7th Fleet Celebrates milestone 2018 of Partnerships and Security

In 2018, U.S. 7th Fleet celebrated many accomplishments, marking 75 years of providing security alongside allies and partners, operating USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), USS Essex (LHD 2), and USS Wasp (LHD 1) strike groups wherever international law allowed, and leaving no doubt 7th Fleet remained ready to respond to any crisis or contingency.

Some key events in 2018:

• The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), upgraded operate U.S. Marine Corp’s F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, replaced USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1415492/uss-wasp-arrives-in-japan-to-join-forward-deployed-naval-forces/

• 7th Fleet’s flagship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), left dry-dock after a two-year overhaul in January. http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1420345/us-navys-oldest-operational-ship-completes-dry-dock-maintenance/

• Exercises like the 37th Cobra Gold, which took place in February, helped prepare Sailors and Marines to assist those affected by natural disasters later in the year. http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1449825/cobra-gold-18-humanitarian-assistance-and-disaster-relief-exercise/

• The first F-35B from Marine Corps’ Fighter Attack Squadron 121 deployed aboard USS Wasp. http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1457447/historic-first-f35b-lands-on-wasp-launching-era-of-increased-navy-marine-corps/

• USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) sailed into Danang Bay on March 5, 2018 for a four-day historic port call in Vietnam, the first aircraft carrier visit since the Vietnam War. http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1462963/carl-vinson-strike-group-departs-vietnam/

• The biennial U.S. Navy and JMSDF exercise Multi-Sail 2018 took place March 8-14. http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1458554/us-navy-jmsdf-participate-in-multisail-2018/

• 7th Fleet celebrated its 75th Anniversary in March with a commemoration ceremony in its birthplace in Brisbane Australia.  Vice Adm. Sawyer placed wreaths at the Submariners Walk Heritage Trail, where the U.S. Navy's Task Force 42/72 was located during World War II. http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1466772/75-anniversary-of-us-seventh-fleet/
  http://www.c7f.navy.mil/media/scheeches/Article/1465608/vice-adm-sawyers-remarks-during-the-75th-anniversary-commemoration-of-the-us-se/
  

• USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group returned to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations (AOO) in March as part of its regularly scheduled deployment. https://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/ccsg9/Pages/Theodore-Roosevelt-Carrier-Strike-Group-Returns-to-7th-Fleet.aspx

• The guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) arrived at U.S. Fleet Activities (FLEACT) Yokosuka to join the Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) Japan in May. http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1527978/uss-milius-joins-forward-deployed-naval-forces-in-yokosuka-japan/

• 7th Fleet personnel completed a theater security cooperation (TSC) patrol June 15 embarked on USNS Millinocket (T-EPF 3). http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1552481/us-7th-fleet-completes-theater-security-cooperation-patrol/

• The 13th Annual Pacific Partnership concluded in June after completing mission stops in Japan and throughout South and Southeast Asia. http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1556075/pacific-partnership-2018-concludes/

• U.S., Indian and Japanese maritime forces commenced Exercises Malabar off Guam in June.
  http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1544524/us-indian-and-japanese-maritime-forces-to-participate-in-exercise-malabar-2018/
  
  

• U.S. Navy and Royal Thai Navy kick off CARAT exercise series in Sattahip, Thailand.  http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1550058/us-thailand-continues-to-expand-partnership-with-24th-carat-exercise/

• The Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) supported disaster relief efforts in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) following Typhoon Mangkhut in September. http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1632537/wasp-esg-concludes-dsca-support-following-mangkhut/

• USS Ronald Reagan Sailors joined more than15,000 U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps personnel for exercise Valiant Shield. http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1642689/ronald-reagan-strike-group-arrives-in-guam-following-valiant-shield-2018

• USS Ronald Reagan joined the International Fleet Review on Jeju Island in the Republic of Korea in October. http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1660079/ronald-reagan-strike-group-participates-in-international-fleet-review/

• The largest most complex iteration of exercise Keen Sword with the Japan Self Defense Force kicked off in November.  Two Royal Canadian Navy ships participated in the maritime portion of the exercise for the first time. http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1678531/reagan-strike-group-jmsdf-conduct-adex-during-keen-sword-2019/

• Whidbey Island-Class Dock Landing Ship USS Ashland (LSD-48) in November and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit provided aid to Tinian in response to Super Typhoon Yutu. http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1694647/ashland-works-with-army-af-usmc-to-support-cnmi/

• USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) conducted dual carrier operations in November.  After the operations, Ronald Reagan visited Hong Kong and John C Stennis visited Singapore
  http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1690818/ronald-reagan-john-c-stennis-carrier-strike-groups-operate-in-philippine-sea/

• The guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) completed a year-long dry dock period. http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1703229/uss-barry-leaves-dry-dock-period/

• The guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) returned to the 7th Fleet waterfront November 27th. http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1699402/jsm-leaves-dry-dock-continues-repairs-in-yokosuka/

• Dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47) visited Sri Lanka Dec. 21 and amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD 23) visited Visakhapatnam, India Dec. 22.
  http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1720725/uss-anchorage-strengthens-partnerships-in-visakhapatnam-india/
  
  http://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/1719600/uss-rushmore-13th-meu-strengthen-partnerships-in-sri-lanka/
  
  

• USS McCampbell (DDG 85) ushered in the New Year at sea. http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2018/12/31/uss-mccampbell-welcomes-2019/
  

After a busy 2018, 7th Fleet will continue to provide security alongside allies and partners in 2019.