Golden Swordsmen Conduct Exercise with Royal Thai Navy

Photo By Lt.j.g. Matthew Baker | 161206-N-N0897-002 PATTAYA, Thailand (December 6, 2016) Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Espinoza, a naval aircrewman avionics with the Golden Swordsmen of Patrol Squadron (VP) 47, interacts with the Royal Thai Navy sailors during a static display of a P-3C Orion aircraft. VP-47 is currently deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of Operation (AOO) at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, and to the U.S. 4th Fleet AOO at Comalapa, El Salvador. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g Matthew Baker/Released)  

PATTAYA, THAILAND

12.10.2016

Story by Lt.j.g. Matthew Baker 

Patrol Squadron 47

PATTAYA, Thailand (NNS) – The Golden Swordsmen of Patrol Squadron (VP) 47 conducted a bilateral training event in the Kingdom of Thailand Dec. 5–10.
VP-47 attended a joint symposium and conducted a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) training flight with the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Squadron 102 to practice maritime tactics, techniques, and procedures in support of Sea Survex 2017-1.
During the combined U.S. and Thai training events, VP-47 aircrew members operated with a Fokker F-27 maritime patrol crew from the RTN. The exercise allowed the aircrew, mission planners, and maintainers from both the U.S. Navy and RTN the opportunity to train together and demonstrate the capabilities of their aircraft.
“We were able to co-operate seamlessly with the Royal Thai Navy aircrew to efficiently and effectively complete our mission,” said Lt. j.g. Travis Cameron, a tactical coordinator with VP-47. “Thorough mission planning and briefing enabled us to hit the ground running in an unfamiliar environment.”
The exercise was an important training event for both the U.S. and the Royal Thai navies, and it also afforded an excellent opportunity to build on the positive relationship between both countries.
“This exercise was an amazing opportunity to work alongside our allies and went a long way to building relations with them,” said Lt Aaron DeWitt, detachment mission commander. “The Thai were extremely gracious hosts and their facilities were top-notch.”
This is the Golden Swordsmen’s last deployment with the P-3C aircraft. VP-47 is the second of three Hawaii-based squadrons to make the move to Whidbey Island and transition to the P-8A.
VP-47 is currently deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR) at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, and to the U.S. 4th Fleet AOR at Comalapa, El Salvador.
For more news from Commander, Naval Air Forces, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/airpac/.

• Date Taken: 12.10.2016
• Date Posted: 12.20.2016 22:01
• Story ID: 218330
• Location: PATTAYA, TH