USMC Helicopter Squadrons
$12.00
Only 17 items left in stock
Bulk Patch Pricing
Embroidered
Minimum order: 25
25-49: $6.00 each
50-99: $5.00 each
100-199: $4.00 each
200-299: $3.00 each
300+: $2.50 each
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Patron 46 Gray Knights Patch — Patrol Squadron 46 Embroidered Patch
Morte De Caelo—Death From the Sky—the Gray Knights of VP-46, one of the Navy's most distinguished maritime patrol squadrons, hunting threats beneath the waves.
Patrol Squadron 46 (VP-46), the "Gray Knights," is a United States Navy maritime patrol squadron with a proud heritage of anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations spanning decades of service. The Gray Knights' motto, "Morte De Caelo"—"Death From the Sky"—captures the lethal nature of the maritime patrol mission: detecting, tracking, and if necessary destroying enemy submarines and surface vessels across vast oceanic areas.
VP-46 was established on 16 May 1944 as Bombing Squadron 109 (VPB-109) and served in the Pacific during World War II before multiple redesignations led to its establishment as VP-46 on 1 September 1948. The Gray Knights operated the P-3C Orion for decades—the four-engine turboprop maritime patrol aircraft that was the backbone of the Navy's ASW capability throughout the Cold War and into the Global War on Terror. The P-3C's extensive sensor suite, including sonobuoys, Magnetic Anomaly Detector, and surface search radar, allowed VP-46 to track Soviet submarines during the Cold War and conduct overland intelligence collection missions during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
The Gray Knights deployed extensively throughout the Pacific and Western Pacific, conducting maritime patrol and reconnaissance missions from forward operating bases in Japan, the Philippines, and throughout the theater. VP-46 also participated in drug interdiction operations and humanitarian assistance missions, demonstrating the versatility of the maritime patrol community. The squadron's name—"Patron" being the traditional shorthand for Patrol Squadron—and the Gray Knight identity evoke the image of a warrior sentinel standing watch over the seas.
Perfect For: VP-46 Gray Knights members and veterans, P-3C Orion community members, maritime patrol and reconnaissance aviation enthusiasts, anti-submarine warfare professionals, and Navy patrol squadron patch collectors.
Morte De Caelo—the Gray Knights of VP-46, bringing death from the sky to threats above and below the waves, standing watch over the world's oceans.
If you want to swap patches on/off gear, choose hook & loop (velcro). If you’re attaching permanently to uniforms or fabric, choose sew-on. If you want quick application on compatible fabric, choose iron-on / heat seal (when offered). Backing options are shown on the page and update based on the variant you select.
Size is shown on the product page and updates with the variant you select (example: 3"). If you’re mounting on a hat or small panel, choose smaller sizes; for plate carriers and display boards, larger sizes fit better.
If the product is officially licensed, it will say “Officially Licensed” in the title and/or in the product details. If it doesn’t, it’s still a legitimate product—just not part of a licensed program.
Yes. If you see a note like “bulk reruns available,” that means we can support group orders or reruns. If you don’t see it, contact us with the unit/squadron and quantity and we’ll confirm options.
Yes—custom solutions are available (patches, name tags, lanyards, apparel). Use the custom request page and include artwork, size, backing preference, and quantity.
