USS Carl Vinson visit

[Le Addeur noir]

CVN-70 USS Carl Vinson is alongside at Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri Province. Departure is scheduled for this forthcoming Friday, the 31st January. Christmas has come early for he boys and girls in Pattaya.

A list will appear on here in due course. There are still many gaps in the airplane list right now.

[tatoo]

Any information about a good viewing point location at the ship?

[Le Addeur noir]

In the port along the road just east of the carrier. You have to drive inside the port, then follow signs for (IIRC) terminal C. The carrier is easily visible once inside the port, and there will be several people photographing the carrier along this road, 5 aircraft are visible below deck, of which 4 have been identified.For the best view of these, wait until night falls, and they are easily illuninated. F/A-18F NE-111 will be very difficult to see in strong daylight, but very easy at night for example. Virtually all fixed-wing aircraft are visible, but the low elevation of the side walk precludes seeing the MH-60s, most of which are hidden from view on the far side of the deck. Recent port expansion precludes views from the north or west of the carrier.

Just a quick mention of VFA-97 which has 14 F-35C on board, all of which can be seen (NE-412 is below deck). The Growler unit, VAW-136 has around 6 EA-18G, and the Hornet units appear to have no more than 10 aircraft in each unit.

[tatoo]

Thanks a lot

[Le Addeur noir]

The list for this is still work in progress, but the 14 F-35s have all been seen, and this is what I have for them from my own source and personel sightings only,

F-35C VFA-97 Warhawks

169799 NE-400
169800 NE-401
169801 NE-402
169802 NE-403
NE-404
170083 NE-405
170084 NE-406
NE-407
170086 NE-410
NE-411
NE-412 **
169705 NE-413
170090 NE-414
NE-415

[Le Addeur noir]

The 10 F/A-18Es of VFA-113 on board were all visible, and they have been confirmed as follows,

169951 NE-200
169952 NE-201
169961 NE-202
169962 NE-203
169963 NE-204
169964 NE-205
169965 NE-206
169966 NE-207
169967 NE-210
169968 NE-211

[Le Addeur noir]

The 10 F/A-18Fs of VFA-2 were again all visible, and should be as follows (those not read have last noted dates against them). NE-111 was below deck and very difficult to see during daylight, but was no problem to see at night.

166804 NE-100
166979 NE-101 Oct 24
168488 NE-102 Jun 24
166877 NE-103 Jun 24
166874 NE-104
166880 NE-105
166962 NE-106 ** 24
166972 NE-110
166811 NE-111 ** 24
166967 NE-112

[The DJ]

166967 NE-112

166796

[Le Addeur noir]

The 10 F/A-18E of VFA-192 were again all visible, and their line-up has been reported as being,

169736 NE-300 Full colour Markings
169737 NE-301
169738 NE-302
169739 NE-303
169740 NE-304
169741 NE-305
169745 NE-306
169746 NE-307
168905 NE-310
168917 NE-311

The vasy majority of these were confirmed during the visit, and the remainder (apart from NE-310) from reports within the last few months.NE-310 is, however last reported in January 2023.

[Le Addeur noir]

VAQ-136 has at least 7 EA-18Gs on board, and the following was recorded,

166928 NE-500 Full colour Markings
168774 NE-501
168935 NE-502
168938 NE-504 12.2024
169142 NE-505 ** 08.2024
166935 NE-506
166897 NE-507

The dates against NE-504 and NE-505 are last noted dates, the others were confirmed during the visit.

[Le Addeur noir]

All 5 E-2D of VAW-113 were visible, albeit with the rear of modex 602 hiding below deck,

169863 NE-600
169864 NE-601
NE-602 **
169062 NE-60 Logic would suggest 603 is the correct modex for 169062
169078 NE-604

[Starfighter_F-104G]

All 5 E-2D of VAW-113 were visible, albeit with the rear of modex 602 hiding below deck,

169863 NE-600
169864 NE-601
NE-602 **
169062 NE-60 Logic would suggest 603 is the correct modex for 169062
169078 NE-604

169865 NE-602 confirmed
169062 NE-603 confirmed

[Starfighter_F-104G]

The list for this is still work in progress, but the 14 F-35s have all been seen, and this is what I have for them from my own source and personel sightings only,

F-35C VFA-97 Warhawks

169799 NE-400
169800 NE-401
169801 NE-402
169802 NE-403
NE-404
170083 NE-405
170084 NE-406
NE-407
170086 NE-410
NE-411
NE-412 **
169705 NE-413
170090 NE-414
NE-415

169941 NE-404
170085 NE-407

[Le Addeur noir]

The final items on this carrier were more of a challenge. There were at least 8 MH-60R/S on board. 6 on deck, including MH-60Ss NE-612 (167840)? and NE-616 of HSC-4. One MH-60R of HSM-78 identified was NE-701. The 2 seen below deck were one each of each sub-type.

You needed to do an overflight to see the whole contents above deck.

[Starfighter_F-104G]

HSC-4 MH-60S
NE-610 168582
NE-612
NE-614
NE-616

HSM-78 MH-60R
NE-701
NE-702

also assigned are two CMV-22B
CMV-22B 169452 22 VRM-30 det 1
CMV-22B 169459 72 VRM-30 det 1