Unit Specific

Armament Systems 

204.1.1 Bomb bay weapons stations

The P-3 bomb bay consists of a maximum of 8 stations for loading weapons (4 upper & 4 lower). The max for the Charlie station is 3.

204.1.2 Wing Weapon Stations 

1. Pylons-used to suspend launchers or bombs from the aircraft wings, fuselage, or bomb bay.

2. Bomb Rack (BRU-15) -aircraft bombs, torpedoes, mines, missiles, and other stores are suspended internally or externally from pylons by bomb racks. Bomb racks carry, arm and release stores. 

204.1.3 Search store delivery Subsystems

1. Internal launch tubes-Consists of 3 pressurized tubes for launching sonobuoys.

2. External launch tubes-consists of 48 non- pressurized tubes for launching sonobuoy.

3. Free fall chutes-consists of a single chute located aft of the 3 PSLTs. A protective sleeve is required to be inserted into the free fall chute prior to usage. This will eliminate damage to the aft under- section of the aircraft.

204.1.4 Countermeasures equipment

1. AN/ALE-29 dispenser module-The AN/ALE-29 countermeasures dispensing system (CMDS), in conjunction with the AN/ARR-47 Missile warning set (MWS), is designed to provide protection for the P-3C form Missile attacks. The CMDS, when fully operational can dispense up to 60 passive radar decoy (chaff) cartridges, Infrared decoy (Flare) cartridges, or electronic (Jammers) cartrideges. This system, however, is not presently configured to dispense active jammers.

204.1.5 What special safety precautions apply to:

1. Bomb Bay door operations 

***Warning

• Operation of the bomb bay door when personnel or equipment are in the vicinity of the doors can cause death or serious injury to personnel and damage to equipment.
• The bomb bay switch shall be placed to match the door position before further action is taken. Failure of the switch to match the door position may result in unexpected operations of the bomb bay doors.
• Flight station personnel shall retain hand in view and the bomb bay operator shall take no action while the outside observer is out of sight.

***Note

• Anytime the bomb bay doors are open and hydraulic power is required, an outside observer shall be posted to ensure that the bomb bay area remains clear.

2. Sonobuoy safety switch

***Warning

• Prior to walking under (loading, unloading, inspection, and so forth) External SLTs ensure sono safety switch door is open, roller switch is fully extend, and SONO DISABLED light in the cockpit is illuminated. If sono safety switch door is closed, ensure an outside observer is posted to prevent personnel entering sono launch area.

3. Countermeasures Dispenser

***Warning

• Safe the CMDS prior to securing power to the MWS to preclude a possible inadvertent command countermeasures signal from dispensing a countermeasure.