**Official HSM-72.3 Desert Puffins Patch — Helicopter Maritime Strike Detachment Embroidered Patch**
HSM-72 Proud Warriors, Detachment 3 — the "Desert Puffins." When you're a helicopter detachment operating MH-60Rs in the Middle Eastern sun, you earn a name that's equal parts grit and gallows humor. These crews hunt submarines, track surface contacts, and keep the strike group safe.
Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 72 (HSM-72), the "Proud Warriors," is based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, and is part of Carrier Air Wing One. Originally established as Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 42 (HSL-42) on 5 October 1984, the squadron was redesignated HSM-72 on 15 January 2013 upon transitioning from the SH-60B to the multi-mission MH-60R Seahawk. The ".3" designation identifies Detachment Three — a self-contained unit of aircraft and crew deployed independently aboard surface combatants within the carrier strike group. The "Desert Puffins" nickname reflects the detachment's deployment to arid Middle Eastern operating areas. HSM-72 recently completed an eight-month deployment aboard USS Harry S. Truman as part of the longest sustained Navy combat operation since World War II, contributing over 1,500 sorties and nearly 5,000 flight hours in Red Sea operations.
• Dense embroidery on durable twill backing
• Vibrant synthetic thread with crisp detail
• Hook & loop backing for quick attachment
• Sharp reproduction of detachment insignia
• Built to last — withstands field conditions
Perfect For: HSM-72 veterans and alumni, MH-60R Seahawk enthusiasts, helicopter maritime strike fans, USS Harry S. Truman crew, CVW-1 alumni, NAS Jacksonville personnel, deployment patch collectors
