Helicopter Attack Squadron ( Light ) Three Helicopter Attack Squadron ( Light ) THREE ( HA ( L ) - 3 ) , nicknamed the “ Seawolves ” , was an all - volunteer US Navy squadron formed in support of Naval Special Warfare operations and Mobile Riverine Force s during the Vietnam War . Beginnings of the Navy helicopter gunship . Prior to the Vietnam War , the helicopter was a valued tool within the United States Army for reconnaissance , Search and Rescue ( SAR ) , and medical evacuation of wounded ( MEDEVAC ) . Helicopters within the United States Navy were used for Search and Rescue ( SAR ) , Vertical replenishment ( VERTREP ) , Marine amphibious envelopment , and , experimentally , as mine sweepers . As an offensive weapon , the Navy developed the helicopter as an anti - submarine warfare aircraft , developing the capability to carry and launch torpedoes . As an offensive weapon for ground - based targets , the helicopter was relatively ignored in favor of traditional , fixed - wing aircraft . In 1965 , the US Navy began joint operations off the coast southern coast of South Vietnam in support of the growing war . In the same year , the Navy began limited river operations in the Mekong Delta to disrupting the Viet Cong ' s lines of communications , locating supply caches , and eliminating tax collecting stations . Based on the “ Brown - water ” Navy ’ s early success , a commitment was made to continue river operations on a full scale basis in the Mekong Delta . It was also determined that key to the survival of the boats operating in the rivers would be close air support . Initially , the Brown - water Navy was supported by elements of the 145th Army Combat Aviation Battalion who had greater experience in helicopter gunship operations and tactics . Operating off a “ Mothership ” , the USS " Belle Grove " ( LSD - 2 ) , the Army and Navy worked together on Operation Jackstay . Although the joint effort was a success , it was felt that Naval Aviators and Aircrewman would be more suitable for the mission , especially since the mission would require the pilots and crews to operate off the deck of ships in all weather conditions , day and night . This , coupled with Army ’ s pilots and aircrews lack of training in ship board operations , identified a need for a dedicated , United States Navy , helicopter gunship program in Vietnam . The Birth of the HA ( L ) - 3 and the Seawolves . In 1966 , Naval Special Warfare ( NSW ) rotary support was originated as part of the response to the ongoing war in South Vietnam . Starting with Helicopter Combat Support Squadron ONE ( HC - 1 ) , detachments of helicopter gunships supported the Navy effort in the Mekong Delta region of South Vietnam . HC - 1 , the “ Fleet Angels ” , operated two - plane detachments of surplus Army UH - 1B gunships , staged from amphibious vessels . Providing a quick reaction , close air - support ( CAS ) role for units of the Navy ' s Special Warfare Groups and Navy Mobile Riverine Forces ( also known as the Brown - water Navy ) , the effectiveness of the helicopter attack mission was quickly realized . In response , the Navy began to widen the mission requirements . This created a need for a specific Squadron in support of the mission requirements . In April 1967 , HC - 1 was divided into four separate units , Helicopter Combat Support Squadron THREE ( Navy Vertical Replenishment ) , and Helicopter Combat Support Squadron FIVE ( LAMPS ) , and Helicopter Combat Support Squadron SEVEN ( Navy Combat Search and Rescue ) , and Helicopter Attack Squadron ( Light ) THREE ( HAL - ( 3 ) ) , nicknamed the Seawolves . In 1966 , the Navy sent a message fleet - wide , asking for volunteer Naval Aviators to man HA ( L ) - 3 . From the response , eighty Aviators were chosen to be the first " Seawolves " and transferred to Vietnam . On April 1 , 1967 , HA ( L ) - 3 was officially commissioned in South Vietnam under the command of LCDR Joseph B . Howard . Fighting in Vietnam . The Seawolves would first major action while still part of a detachment of HC - 1 . On October 31 , 1966 , two Navy boats encountered a superior force of over 80 boats transferring a Viet Cong battalion . Encountering fierce resistance from them , the Navy boat commanders requested close air support ( CAS ) . Scrambling and arriving within approximately fifteen minutes , the Seawolves would claim 16 Viet Cong boats sunk or destroyed . After the commissioning of HA ( L ) - 3 , the Seawolves continued to support Navy Operations . Missions included Search and Destroy patrols , reconnaissance , medical evacuation ( MEDEVAC ) , and SEAL Team insertion and extraction . By the time of their decommissioning on March 16 , 1972 , the Seawolves flew over 120 , 000 combat sorties over Vietnam and Cambodia . Over 200 Seawolves would be wounded in combat and 44 would be killed in action . Post Vietnam War developments . It would take the Navy four years from the decommissioning of HA ( L ) - 3 to realize that it still had a need for this type of specialized , special warfare aviation support . With the establishment of Helicopter Attack Squadron ( Light ) Four and Helicopter Attack Squadron ( Light ) Five in 1976 and 1977 , the Navy Gunships would once again join the fleet , though be in the United States Navy Reserve . Although these two units would never see combat , their descendents , HCS - 4 , HCS - 5 , and HSC - 84 would go on to see combat in Operation Desert Shield / Storm , Operation Uphold Democracy , Operation Joint Endeavor , Operation Enduring Freedom . and Operation Iraqi Freedom Freedom .