Asia-Pacific
US Navy, Japan to begin annual drill
Stars and Stripes
November 13, 2015
The destroyer USS Benfold steams alongside the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan for a refueling on Nov. 8, 2015. (Paolo Bayas/Courtesy of U.S. Navy)
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — About 7,000 sailors will operate with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force during Annual Exercise 2015, set to begin Monday in waters south of Japan.
The bilateral exercise, scheduled to run through Nov. 25, will test surface, undersea and air combat operations, U.S. 7th Fleet officials said Friday.
The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its embarked air wing will participate, officials said.
The guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville, as well as the destroyers USS Curtis Wilbur, USS Benfold and USS Mustin are also scheduled to take part, along with patrol aircraft, a submarine and personnel from several staff commands.