USNS MAJ Stephen W. Pless (T-AK 3007) arrived at the port to offload the US Army's aviation task force for Cobra Gold 2016. At least 5 UH-60s from the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade were spotted. Unable to see the serials as the stabilizers were folded. One was an air ambulance from C/3-25th Avn.
Probably in relation to this, 11 US Army helicopters were seen departing the nearby U-Tapao RTNS earlier today,
R20551 flight consisting of 3x UH-60M, 1x HH-60M and a CH-47F at 10:40.
R20546 flight consisting of 4x UH-60M,1x HH-60M and a CH-47F at 11:07.
Their destination is, as yet unknown, but a field site in the Phitsanulok area, or the Royal Thai Army base of Lop Buri are considered as likely candidates.
** These did, in fact (at least initially)recover to Saphan Nak, the Army field in the Lop Buri complex.
Last edited by Le Addeur noir on 07 Feb 2016, 10:23, edited 1 time in total.
The USNS MAJ Stephen W. Pless (T-AK 3007) is due to depart Sattahip Navy Port on Tuesday 24th February, no doubt with the 11 US Army helicopters from the 25th CAB.
So far the only serials known are one of the HH-60Ms ends in 14 (12-20514) and 4 of the UH-60Ms are 12-20528,12-20546,12-20551 and 13-20552.
13-20552 comes from an SBS hit.
25th AVN CH-47F 11-08832 has also been identified as being in Thailand at this time.
These choppers were identified as,
11-08831 CH-47F ? Co 3-25 AVN
11-08832 CH-47F ? Co 3-25 AVN
12-20514 HH-60M C Co 3-25AVN
13-20596 HH-60M C Co 3-25AVN
12-20489 UH-60M ? Co 3-25 AVN
12-20518 UH-60M ? Co 3-25 AVN
12-20528 UH-60M ? Co 3-25 AVN
12-20546 UH-60M ? Co 3-25 AVN
12-20551 UH-60M ? Co 3-25 AVN
13-20552 UH-60M ? Co 3-25 AVN
13-20553 UH-60M ? Co 3-25 AVN