HSM-79

{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}

{{Infobox military unit

|unit_name= Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Seven Nine (HSM-79)

|image= Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 79 (US Navy) insignia 2016.png

|image_size= 200px

|caption= HSM-79 Insignia

|dates= 2 June 2016 - present

|country= {{flag|United States of America}}

|allegiance=

|branch= {{nowrap|File:United States Department of the Navy Seal.svg United States Navy}}

|type= Navy Helicopter Squadron

|role= Surface Warfare (SUW)
Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)

|command_structure=

|current_commander= N. Rongers{{cite web|url=https://www.airpac.navy.mil/Organization/Helicopter-Maritime-Strike-Squadron-HSM-79/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624060625/https://www.airpac.navy.mil/Organization/Helicopter-Maritime-Strike-Squadron-HSM-79/|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 June 2021|title=HSM-79 Organization|publisher=U.S. Navy|access-date=21 February 2022}}

| Executive Officer = C. Yost

|command_master_chief=

|garrison= Naval Station Rota, Spain

|nickname= "Griffins"

|battles=

}}

Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Seven Nine (HSM-79) "Griffins" is a United States Navy helicopter squadron{{cite book|title=AirForces Monthly|date=August 2016|publisher=Key Publishing Ltd|location=Stamford, Lincolnshire, England|pages=22}} based at Naval Base Rota, Rota, Spain. Their radio callsign is "Sentinel".

The unit operates the Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk which provides deployed aircraft and crews to ships of the Sixth Fleet.{{cite web|url=https://www.airpac.navy.mil/Organization/Helicopter-Maritime-Strike-Squadron-HSM-79/About-Us/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731053257/https://www.airpac.navy.mil/Organization/Helicopter-Maritime-Strike-Squadron-HSM-79/About-Us/|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 July 2021|title=About Us|publisher=U.S. Navy|access-date=21 February 2022}}

The unit has a detachment deployed to Naval Station Rota, Spain,{{cite web|url=https://www.airlant.usff.navy.mil/Organization/COMHEL,MARSTRIKEWINGLANT/Helicopter-Maritime-Strike-HSM-79/|title=HSM-79 Rota Detachment|publisher=U.S. Navy|access-date=22 February 2022}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} by the end of 2022 the entire squadron will permanently deploy to Rota, to support European based ships.{{cite web|url=https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/the-griffins-are-permanently-deployed-to-comnavforeur|title=The Griffins are permanently deployed to COMNAVFOREUR|date=9 December 2020 |publisher=Scramble|access-date=22 February 2022}}