USS Ronald Reagan finally arrives in Japan

From Ang Malaya (Oct 1): USS Ronald Reagan finally arrives in Japan

United States Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) finally arrived at its new home-port, US Fleet Activities Yokosuka in Yokosuka, Japan today. USS Ronald Reagan is replacing USS George Washington (CVN 73). Reagan left its home-port for 9 years, Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego August 31.

“Ronald Reagan has been embraced as America’s Flagship. Not only does she have strong ties to Americans, she also has ties to the people of Japan,” said Rear Admiral John Alexander, commander, Battle Force 7th Fleet. “In 2011 Ronald Reagan was one of the first responders to assist in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the east coast of Japan during Operation Tomodachi. The ties that were established with the ship and our host nation will continue to grow.”

Reagan will be operating under the US Seventh Fleet. The 7th Fleet area of operations includes 36 maritime countries and the world’s five largest foreign armed forces – the People’s Republic of China, Russia, India, North Korea and the Republic of Korea. Five of the seven U.S. Mutual Defense Treaties are with countries in the area – Republic of the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Japan, and Thailand.

The deployment provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of the US and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. USS Ronald Reagan is deployed with its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5.

http://www.angmalaya.net/world/2015/10/01/13782-uss-ronald-reagan-finally-arrives-in-japan