USS Iwo Jima operating in the Celtic Sea

The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed on 25 March 2021. The duo, with an aviation combat element (ACE) Medium Tilt-Rotor Squadron (VMM) 162 Reinforced embarked is operating in the Celtic Sea, just south of Ireland from mid-April 2021. This area is rarely visited by such an ARG.

The ACE consists out of MV-22Bs from VMM-162 Golden Eagles ('YS-0x' and 'YS-1x'), a detachment of a Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) with CH-53Es ('YS-2x') and a Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) with UH-1Y and AH-1Z ('YS-3x' and 'YS-4x') as well as a detachment of Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223 Bulldogs with AV-8Bs ('YS-5x').

The Iwo Jima itself has Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 Chargers ('HW-xx') assigned.

Scramble Magazine likes to learn the unit designations of the HMH and HMLA detachments. Please let us know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Photo: USN