Younger and more capable ships of the U.S. Navy will be deployed to the Navy’s Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) based in Sasebo, Japan.
The decision comes, as the Navy strives to build up its capacities in Japan, one of its strongest allies, and at the same time, retire old units from its fleet bringing in fresh blood.
As announced by the Navy, the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) will join U.S. 7th Fleet in February 2015. She will step in for the Austin-class USS Denver (LPD 9), which is bound for final decommissioning in September.
Green Bay is a member of the latest amphibious transport dock (LPD) class, equipped with an advanced command and control suite; increased lift capacity with substantial increases in vehicle and cargo carrying capability; and advanced ship survivability features.
Until Green Bay arrives, the San Diego-based USS Peleliu (LHA 5), will proceed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to fill in the gap in amphibious presence.
The aforementioned warships, will be joined by the Avenger-class mine countermeasure ships USS Pioneer (MCM 9) and USS Chief (MCM 14), which will report to the U.S. 7th Fleet in Sasebo in May 2014.
They will respectively replace the mine countermeasure ships USS Avenger (MCM 1) and USS Defender (MCM 2), which are also scheduled for decommissioning and heavy-lift back to their homeport of San Diego in June 2014.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, February 6, 2014; Image: US Navy