Ronald Reagan Strike Group, JMSDF Participate in Bilateral Training

The Ronald Reagan Strike Group and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Escort Flotilla 4 Battle Group, participated in bilateral training Aug. 31 while underway in the South China Sea.

South China Sea ─ (NNS) ─ 31 August 2018. The Ronald Reagan Strike Group and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Escort Flotilla 4 Battle Group, participated in bilateral training Aug. 31 while underway in the South China Sea.

South China Sea (Aug. 31, 2018) The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69), center, conduct a photo exercise with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships. The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region -- U.S. Navy photo by MCS2 Kaila V. Peters. -

During the training, units from the two maritime forces sailed in formation, participated in replenishment-at-sea training, exchanged Naval Liaison Officers and practiced maneuvering procedures.

South China Sea (Aug. 31, 2018) The guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyer JS Suzutsuki (DD 117) are underway alongside the Navy's forward aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during a photo exercise with the JMSDF. The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region -- U.S. Navy photo by MCS1 Timothy M. Black. -

Additionally, Rear Adm. Karl O. Thomas, Commander, Task Force 70, and CTF 70 personnel visited JS Kaga to speak with JMSDF Rear Adm. Tatsuya Fukuda, Commander, Escort Flotilla 4, about JMSDF and U.S. Navy interoperability and maritime unit cohesion.

South China Sea (Aug. 31, 2018) The guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) is underway alongside the Navy's forward aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during a photo exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region -- U.S. Navy photo by MCS1Timothy M. Black. -

"The teamwork and professionalism I have experienced by both CTF 70 and JMSDF sailors during this training operation has truly demonstrated how seamlessly we can integrate with our Japanese allies," said Thomas. "Training with Escort Flotilla 4 was a fantastic opportunity to bring together our strike group with the JMSDF battle group and further the interoperability we have been building for years between our forces."

South China Sea (Aug. 31, 2018) The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) is underway in the South China Sea with the guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) and the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69), not pictured, during a photo exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region -- U.S. Navy photo by MCS2 Kaila V. Peters. -

Ronald Reagan Strike Group units included in the bilateral training were the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69). Escort Flotilla 4 Battle Group units included the helicopter destroyer JS Kaga (DDH 184), the Murasame-class destroyer JS Inazuma (DD 105) and the Akizuki-class destroyer JS Suzutsuki (DD 117).

South China Sea (Aug. 31, 2018) The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), second from bottom, lead ship of the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, the guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54), bottom, and the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69), left, conduct a photo exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) helicopter destroyer JS Kaga (DDH 184), second from top, and the JMSDF destroyers JS Inazuma (DD 105) and JS Suzutsuki (DD 117). The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.-- U.S. Navy photo by MC S3 Erwin Jacob Villavicencio Miciano. -

The Ronald Reagan Strike Group is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

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