7th Fleet Postures Forces following Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

By U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs
Posted: March 11, 2011

SINGAPORE - There have been no injuries of any U.S. 7th Fleet personnel, and no serious damage to 7th Fleet assets reported following the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11.
 

SINGAPORE (March 11, 2011) - The Papa flag is flown above U.S. 7th Fleet command flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) to recall all personnel to the ship, as the embarked staff assesses the aftermath of the 8.9 earthquake that struck Japan. Blue Ridge is loading a Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief kit in preparation to conduct a disaster response, if such a direction would come only following a request from the Japanese government. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt Anthony J. Falvo) | Download

Ships in port at Command Fleet Activities Yokosuka stationed line handlers to make adjustments as the water level changed in Yokosuka harbor. No damage has been reported to any of the ships.

Ships at Naval Base Guam initiated personnel recalls, and are standing by to adjust lines, during changes in sea level in anticipation of the forecasted tsunami.

Commander Task Force (CTF) 72, the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force headquarters in Misawa was briefly evacuated and is without power.

CTF-76, Amphibious Force headquarters in White Beach, Okinawa, has moved its watch to higher ground at Kadena AFB, Okinawa, in anticipation of the forecasted tsunami.

7th Fleet is assessing the situation and positioning forces so that they are ready to respond and provide disaster relief if directed.

The amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, arrived in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Friday morning. The ship is now making preparations to depart as early as Friday evening.

U.S 7th Fleet command flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), which arrived in Singapore Friday morning, is on loading a Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HADR) kit and making preparations to depart Saturday morning on March 12.

The amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) is currently in Sasebo, Japan, and preparing to embark land craft units and will get underway as early as Friday evening.

7th Fleet is initiating a full muster of all personnel in Japan, and accounting for the condition of their family members.

To reiterate, this is simply a posturing of forces. 7th Fleet currently has no direction to conduct disaster response operations. Such a direction would come only following a request from the Government of Japan.