US Navy P-8A TDY reports for Japan

[DBarty]

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY –

The “War Eagles” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 16 recently deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to relieve the “Red Lancers” of VP-10.

The War Eagles assumed duties from the Red Lancers as Commander Task Group 57.2 June 9.

“I’m extremely proud of the men and women of the War Eagles,” said Cmdr. Kevin Kraemer, VP-16’s commanding officer. “We are excited and ready to support maritime security operations, vital to the freedom of navigation and free flow of commerce throughout this region's waterways.”
Maritime Patrol Aircraft and aircrews perform long-range sea surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and search and rescue.

Kraemer said the War Eagles provide critical information to fleet commanders while strengthening our existing relationships with our regional partner nations.

VP-16’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft will play an integral role in Task Force Sentinel, a multi-nation maritime effort to promote maritime stability and ensure safe passage of international waters in the critical waterways of the Middle East region.

The War Eagles are also supporting Commander Task Group 67.1 and the “Golden Swordsmen” of VP-47 in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.

The 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The expanse is comprised of 20 countries and includes three chokepoints, critical to the free flow of global commerce.

VP-16 War Eagles 20.2

168436 Isa, Bahrain
168759 Isa, Bahrain
168762 Sigonella
168855 Isa, Bahrain
168860 Sigonella
169000 Isa, Bahrain
(169324) Djibouti

[DBarty]

That’s taken a while to sort that lot out,
P-8 Deployment 20.2

VP-1 Screaming Eagles, Misawa/Kadena
As far as Ive worked out x5 frames at Kadena & x2 at Misawa which seem to swap around.
Ive been a little confused on whos taken the Misawa deployment, it seems VP-1 and id guess due to the enhanced narcotics work in Southcom (VP-47/VP-26) there flitting between Misawa/Kadena to cover!
168849 Misawa
168997 Kadena
169329 Kadena
169337 Kadena
169343 Misawa
169345 Kadena
169347 Kadena

VP-26 Tridents, Kadena/Comalapa
x4 VP-26 frames at Comalapa confirmed along with x2 VP-47 frames, 433 is the only one Ive not found so must be the 4th one there.
VP-26 deployed to main base Kadena which follows the pattern of the KNIP squadrons in order having the AAS P-8s attached.
168432 Comalapa
(168433) (Comalapa)
168848 Kadena
168857 Comalapa
169003 Comalapa
169007 Kadena AAS
169335 Kadena AAS

VP-47 Golden Swordsmen, Sigonella/Comalapa
168758 Comalapa
168760 Sigonella
168853 Comalapa
169002 Sigonella
169328 Sigonella
169331 Sigonella
169334 Sigonella


VP-16 War Eagles, Isa, Bahrain/Sigonella
168436 Isa, Bahrain
168759 Isa, Bahrain
168762 Sigonella
168855 Isa, Bahrain
168860 Sigonella
169000 Isa, Bahrain
169324 Dijibouti

VP-46 have confirmed deployment to Sigonella for 21.1, this seems to fit the pattern of the AAS fitted P-8s attaching to the deployed KNIP squadrons at Kadena in order, if that’s correct VP-8 should be up next for Kadena 21.1 & also explains why VP-26 deployed to Kadena and not Misawa.

[DBarty]

Been a bit of a swine following this deployment 20.2 so far.
VP-1 deployed to Misawa with the majority were flying out of Kadena seem now to have all positioned to Misawa.
169003/VP-26 which was down in El Salvador has moved to Kadena recently with at least one VP-47 frame doing MSLP>KBGR>LICZ to join the rest of VP-47 at Sigonella a week or so ago & yet to be id`d but will be either 168758 or 168853 so there seems to be a mid-deployment shuffle round going on.

What I have confirmed as of mid-August,

VP-47 "Golden Swordsmen"
Sigonella/Comalapa LICZ/MSLP*
168758*,168760,168853*,169002,169328,169331,169334

VP-16 "War Eagles"
Shaikh Isa/Sigonella/Djibouti OBBS/LICZ*/HDAM**
168436,168759,168762*,168855,168860*,169000,169324**

VP-1 "Screaming Eagles"
Misawa RJSM
168849,168997,169329,169337,169343,169345,169347

VP-26 "Tridents"
Kadena/Comalapa RODN/MSLP*
168432*(168433*),168848,168857*,169003,169007,169335

[Le Addeur noir]

The VP-45 color bird, 169559 LN-559 appeares to have arrived at Kadena AB on Monday 10th May. This is likely to be the harbinger of the next Poseidon rotation in the Far East. The current units in Japan are VP-5 and VP-11.

[Le Addeur noir]

DNA Tuesday 11th May,

P-8A TDY arrivals,

168754 LN-754 VP-45

Plus another unmarked Poseidon with an external Bu No of 169341. As of late 169341 has been reported as being with VPU-2, a unit that is noted for operating airplanes with false Bu numbers. Edit, 169341 was also seen here during April.

Other P-8s seen here recently,

168428 LA-428 VP-5
169007 unmarked
169010 unmarked
169011 LA-011 VP-5
169336 LC-336 VP-8
169340 LA-340 VP-5
169551 LA-551 VP-5 color bird
169556 LC-556 VP-8

[Le Addeur noir]

Another P-8A arrival here is 168996 unmarked and with a BMUP pod, which arrived around the 20th May.

[Le Addeur noir]

Another Poseidon seen in the Far East on the 01st June is VP-10 example 168440 marked as LD-440. At this juncture, it is assumed this airplane is operating from Misawa AB.

[DBarty]

Here’s what I picked up deploying from VP-10 & VP-45 for 21.2

169341 VP-45/FSU-1 AAS dept KNIP 29/3/21 routed KNIP>KDAL>KNTD>PHNL>RODN
168430 VP-10 dept KNIP 30/4/21 routed KNIP>KNUW>RJSM
169549 VP-10 dept KNIP 30/4/21 routed KNIP>KNUW>RJSM
168996 VP-45/FSU-1 AAS dept KNIP 30/4/21 routed KNIP>KLNK>PANC>RJTA>RODN
168429 VP-45 dept KNIP 30/4/21 routed KNIP>KRIV>PHNL>(PGUA)>RODN
168754 VP-45 dept KNIP 30/4/21 routed KNIP>KRIV>PHNL>PGUA>RODN
168998 VP-10 dept KNIP 3/5/21 routed KNIP>MSLP
168858 VP-10 dept KNIP 3/5/21 routed KNIP>MSLP
169560 VP-10 dept KNIP 3/5/21 routed KNIP>KNUW>RJSM
168859 VP-10 dept KNIP 3/5/21 routed KNIP>KNUW>RJSM
168440 VP-10 dept KNIP 5/5/21 routed KNIP>KNUW>(PANC)>RJSM
169559 VP-45 dept KNIP 6/5/21 routed KNIP>KRIV>PHNL>RODN

169010 has stayed at RODN along with 169335 both AAS fitted and change from VP-5 > VP-45, first time four AAS fitted P8s will attach to the deployed RODN squadron, an uplift of +1 of the FSU-1 machines. Still unsure how to term the AAS fitted machines FSU-1/VPU-2??

[DBarty]

The full count is below, I won’t separate them to exactly where they all are as its near impossible to be sure once they have deployed,

VP-4 Sigonella/Shaikh Isa/Djibouti
168755,169009,169325,169542,169557,169558,169561

VP-10 Misawa/Comalapa
168430,168440,168858,168859,168998,169549,169560

VP-40 Sigonella
168439,169001,169005,169008,169345,169348,169562.

VP-45 Kadena
168429,168754,168996,169010,169335,169341,169559.

[bruinmedic]

Oct 2021 - Apr 2022
VP-26 Tridents: Kadena
168433 LK-433
168763 LK-763
169007 Unmarked 007 AAS
169335 Unmarked 335 AAS
169341 Unmarked 341 AAS
169426 Unmarked 426 AAS
169545 LK-545

Oct 2021 - Apr 2022
VP-47 The Golden Swordsmen: Misawa
168758 RD-758
168760 Unmarked 760
169331 RD-331
169334 RD-334
169543 Unmarked 543

Oct 2021 - Apr 2022
VP-47 The Golden Swordsmen: Isa, Bahrain
169002 RD-002

Oct 2021 - Apr 2022
VP-47 The Golden Swordsmen: Djibouti
169328 RD-328

[Le Addeur noir]

One of the Texas-based P-8As was seen at Kadena AB on the 09th December in the shape of 168567 with no unit marks.

[CJ]

Seen earlier this week at Kadena were AAS-equipped P-8As:
169341 unmarked
169426 unmarked
169545 LC
169568 unmarked
169569 LA

Plus these regular P-8As:
169336 LC
169552 LC
169556 LC full colour VP-8 tail markings.