USS Santa Fe Visits Japan during Western Pacific Deployment

By USS Santa Fe Public Affairs

FLEET ACTIVITIES YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- FLEET ACTIVITIES YOKOSUKA, Japan - The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Santa Fe (SSN 763) arrived at Yokosuka, Japan Aug. 17 for a visit as a part of its deployment to the Western Pacific.

With a crew of approximately 150, Santa Fe will conduct a multitude of missions and showcase the endurance and flexibility of the submarine fleet.

"Santa Fe is proud to contribute to the 7th Fleet commander's initiates," said Cmdr. Timothy Poe, Santa Fe's commanding officer.

Santa Fe is making its 2nd deployment to the Western Pacific in the last three years. Combining stealth, fire power and persistence to remain on station indefinitely, Santa Fe is crucial to the U.S. Navy's, and its allies' underwater dominance in the region.

"This port call is important to the crew of the Santa Fe as a well-deserved reward for their hard work and dedication over the last several months," said Senior Chief Electronics Technician Juan Gonzalez, the chief of the boat aboard Santa Fe. "The crew has been put through their paces and has stood tall and strong through all challenges. This is also a great opportunity to show military presence and foster a stronger relationship between our two countries."

Measuring more than 360 feet long and weighing more than 6,000 tons when submerged, Santa Fe is one of the stealthiest submarines in the world. This submarine is capable of supporting a multitude of missions. Commissioned on Jan. 8, 1994, Santa Fe is the 52nd ship of the Los Angeles-class and is based out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission Visits USS Blue Ridge

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Joshua Karsten

BUSAN, Republic of Korea (NNS) -- Swedish and Swiss major generals of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) visited the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), Aug. 17, as part of an observation tour.

The visit included a tour of the ship and an office call with 7th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Robert L. Thomas to discuss regional issues and 7th Fleet's mission.

Blue Ridge arrived in Busan, Aug. 13, in support of embarked 7th Fleet's participation in exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG), an annual training event designed to ensure readiness to defend the Republic of Korea (ROK) and strengthen the ROK-U.S. Alliance.

Swedish Maj. Gen. Mats Engman, head of Policy and Plans Department for the Swedish armed forces and Swedish NNSC Member, and Swiss Maj. Gen. Urs Gerber, head of the Swiss delegation to the NNSC, will observe ROK-U.S. interactions over the next two weeks, meet with leadership, review operational briefs, and monitor joint operations watch floors.

The NNSC observes and evaluates exercises to ensure planning and operations are conducted in a "defensive and deterrent" nature. Their presence provides international transparency to the United Nations Command and the Republic of Korea.

The NNSC was established by the Korean Armistice Agreement signed July 27, 1953. The term "neutral nations" includes nations whose combatant forces have not been involved in the hostilities on the Korean Peninsula. The primary role of the NNSC today is to maintain relationships with both the North and the South and facilitate open channels of communication between them.

U.S. Sailors and Marines join the Malaysian Armed Forces for CARAT 2015

By Task Force 73 Public Affairs

Sandakan, Malaysia (NNS) -- The 21st annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and the Malaysian Armed Forces began Aug. 17 with opening ceremonies in Sandakan, Malaysia.

CARAT Malaysia 2015 consists of five days of shore-based and at-sea training events, designed to address shared maritime security concerns, build relationships, and enhance interoperability among participating forces.

"This marks the 21st year that the U.S. and Malaysian armed forces have come together for CARAT, and our enhanced military partnership today reflects the maturity of this relationship," said Rear Adm. Charlie Williams, Commander, Task Force 73. "Partnerships matter in this region. Sustained partnerships matter even more."

CARAT is a series of bilateral naval exercises between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

More than 1,000 U.S. military members will participate in CARAT Malaysia alongside their counterparts from Malaysia. The exercise will feature simultaneous amphibious landings; surface warfare drills; visit, board, search and seizure demonstrations; explosive ordnance disposal training; maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations; a gunnery exercise; coastal Riverine drills; and civil engineering projects. Additionally, personnel from both nations will exchange best practices on naval tactics during a series of military seminars ashore.

"CARAT is a practical way for our two navies to address shared maritime security priorities in a realistic training environment," said Capt. H.B. Le, Commodore, Destroyer Squadron 7. "The Malaysian armed forces have been a part of CARAT since its inception, and our partnership's spanning more than two decades demonstrates a firm mutual commitment to stability and security throughout the region."

U.S. units participating in the exercise include littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3), dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42), a P-3C Orion, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FIVE , Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit FIVE, Coastal Riverine Group ONE, and U.S. Marines assigned to the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (III MEB).

As U.S. 7th Fleet's executive agent for theater security cooperation in South and Southeast Asia, Commander, Task Force 73 conducts advanced planning, organizes resources, and directly supports the execution of maritime exercises, such as the bilateral CARAT series, the Naval Engagement Activity with Vietnam, and the multi-lateral Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.