3 US warships arrive in PH

From the Manila Standard Today (Sep 28): 3 US warships arrive in PH

Three US warships are docked in Manila and Subic for rest and recreation activities as well as military exercise with their Filipino counterpart.

Warships for ‘war games’
(from top):  USS Peleliu,
USS Germantown,  and USS
Frank Cable.

On Saturday, the USS Peleliu (LHA 5) and USS Germantown (LSD 42) arrived in Subic, Zambales to participate in the bilateral annual military exercises called PHIBLEX 15 between the two navies of the Philippines and US.

Earlier, the USS Frank Cable (AS 40) arrived in Subic “to replenish supplies and give the crew an opportunity rest and relax.”

The Peleliu is an amphibious assault ship commanded by Capt. Paul Spedero with more than 1,100 sailors.  The Germantown, an amphibious dock landing ship commanded by Capt. Marvin Thompson, is manned by 350 sailors.

The Frank Cable is commanded by Capt. Mark B. Benjamin and crewed by approximately 500 sailors, 40 of whom are Filipino-Americans. The Frank Cable provides repairs and support to submarines.

“Both ships have elements from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is commanded by Col. Romin Dasmalchi and based out of Okinawa, Japan, and can have up to 2,200 Marines,” the statement released by the US Embassy in Manila said.

All the warships are under the US Pacific Fleet based in Pearl Harbor, Guam.

The Philippine and US governments have in recent months signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) amid China’s aggressive forays into the West Philippines Sea.

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