the "Viking", VS-22 will be disestablished in 2009.

See also

* List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons
* United States Naval Aviator
* Naval Flight Officer

External links

* [http://www.vpnavy.com/vs22.html VS-22 history on vpnavy.com]
* [http://www.vs22.navy.mil Squadron"s official webpage]