mpa Lockheed/Kawasaki P-3C "Orion" Anti-Submarine Patrol Aircraft

[aizenns 3,590]

Lockheed Corporation / Kawasaki Heavy Industries

P-3C "Orion" Anti-Submarine Patrol Aircraft

History

P-3 is maritime patrol aircraft developed by Lockheed for successor of P2V.

JMSDF start to select next-gen anti-sub patrol aircraft for replace P2V-7 and P-2J, "PX-L". At first, they plan to build original MPA that made in Japan. Especially Kawasaki build mock-up of there plan "GK520", and Shin-Meiwa propose "PS-1 Kai"(ground version of PS-1 with TF34).

Spoiler

Kawasaki GK520

https://togetter.com/li/342692

But in that time Defense Agency afraid lack of enough technology to build aircraft in Japan (for example 26% of PS-1 lost by crash and 37 crews died) and Ministry of Finance claimed to import new MPA.

In October 1972, new PM of Japan, Tanaka canceled the project of "PX-L" that made in Japan, and start to select aircraft to import in 1975. In 1976 Lockheed bribery scandals appeared and this selection posed, but in 1977 Japanese re-decided to adopt P-3C.

First 3 planes imported from US in 1981 with FMS. In 1982 Kawasaki assemble knock-down kit and after that they start licensed production. Finally Kawasaki product 107 P-3Cs for JMSDF.

 

During the cold war JMSDF operate about 100 P-3C to patrol around Japan, but after the end of cold war number of MPA decreased about 80 planes and 5 plane modified to "OP-3C. Also during 1991-1998, 5 plane modified to "EP-3", in 1991 1 plane modified to "UP-3C", and during 1998-2000 3 plane modified to "UP-3D".

Also since 1998 classification changed from "Anti-Submarine Patrol Aircraft" to "Patrol Aircraft" and there camouflage changed from white and gray camo to light-gray low-visibility camo.

 

Now P-3Cs are replacing to P-1s. P-3C deployed on below units:

• Fleet Air Wing 2 (Hachinohe Air Base)
  • Air Patrol Squadron 2
• Shimofusa Air Training Group (Shimofusa Air Base)
  • 203rd Air Training Squadron
• Air Development Squadron 51 (Atsugi Air Base)
• Fleet Air Wing 31 (Iwakuni Air Base)
  • Air Reconnaissance Squadron 81
  • Air Training Support Squadron 91
• Fleet Air Wing 1 (Kanoya Air Base)
  • Air Patrol Squadron 1
• Fleet Air Wing 5 (Naha Air Base)
  • Air Patrol Squadron 5

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Good speed: 731.5 km/h
• Good max load: 9,072 kg (20,000 lbs)
• Equip flare to avoid IR missiles

Cons

• Did not have machine gun armaments
• Did not have anti-ground bombs - but depth charge have fuse to attack surface targets

 

Specifications

• Length: 35.61 m
• Width: 30.37 m
• Height: 10.27 m
• Wing area: 120.77 m²
• Take-off weight: about 56 t
• Max speed: 395 kt (731.54 km/h)
• Climbing rate: 457 m/min
• Service ceiling: 8,630 m
• Take of length: 1,673 m
• Engine: 4x T56-IHI-14 turboprop engine, 4,910 HP
• Crew: 11
• Bomb loads
  • Anti-Submarine Guided Torpedoes
    • Type 12
    • Type 97
    • Mark 46
  • Depth Charges
    • Type 67 150 kg Anti-Submarine Bomb 
  • Rockets
    • 127 mm Zuni rocket
  • Air to Surface Missiles
    • AGM-65 Maverick
    • AGM-84 Harpoon
  • Naval Mines (*1)
    • Mk.52 (bottom mine)
    • Mk.55 (bottom mine)
    • Mk.56 (anti-submarine moored mine)
    • Type 83 (anti-submarine deep depth moored mine)
    • Type 91 (middle depth anti-sub/ anti-surface homing rising mine)
  • Sonobuoy

 

*1: This is a list of aircraft-launched naval mines under service now. In JSDF, naval mines are most important secret weapon so perhaps these information are wrong. Especially there are lots of unknown mines like only its name is known, and whether exist or not is unknown so perhaps P-1 able to load more variation of naval mines.

 

Weapon data

Quote

 

Type 12 Torpedo (G-RX6)

Japanese Light-Weight Torpedo developed by TRDI and Mitsubishi. Launched from SH-60K, P-3C, P-1, Type 68 triple torpedo launcher "HOS-303" (Asahi class and Maya class) and Type 07 Vertical Launch Anti-submarine rocket (Akizuki class, Asahi class and Maya class).

Specifications

• Caliber: 324 mm
• Length: 2,832 mm
• Weight: 320 kg

Spoiler

https://www.mod.go.jp/atla/saiyou/gallery/sobihin.html

 

Quote

Type 97 Torpedo (G-RX3)

Japanese Light-Weight Torpedo developed by TRDI. Launched from SH-60K, P-3C, P-1, Type 68 triple torpedo launcher "HOS-303" (Asahi class and Maya class) and Type 07 Vertical Launch Anti-submarine rocket (Akizuki class, Asahi class and Maya class).

Specifications

• Caliber: 324 mm
• Length: 2,832 mm
• Weight: 320 kg
• Warhead: Shaped Charge (HEAT)
• Homing type: Acoustic homing

Spoiler

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/97式魚雷

Dummy torpedo of Type 97

 

 

Quote

AGM-65F  Maverick

IR image guided anti-ship missile.

Specifications

• Caliber: 305 mm
• Length: 2,490 mm
• Max range: 25 km
• Weight: 307 kg
• Warhead: 136 kg Shaped Charge (HEAT)

Spoiler

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGM-65_マーベリック

 

 

Quote

 

Quote

Type 67 150 kg Anti-Submarine Bomb

Depth charge that based Mk.54 depth charge of USN.

Specifications

• Diameter: 344 mm
• Length: 1315 mm
• Weight: 148 kg
• Explosive: 106 kg

Spoiler

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/爆雷

http://zuikaku55555.web.fc2.com/c120.jpg

http://zuikaku55555.web.fc2.com/150.html

 

 

 

Photos

Quote

Spoiler

Gray and White camouflage (2001)

 

Official Video by JMSDF

Quote

 

 

Sources

https://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/equipment/aircraft/patrol/p-3c/

https://military.sakura.ne.jp/aircraft/3_p-3.htm

Wikipedia (JP)

[leroyonly 4,310]

Open for discussion. 

[Miki_Hoshii 2,449]

Well guess im not making a P-3C suggestion anymore lol. +1 

 

 

Also JMSDF used Zuni rockets? 

[aizenns 3,590]

11 hours ago, Miki_Hoshii said:

 

 

Also JMSDF used Zuni rockets? 

Yes, they had 127 mm rocket but looking at display board says it used only “P2V-7”, “S2F-1”, “P-2J” and “PS-1”, but in side there are 150 kg depth charge, and its display board says same so they hide about on service aircraft weapons. (P-1 and P-3C equip 150 kg)

 

They using this weapon to attack Submarines when on surface or in shallow depth.

 

http://www.atlas-web.com/simousakiti-guide/shimofusa-shiryoshitsu.htm

Edited July 11, 2019 by aizenns

[Fireraid233 4,274]

Bomber with air to surface missiles +1

[Ketrab9713 161]

Well, I support it as long as this plane is added to both US and Japanese trees +1

[munarmunar 20]

I would like to see this, but on Tier V/VI

[Miki_Hoshii 2,449]

It can also carry 18x 500 lb Mk.62 Quickstrike mines, which are just repurposed Mk.82 500 lb bombs.

[Fireraid233 4,274]

Has flares which can help against missile.

[PrussianOwl 438]

Definitely would be cool to see, even if it's not so well-protected against fighters. +1

[MandolinMagi 603]

On 10/07/2019 at 23:44, aizenns said:

Yes, they had 127 mm rocket but looking at display board says it used only “P2V-7”, “S2F-1”, “P-2J” and “PS-1”, but in side there are 150 kg depth charge, and its display board says same so they hide about on service aircraft weapons. (P-1 and P-3C equip 150 kg)

 

They using this weapon to attack Submarines when on surface or in shallow depth.

 

http://www.atlas-web.com/simousakiti-guide/shimofusa-shiryoshitsu.htm

That's a HVAR rocket, more specifically it appears to be the Mark 29 anti-submarine warhead, which in actual use is Mk 34 Rocket when attached to the motor.

 

 

 

Edited February 23, 2020 by MandolinMagi

[Z3r0_ 4,127]

Maritime patrol planes like this are Japan's only real options for continuing their level bomber line after rank 4, seeing as their constitution forbids the JSDF from having anything from strategic bombers to aircraft carriers (though there are some loopholes that they've been able to abuse, like buying VTOL-capable F35Bs with the intent to operate them from helicopter carriers).

 

That said, the P-3 Orion is compatible with the Quickstrike series of naval mines...which are converted general-purpose bombs, so this thing could hypothetically be used as a bomber in a pinch.

Edited March 3, 2020 by Z3r0_

[Borotovas 4,500]

+1 I love it.

[Fireraid233 4,274]

Really wish we sew thesw post war 4 engine planes for Japan along side the turbin one 

[TeaParty4622 301]

It'll be a fun plane with anti-submarine, acoustic guided torpedoes. +1

[Fulgrymm 52]

I abstained from voting before because of the lack of conventional bombs, but now that Gaijin has started to implement mines, I think this has a place in the game.

[Z3r0_ 4,127]

1 hour ago, Fulgrymm said:

I abstained from voting before because of the lack of conventional bombs, but now that Gaijin has started to implement mines, I think this has a place in the game.

 

Especially since said mines are presently quite deadly against ground targets for some reason.

[Wiggly_Armed_Man 2,383]

Video of a P-3C firing a AGM-84.

Spoiler

 

 

[Z3r0_ 4,127]

Stuff like this will be the only feasible way to continue the Japanese bomber line past the G8N, and since in-game sea mines can also double as ground bombs...

[_WiKi 43]

Now that we have Mavericks, that's going to be good addition to the japanese line for a ground battles lineup.

[Fireraid233 4,274]

13 hours ago, _WiKi said:

Now that we have Mavericks, that's going to be good addition to the japanese line for a ground battles lineup.

Yes i wonder if it's possible we could get then one day.

[aizenns 3,590]

On 10/07/2019 at 21:53, aizenns said:

Type 67 150 kg Anti-Submarine Bomb

Depth charge that based Mk.54 depth charge of USN.

 

According to JDA document (制式要綱), this depth charges can use not only fuse to attack underwater target but also fuse to attack surface targets! This means this depth change can be a bomb in the game.

During the actual service, P-2J bombed damaged tanker by this depth charge to sunk it with other destroyers and submarines. (No.10 Yuyo-Maru incident). Also, in case of P-3C, they dropped bomb forward of North Korean spy ship to warn it.

 

https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/p-3.htm

According to this website, P-3 can carry 8x Mk.54 depth charges is the bomb bay. As far as I remember Type 67 is licensed variant of Mk.54.

Type 67 is 148 kg bomb, but amount of explosives is 106 kg. If same as USN’s variant, explosive type is HBX (modifier x1.6) so TNT equivalent is about 169.6kg!

https://bulletpicker.com/bomb_-300-lb-depth_-an-mk-54.html

Total bomb load is TNT equivalent 1356.8 kg. Compare to other Japanese aircrafts, it is similar to large torpedo bomber Renzan, but additionally P-3C also has body and wing pylons with missile/rocket/torpedo and have very good speed. Although it does not have defensive firearms but total performance of P-3C is superior to Renzan.

 

BTW, P-2J can load 16x Type 67 150 kg depth charges. If it is implemented, it will be deadly mixed-propulsion bomber...

[Milocat 4,848]

+1, I will support aircraft like this for naval battles.

[姫石果25大好き 36]

+1 This can be added behind the G8N as bomber, which is very needed for Japan as they didn't have any real bomber after the war.

[Fireraid233 4,274]

10 hours ago, KomiyaArisa said:

+1 This can be added behind the G8N as bomber, which is very needed for Japan as they didn't have any real bomber after the war.

I would say after the G8N