HSC-3

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron THREE (HELSEACOMBATRON 3 or HSC-3 Merlins) (previously Helicopter Combat Support Squadron THREE (HELSUPPRON 3 or HC-3 Packrats)), is a United States Navy multi-role combat helicopter squadron based at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California, which operates the Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter to train aircrew and support fleet development on the MH-60S for the Commander Helicopter Sea Combat Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet. The squadron was established on 1 September 1967 at Naval Air Station Imperial Beach with the Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight to provide vertical replenishment (VERTREP) services on the West Coast, and was redesignated HSC-3 on 1 April 2005.