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Navy Hosts Japan Self-Defense Force Air Crews

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070803-30
Release Date: 8/3/2007 7:36:00 PM

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SCW) Ernest C. Terry, Submarine Training Facility Pearl Harbor Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- The Naval Submarine Training Center, Pacific (NSTCP) hosted two air crews of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Patrol Squadron (VPDET) 42 on July 16.

VPDET-42, forward deployed in Okinawa, Japan, operates the turbo-propped P-3C Orion, a land-based, long-range anti-submarine warfare patrol aircraft similar to the version used by the U.S. Navy.

The 10 officers and 11 enlisted crew was given a hands-on tour of simulators used to train U.S. and allied submarine crews on ship operations. Operating the Virtual Environment Submarine (VESUB), the aviators piloted the waterway into Pearl Harbor using state-of-the-art virtual imagery technology.

They also experienced the Ship Control Team trainer, which simulates submarine diving and steering controls and moves at severe angles to demonstrate the dramatic work environment of a submarine as well as firefighting and flood-management functions at the Ford Island Damage Control facility.

“The trainers are very interesting. We hunt subs so we have to know about them,” said Lt. Cmdr. Kanoh, one of the JMSDF P-3 pilots. "We also visit submarines in Japan to exchange information and learn each other’s operations and tactics."

NSTCP's primary mission is to provide submarine training to the Pacific Fleet Submarine Force and allied navies. Its secondary mission is to provide specific operational and technical support to Pacific Fleet submarines.

"We at NSTCP are committed to providing quality training to the U.S. Navy submarine fleet, and being able to show our allies a brief glimpse of what we do is always a pleasure,” said Chief Electronics Technician Kyle Lucas, Ships Control Team Trainer division officer. “The Japanese aviators were enthusiastic and really seemed to enjoy the tour of the Ships Control Team Trainer.”