N. Korea problems are reason
for Kaneohe sailors’ transferThe Navy is uniting its intelligence
aircraft and personnel in Japan
The Navy has consolidated its intelligence gathering in Japan, including a small group of Kaneohe sailors, because of the continuing problems with North Korea, sources say.
Eight sailors from Kaneohe are part of the Navy's move to bring all of its intelligence-gathering aircraft and personnel from Diego Garcia and Okinawa to Misawa, Japan.
As part of the shift, the Navy has reshuffled its anti-submarine and reconnaissance forces at Kaneohe.
This morning, Capt. William Moran will assume command of Patrol and Reconnaissance Force Pacific, which includes four P-3C Orion sub hunters and 2,000 sailors at Kaneohe Bay, and an additional three P-3C squadrons and one squadron of EP-3E Aries reconnaissance aircraft at Whidbey Island in Washington.
The Navy stressed yesterday that no aircraft or additional personnel will be relocated from Hawaii or Washington.
The EP-3E Aries gathers electronic data in the Pacific and Indian oceans on other countries' submarines and North Korean ballistic missiles.
Two years ago, 24 crew members of an EP-3E from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station were detained for 11 days on China's Hainan island. The crew was held after their EP-3E collided with a Chinese F-8 jet fighter over international waters in the South China Sea on March 31, 2001.
Moran will relieve Rear Adm. Anthony Winns, who was in charge of the Navy's reconnaissance aircraft and personnel in Japan and the anti-submarine and reconnaissance forces at Kaneohe.
Winns' command in Japan now will be headed by Rear Adm. Kenneth Deutsch and will be called Task Force 32.
About eight sailors from Kaneohe will be relocated to Japan to be with the admiral, defense sources say.
The only comment the Pacific Fleet would make last night was, "When changes in use of facilities in Japan is contemplated, the government of Japan will be notified," Lt. (j.g.) Mike Morely, Navy spokesman, said.
The 60 P-3C Orions are assigned to Patrol Squadrons 4, 9 and 47, and Utility Patrol Squadron 2 moved to Kaneohe from Barbers Point Naval Air Station when it closed in 1999.
The four Orion squadron's missions include anti-submarine warfare, air reconnaissance, aerial mine warfare, air-to-surface missile attack and maritime shipping surveillance and patrols.
They also do search-and- rescue and drug interdiction missions.
