US Navy P-3 TDY changes in Japan

[Le Addeur noir]

VP-46 P-3C 162772 was heard using a MARLIN(VP-40) callsign on the 30th June, so it appears this airplane is now operated by VP-40.

[Le Addeur noir]

Another transfer from VP-46 to VP-40 is 162999,which was noted in Thailand(on SBS) this week. This example has also been seen at Kadena in what remained of it's VP-46 markings earlier in the month.

VP-40 are covering both the Kadena and Misawa detachments at this time.

[Le Addeur noir]

This past week has seen what are probably the first elements of the next P-3C Japan TDY unit arrive at Kadana.

Sightings,

26th January 163004 YB-004 P-3C AIP+ VP-1

30th January 161404 YB-404 P-3C BMUP VP-1

[ehvb01orions]

VP-1 has taken over the TDY from VP-40 at Kadena and Misawa late January, operating 8 P-3C Orions:
160761 YB P-3C AIP+
161404 YB P-3C BMUP+
161590 - P-3C BMUP+
161764 - P-3C AIP+
162776 - P-3C AIP+
163004 YB P-3C AIP+
163006 - P-3C AIP+
163295 - P-3C AIP+

[Le Addeur noir]

VP-1 is due to be replaced at Kadena/Misawa shortly.

Further updates when available.

[ehvb01orions]

Effective from 1st September, VP-46 (RC) has assumed the next 7 month temporary duty out of Kadena, taking over from VP-1 (YB).
The following have sofar been reported with VP-46:
160761/761 (ex VP-1)
161339/RC-339 with LSRS
161414/RC-414 with LSRS
162314/RC-314
163004/004 (ex VP-1)

[ehvb01orions]

Mid March the first P-3C BMUP of VP-40 (QE) has arrived at Kadena to take over from VP-46: 161589 with LSRS

[ehvb01orions]

The following P-3C of VP-40 have been reported during April:
161589

[ehvb01orions]

The following P-3C of VP-40 have been reported at Kadena during April:
158934, 161589*, 161596*, 162776 (* with LSRS) no tailcode, only squadron markings on tail

[Le Addeur noir]

RODN Thursday 28th July,

2 EP-3E of VQ-1 were seen here on this day,

156511 -511
156517 -517

'517 has been seen subsequently here, so should be current on detachment here. Hitherto, there has been one EP-3E on detachment here at any one time.

[ehvb01orions]

There have been two EP-3E deployed to Kadena since 2014 at least:
sep2014: 159887, 159893
oct2015: 159893, 157326
jan2016: 156517, 156528
jul2016: 156511, 156517
The full complement of VP-40 at Kadena is:158934, 161589, 161596, 162776, 162777 and 163006 which departed Kadena and arrived at AMARG on 9 June 2016
VP-40 also deploys to Shaik Isa AB in Bahrain and Incirlik AB in Turkey with 161126, 161586 and 161764 (at least)

[Le Addeur noir]

Recent sightings have included the following at Kadena,

(158)224 RD-224 VP-47 full colour marks
(158)563 RD-563 VP-47 full colour marks
(162)775 RD-775 VP-47 full colour marks
(162)778 RD-778 VP-47 full colour marks

(161)408 -408 VP-1 (different markings on each side of this Orion)
(161)414 -414 VP-1 (different markings on each side of this Orion)

[ehvb01orions]

Late September 2017 another squadron change took place at Kadena. VP-47 departed and the following P-3C have arrived:
158210 VP-69
161404 VP-69 ? no marks
163004 VP-69
161596 VP-40
163291 VP-40
VP-40 also has Orions based at Shaik Isa in Bahrain and CSL Comolopa in El Salvador
The P-3s in Bahrain are 158224, 159326, 161132, 162776 and 162776.

[Le Addeur noir]

On Tuesday 25th September, the VQ-1 Det here was using no less than 3 EP-3E's. Serials

156529
159887
161410

At the same time the following CP-140/ P-3s are operating out of here monitoring shipping attempting to breach the UN embargo on North Korea,

CP-140 RCAF

140140

P-3K RNZAF 5 Sqn

NZ4206

P-3W RAAF

A9-661 and 665 ( virtually impossible to read off). These should be the 2 RAAF P-3s present.

[ehvb01orions]

P-3C BMUP+ 161411 and 161596 of VP-1 have gone home by 3 October 2018, after BMUP+ 161339/RC and 161593 had arrived by 1 October