PIC/VIDEO: Pakistani P-3C Orions destroyed in Karachi attack

[Stratofreighter]

http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=122696

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/w ... 888440.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13495127

Their first targets were aircraft parked on the tarmac and equipment in nearby hangers, says the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan at the scene.

Eyewitnesses say the militants used rocket propelled grenades to damage and destroy several warplanes. These included the Pakistan navy's premier anti-submarine attack jet - the US made P-3C Orion.

At least two of these multi-million dollar aircraft were set ablaze.

The gunmen then opened indiscriminate fire, killing several naval personnel as they carried their deadly raid into the heart of the base.

[Richard from Rotterdam]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13497328

this concerns Mehran Naval airbase.

In this interview with a Pakistani expert, there is talk about one or more US aircraft being attacked, to me it is unclear if they are talking about USAF/US Navy airplanes, or the US built Pakistani navy orions.

[Richard from Rotterdam]

Dutch newspaper NRC published a picture of a burnt-out Orion.

http://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2011/05/23/gev ... ert-einde/

apparently a US Navy plane.

[Propwash]

More + Video H E R E (AlJazeera )

[Richard from Rotterdam]

Reading more about the aircraft involved, I am guessing it only involves pakistani navy airplanes. Judging from the picture published by NRC though, it seems at least 2 P-3Cs were destroyed. You can make out one very clearly, but to the left of the burtnt out wreck you can see more T56 engines, clearly belonging to a destroyed aircraft.

[Richard from Rotterdam]

more photos: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-13498936

[bizjets101]

Pakistan Navy P-3C Orion photo.

Burned out remains of P-3C photo.

[p3orion]

Our source had mixed up the Pakistani tail numbers but we have corrected that and we believe the below list is correct. Not two but three P-3C Orions were involved:

164467 - 81 HEAVILY DAMAGED
159883 - 84 DESTROYED
159511 - 86 DESTROYED

Note: I edited this posting on May 27, 2011: Pakistani tail number for BuNo 159511 changed from 87 to 86. Conflicting information was verified and the destroyed aircraft was BuNo 159511 with Pakistani tail number 86.

Regards,
Marco P.J. Borst
P-3 Orion Research Group - The Netherlands

[perrie]

Wasn't Pakistani P-3C Orion 81 at RAF Fairford at RIAT 2008 ???
(the RIAT with all the rain)

Per

[Roel van Gestel]

Yep, the '81' as the 'worlds last built Orion' (which isn't true, but doesn't matter anymore...)..

[p3orion]

There has been some confusion over the tail numbers of the Pakistan Navy P-3C Orion which were involved in the terrorist attack on PNS Mehran. I have now received confirmation about the two aircraft which had been destroyed:

84 (159883)
87 (159510)

A third P-3C (81 / 164467) is believed to be heavily damaged, probably by gun fire, but this has not been confirmed yet.



Pakistan P-3C status as of 7 June 2011

BuNo tail# type remarks

164467 81 P-3C-II¾ heavily damaged at PNS Mehran, 22may11

164468 82 P-3C-II¾ at PNS Mehran

164469 83 P-3C-II¾ crashed into Arabian Sea, 29oct99

159883 84 P-3C-I destroyed at PNS Mehran, 22may11

159505 85 P-3C PUP at Greenville SC (mod to PUP in progress)

159511 86 P-3C PUP at PNS Mehran

159510 87 P-3C PUP destroyed at PNS Mehran, 22may11

159508 88 P-3C PUP at Greenville SC (mod to PUP in progress)

160289 89 P-3C PUP at Greenville SC (mod to PUP in progress)

159890 90 P-3C PUP at Greenville SC (mod to PUP in progress)

Regards,
Marco P.J. Borst
P-3 Orion Research Group - The Netherlands

[JFthunder1]

Thats what Pakistan enemy are doing against Pakistan