US Navy P-3 TDY changes in Japan

[Le Addeur noir]

Effective from 01st December,VP-4 tail code YD have assumed the next 6 month maritime patrol temporary duty out of Kadena and Misawa,taking over from VP-9 tail code PD.

Orions noted so far from 01st Dec at Kadena include,

158222
158224
161404
161586(ex VP-9 TDY,passed on to the VP-40 TDY.This airplane is one of the BMUP Orions).
162775

All of these Orions are in full markings.

In addition,VQ-1 EP-3E 160291 PR-30 has been seen at Kadena this week.

[Le Addeur noir]

6 of the VP-4 Orions here(and at Misawa) should be,

158222
158224
159889
160610
161404
162775

[Le Addeur noir]

The Orions at Kadena are as follows as of the 22/24 January,

158222 marked VP-4
158224 YD-224 full markings
159889 no markings
161404 marked VP-4
161586 marked VP-4
162775 marked VP-4

[Le Addeur noir]

From 01st June,VP-40 (tail code QE) replaced VP-4 at Kadena.

Airplanes reported by http://www.gonavy.jp here are

159885
160283 QE-283 on det at U-Tapao since 12th September,returned to Kadena on 23rd September
160284
160610 QE-610 (ex VP-4)
161121 QE-121 (BMUP)
161338 QE-338
161586 QE-586 (ex VP-4) (BMUP)
162998
163000 QE-000 on det at U-Tapao since 12th September,returned to Kadena on 23rd September

Most if not all of these airplanes carry full VP-40 markings.

Another long-term Far East resident P-3C,159889 (Update II and III prototype) seems to have dissappeared from here.

The next VP TDY change is due on the 1st December.

[Le Addeur noir]

The next P-3C change at Kadena/Misawa is due on the 1st December.In a undated,but very recent photo,VP-16 P-3C 158567 LF-567 was noted on the VP flight line at Kadena.

It is probable VP-8 will be the next P-3 TDY unit here.

2 other P-3C noses in the same photo were (160)283(QE-283 on det here) and (158)934 (l/n as LK-934 in Sept 2011).

[ehvb01orions]

VP-1 is deploying to Misawa in December 2011, which marks the first deployment of a VP squadron to Misawa since 2007.

[ehvb01orions]

VP-26 has also been preparing for their December deployment.
Time will tell but I expect this squadron to deploy to Kadena, while VP-16 will deploy to Comalopa, Sigonella and Djibouti

[ehvb01orions]

On November 26th 2011 the first P-3C from VP-1 (162998) arrived at NAF Misawa to begin a six month deployment in the region.

[ehvb01orions]

VP-16 will deploy to Kadena
See: http://www.print2webcorp.com/news/Jacks ... p07_e1.htm

[Le Addeur noir]

VP-16 will deploy to Kadena
See: http://www.print2webcorp.com/news/Jacks ... p07_e1.htm

Over the last month or so,the VP-40 det has been augmented by at least 1 East Coast P-3C.

158934 LK-934 was noted at Kadena and seen in U-Tapao RTNS on 24 November calling VVQE934.This was intended to depart to Diego Garcia,but cancelled.

Note P-3C 162998 has transferred from the former VP- unit here,VP-40 to VP-1.

As many will have read in the media,tension is high in the South China Sea,with the Chinese claiming the Spratley Islands and the Philippines and Vietnam requesting US assistance in deterring Chinese moves on these islands,which are also claimed by these(and other) countries.

There air also Chinese claims if islands contested by Japan in the East China Sea,so the maritime patrol communities of Japan and the United States can expect to be busy in these waters from now on.

[Le Addeur noir]

VP-16 TDY Kadena 01 December onwards,

2 of the Orions here with this unit are,

158567 LF-567
161333 LF-333 (full colour markings)

[dutchphantom]

Seen here Saturday 10 December

160283/283
160610/610
161012/LF-012
161126/126

[Le Addeur noir]

Another addition on the VP-16 Kadena TDY is,

161885 LF-885

phpotproof on a Japanese website.

[Le Addeur noir]

VP-1 NAF Misawa,

2 identified airplanes both with no unit marks,

161338
163000

*Update 12th May,

2 known airframes,

161332 BMUP
163000

161338 has been seen in Thailand in VP-16 markings in April 2012.

[Le Addeur noir]

Kadena AB May 2012;

With the end of the 6 month deployment of VP-16 rapidly approaching,the following Orions have been identified by Japanese sources and through sightings in Thailand,

161132 -132 (BMUP)
163000 LF-000
158215 LF-215
158567 LF-567
159885 LF-885 ex VP-40
163283 LF-283 ex VP-40
160610 LF-610 ex VP-40
161012 LF-012
161126 -126 (BMUP)
161333 LF-333 full colour markings
161338 LF-338 ex VP-40 and used by VP-1 at Misawa earlier in 2012
161590 -590