US Navy and US Marines helicopter squadrons conduct maritime strike exercise near Hawaii.

According to information released by the U.S. Department of Defense on June 15, 2020, U.S. Marines with Marine Light Helicopter Attack Squadron 367 joined forces with U.S. Navy Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37 have conducted an integrated maritime strike exercise off the coast of the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Hawaii, June 8-10, 2020, using AH-1Z attack helicopter and UH-1Y Venom utility helicopter.
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

U.S. Marines with Marine Light Helicopter Attack Squadron 367 operate an AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom during a joint maritime strike exercise with U.S. Navy Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37 over Pacific Missile Range Facility, Hawaii, June 9, 2020. (Picture source U.S. DoD)

The two squadrons from different services combined to improve their warfighting capabilities and create a more lethal force from the air. The HSM-37 crew used radar cueing to provide reconnaissance and strike coordination for the section of HMLA-367 H-1 helicopters who then destroyed a moving surface vessel with Hellfire missiles and rockets.

“This evolution demonstrates Marine Aircraft Group 24’s unique ability to integrate with the Navy – optimizing preexisting technologies that demonstrate precision strikes against maritime targets – showcasing the lethality of our Naval warfighting capabilities against a peer competitor,” said U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Page Payne, commanding officer of HMLA-367.

HMLA-367 and HSM-37 developed this unique training opportunity to hone skills using each aircraft’s strengths, and to demonstrate the combined advantage of their mutually supportive relationship. By executing this precision maritime strike training, each squadron is better prepared to exercise sea control and sea denial operations in a combined tactical scenario.

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 (HMLA-367) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and UH-1Y Venom utility helicopters. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 24 (MAG-24) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW).

Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron THREE SEVEN, stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay, is the largest expeditionary squadron in the U.S. Navy and supports all Pearl Harbor based Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers. The EASYRIDERS of HSM-37 maintain and fly 15 MH-60R SEAHAWK helicopters.

The Bell AH-1Z Viper is an American twin-engine attack helicopter, based on the AH-1W SuperCobra, that was developed for the United States Marine Corps as part of the H-1 upgrade program. It incorporates new rotor technology with upgraded military avionics, weapons systems, and electro-optical sensors in an integrated weapons platform. It has improved survivability and can find targets at longer ranges and attack them with precision weapons.

The Bell AH-1Z Viper is armed with one 20 mm M197 3-barreled Gatling cannon, Hydra 70 or APKWS II rockets, TOW anti-tank missile, AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile and AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missile.

The Bell UH-1Y Venom also called Super Huey is a twin-engined, medium-sized utility helicopter, built by Bell Helicopter under the H-1 upgrade program of the United States Marine Corps. It provides command & control and assault support under day/night and adverse weather conditions.