US Navy’s San Diego-based Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) visited Sasebo, Japan, on February 28 to discuss its upcoming integration into a new and improved type of patrol the navy intends to undertake.
While in port, Dewey’s leadership and tactical watchstanders met with counterparts from Sasebo-based amphibious ships to discuss operations that fall under the Up-Gunned Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) concept and upcoming Wasp ESG Indo-Pacific patrol.
The expeditionary strike group will combine a three-ship amphibious ready group (ARG) with a three ship guided-missile destroyer surface action group (SAG).
The group will be led by amphibious assault ship USS Wasp which recently became the forward-deployed flagship of the amphibious force of the US 7th Fleet. Wasp left its homeport of Norfolk in August 2017, after undergoing upgrades which enabled the ship to land and launch the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter which will be a key element to the up-gunned ESG concept.
Dewey, along with an embarked helicopter maritime strike squadron, departed San Diego February 6 and has been operating under Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON 11), the navy’s forward-deployed amphibious squadron, since arriving in the 7th Fleet area of operations.
“While Dewey has been in transit to the Western Pacific, our sailors have been training and executing drills to hone our readiness to support the Wasp ESG,” said Cmdr. Anthony Webber, Dewey’s commanding officer. “We are proud to be a part of this mission and to be working to enhance our navy’s expeditionary capability.”