Republic of Korea Officials visit USS Barry

YOKOSUKA, Japan – Senior Republic of Korea (ROK) officials visited the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) Jan. 15 as part of a United Nations Command (Rear) tour while at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka naval base.

Lt. Gen. Inchol Won, Vice Chairman ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff, Lt. Gen. Keonwan Lee, Air Force Operations Command, Deputy Minister Jaemin Park, Military Force and Resource Management, and delegation officials received a guided tour of the ship to gain general understandings and characteristics of an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.

The tour highlighted Barry’s capabilities. The group toured Barry’s Vertical Launch System (VLS), Harpoon launchers, Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes, SPY radar system, and replenishment-at-sea stations.

The members in the UNC (Rear) tour was comprised of members of the ROK Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, senior civilian government officials and the United States Army.

"Today's visit highlights the importance of the strong partnerships shared between the United States and the Republic of Korea - two nations that have served side-by-side for more than 60 years - and our allies committed to security on the Korean peninsula," said CDR. William C. Blodgett Jr., Barry's Commanding Officer. "Understanding our joint capabilities is paramount to confronting current regional and global challenges."

Barry is one of eight surface combatants assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15, the Navy's largest forward deployed Destroyer Squadron. The eight destroyers are the principal surface forces of Battle Force Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.