US warships begin Asian deployment

From Update.Ph (Aug 28): 2 US warships begin Asian deployment

Two United States Navy warships, the guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal (CG 73) and guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper (DDG 70), have departed their homeport in Pearl Harbor August 25 for Asian deployment which will cover US 7th and 5th Fleet areas of operation.

“The warriors aboard USS Port Royal and USS Hopper have been working together diligently to prepare for this deployment to the 7th Fleet and 5th Fleet AOR,” said Rear Admiral John Fuller, commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific.

Port Royal and Hopper will transit through the western Pacific to enter the 5th Fleet area of operations supporting maritime security operations and theater cooperation efforts, US Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific said.

“Port Royal and Hopper help provide deterrence, promote peace and security, preserve freedom of the seas and humanitarian/disaster response as well as supporting the Navy’s Maritime Strategy when forward deployed,” Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific said.

US 5th Fleet is responsible for US naval forces in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean.

While 7th Fleet area of operations includes 36 maritime countries and the world’s five largest foreign armed forces, People’s Republic of China, Russia, India, North Korea and Republic of Korea. Moreover, five of the seven US Mutual Defense Treaties are with countries in the area, Republic of the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Japan, and Thailand.

http://www.update.ph/2016/08/2-us-warships-begin-asian-deployment/8840