CORAL SEA (August 1, 2019) – The forward-deployed San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay (LPD 20) and Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48), ships in the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), sailed with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) in the Coral Sea, August 1.

Together with Green Bay and Ashland, Hyūga-class helicopter destroyer JS Ise (DDH 182) and JMSDF Ōsumi-class amphibious transport dock ship JS Kunisaki (LST 4003) participated in a day-long exercise to enhance cooperative interoperability between the two nation’s navies.

Both Japan and the United States recently completed their participation in Talisman Sabre 2019, a bilateral, biennial exercise off the coast of Northern Australia, designed to improve U.S. and Australian combat training, readiness and interoperability through realistic, relevant training necessary to maintain regional security, peace and stability.

The Wasp ARG and embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) team is a flexible, self-sustained crisis response force, capable of conducting operations from combat missions, to humanitarian aid and disaster relief. They are the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region.

Green Bay and Ashland, part of the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group, with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are operating in the Indo-Pacific region to enhance interoperability with partners and serve as a crisis response force for any type of contingency.

Photo Caption: CORAL SEA (August 01, 2019) – The amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) sails behind the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyer helicopter ship JS Ise (DDH 182), left, and the JMSDF amphibious transport dock ship JS Kunisaki (LST 4003). Ashland, part of the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group, with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is operating in the Indo-Pacific region to enhance interoperability with partners and serve as a ready-response force for any type of contingency.