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While details of specific missions are not disclosed for operational security reasons, the Seventh Fleet confirmed that both Japan-based warships were designed for anti-air, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare missions, as well as ballistic missile defense. The USS Ralph Johnson completed a seven-month deployment and returned to its home port at Yokosuka naval base near Tokyo on July 31.
The warship conducted patrols in the Seventh Fleet’s area of responsibility and provided critical defense for U.S. strategic locations in the Indian Ocean during its deployment, including Diego Garcia. The military base enables forward-deployed forces to conduct operations supporting regional stability and providing a rapid response to crises.
USS Milius made its last stopover at Diego Garcia on July 21 and was seen anchoring off Yokosuka but did not enter the port for reasons unknown. Another warship from Destroyer Squadron 15, USS John Finn, made a port visit to Diego Garcia on July 16 and arrived at Sembawang naval base in Singapore on Monday.
The U.S. Seventh Fleet operates daily to protect security, freedom, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region. A spokesperson told Newsweek that it deploys forces forward to strengthen peace, stability, and deterrence in the region.
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Diego Garcia, a British Indian Ocean Territory island hosting a U.S. military base, received increased attention earlier this year due to tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The island is crucial for maintaining U.S. military operations in the region.
Both USS Ralph Johnson and USS Milius provided critical defense for Diego Garcia during their deployments. The Ralph Johnson completed a seven-month deployment and returned to its home port at Yokosuka, Japan on July 31. Meanwhile, USS John Finn made a port visit to Diego Garcia before arriving at Sembawang naval base in Singapore.
The U.S. Seventh Fleet operates daily to protect the security, freedom, and prosperity of the U.S., its allies, and partners by ensuring maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region. Whether the Pentagon will maintain a strong military presence on Diego Garcia remains uncertain as tensions between the U.S. and Iran have eased following recent events.
A United States warship based in the Western Pacific recently provided critical defense for America’s strategic military outpost at Diego Garcia, a remote island in the Indian Ocean. The destroyer USS Ralph Johnson is part of the Seventh Fleet’s Destroyer Squadron 15, a U.S. Navy surface force forward deployed in Japan.
The Ralph Johnson and its sister ship, USS Milius, operated in the Indian Ocean and made port calls at Diego Garcia. Both warships are designed for anti-air, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare missions, as well as ballistic missile defense. The Seventh Fleet announced that both Japanese-homeported warships completed a seven-month deployment and returned to Yokosuka naval base near Tokyo on July 31.
During its deployment, the Ralph Johnson conducted patrols in the area of responsibility and provided critical defense for U.S. strategic locations in the Indian Ocean. The Milius was spotted anchoring off Yokosuka but set sail again without entering port, prompting speculation about its next move.
A third warship from Destroyer Squadron 15, USS John Finn, also made a port visit to Diego Garcia on July 16 and arrived at Sembawang naval base in Singapore. It commenced patrols as of July 31.
The U.S. Seventh Fleet operates daily to protect security, freedom, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. A spokesperson stated, “As forward deployed naval forces, the U.S. [Seventh] Fleet operates forward to strengthen peace, stability, and deterrence across the Indo-Pacific.”
Diego Garcia is a strategic U.S. military base located on a remote island in the Indian Ocean. The USS Ralph Johnson provided critical defense for this outpost during its seven-month deployment.
The Pentagon’s decision to maintain a strong military presence on Diego Garcia remains uncertain, as tensions between the U.S. and Iran have eased following American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran’s missile strikes on a U.S. base in Qatar.
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What was the primary reason USS Ralph Johnson returned to its home port at Yokosuka naval base near Tokyo on July 31?
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