John Currin
15 years in Royal New Zealand Navy
USS McCampbell slated to return to Japan
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The destroyer McCampbell is slated to return back to Yokosuka, Japan, and replace the cruiser Antietam as part of a “scheduled rotation of forces” in the region, according to the Navy.
The warship is set to join Destroyer Squadron 15, the Navy’s largest destroyer squadron, upon arrival to Yokosuka. There, the ship will work alongside the Japan Self-Defense Forces and other U.S. forces in the country to support peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Arleigh-Burke class destroyers are designed to accompany aircraft carriers as part of a strike group, and are outfitted with the Aegis Combat System, which includes anti-submarine warfare systems and long-range Tomahawk missiles.
“The forward presence of McCampbell enhances the national security of the United States and improves its ability to protect strategic interests,” the Navy said in a news release Wednesday. “It will directly support the Defense Strategic Guidance to posture the most capable units forward in the Indo-Pacific Region.”
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The George Washington returns to Japan in 2024, Reagan heads home
Yokosuka Naval Base previously hosted the George Washington from 2008 to 2015.
The McCampbell, previously based in Japan for 13 years, returned to Portland, Oregon, in 2020 for intensive maintenance and has been based in Everett, Washington, since 2022.
The Antietam, based in Yokosuka since 2013, will move its home portto Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The shift comes as the Navy is expected to move the aircraft carrier George Washington to Yokosuka as the Navy’s only forward-deployed carrier this year — replacing fellow carrier Ronald Reagan.
Yokosuka previously hosted the George Washington from 2008 to 2015, before the carrier headed into its midlife refueling and complex overhaul maintenance in 2017 in Virginia.
The Reagan, which joined U.S. 7th Fleet in 2015, will head to Bremerton, Washington, for maintenance work, according to U.S. Pacific Fleet.
USS Makin Island (LHD-8), a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, is the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Makin Island, target of the Marine Raiders’ Makin Island raid early on in the United States’ involvement in World War II.
Makin Island’s task is to embark, deploy, and land elements of a Marine Corps landing force in an amphibious assault by helicopters, landing craft, and amphibious vehicles. The secondary or convertible mission for Makin Island is sea control and power projection.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Makin_Island_(LHD-8)
USS Makin Island (LHD-8), a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, is the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Makin Island, target of the Marine Raiders’ Makin Island raid early on in the United States’ involvement in World War II.
The current HMS Montrose is the eighth of the sixteen-ship Type 23 or Duke class of frigates, of the Royal Navy, named after the Duke of Montrose. She was laid down in November 1989 by Yarrow Shipbuilders on the Clyde, and was launched on 31 July 1992 by Edith Rifkind (later Lady Rifkind), wife of (later Sir) Malcolm Rifkind, Secretary of State for Defence. She was commissioned into service in June 1994.
The current HMS Montrose is the eighth of the sixteen-ship Type 23 or Duke class of frigates, of the Royal Navy, named after the Duke of Montrose. She was laid down in November 1989 by Yarrow Shipbuilders on the Clyde, and was launched on 31 July 1992 by Edith Rifkind (later Lady Rifkind), wife of (later Sir) Malcolm Rifkind, Secretary of State for Defence. She was commissioned into service in June 1994.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Montrose_(F236)
She was laid down in November 1989 by Yarrow Shipbuilders on the Clyde, and was launched on 31 July 1992 by Edith Rifkind (later Lady Rifkind), wife of (later Sir) Malcolm Rifkind, Secretary of State for Defence. She was commissioned into service in June 1994.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Montrose_(F236)
Destroyer USS John Finn Performs First Taiwan Strait Transit of 2024
JANUARY 24, 2024 11:25 AM
USS John Finn (DDG-113) performed the first Taiwan Strait transit of the 2024 calendar year on Wednesday.
“The ship transited through a corridor in the Strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal State,” U.S. 7th Fleet said in a statement. “John Finn‘s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to upholding freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle. No member of the international community should be intimidated or coerced into giving up their rights and freedoms.”
The destroyer sailed from the north of the strait to the south, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense.
The transit comes two and a half weeks after Taiwan’s presidential election, in which the island elected Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party, which has ruled Taiwan since 2016. Lai has been the vice president under President Tsai Ing-wen since 2020.
John Finn, a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, is part of the forward-deployed naval forces in Yokosuka, Japan, having moved to its new homeport in March 2023. The destroyer is part of Commander, Task Force 71 (CTF-71) and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15.
The U.S. periodically conducts Taiwan Strait transits, which China’s military frequently protests. In November, U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG-115) and Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341) moved through the strait while monitored by Chinese ships and aircraft. The People’s Liberation Army at the time said the U.S. “hyped up” the transit.
The U.S. also conducts P-8A reconnaissance flights through the strait, which receive protests from China. In July, China’s Ministry of National Defense said the U.S. “hyped publicly” a P-8A transit through the strait, USNI News reported at the time. The U.S. Navy last publicly disclosed a P-8A flight through the Taiwan Strait in early December.
Chinese ships and aircraft consistently operate around Taiwan. As of 6 a.m. local time on Wednesday, five People’s Liberation Army Navy ships and seven PLA aircraft were operating around the island, according Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense.
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The Des Moines Class Cruiser – The Greatest Heavy Cruiser
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War History online proudly presents this Guest Piece from Chris Knupp
Determining what would have been the greatest heavy cruiser would be a challenging task. Very successful designs were put to sea by a variety of nations. However, there was one cruiser that was born from all cruisers before it. This class of warship took the lessons from World War 2 and was designed around them. The vessel I speak of is the Des Moines class cruiser. A little-known cruiser due to its late introduction, the Des Moines found itself overshadowed by the emergence of ship-launched missiles. Despite serving for almost 25 years, their capabilities are largely unknown. What makes these ships the greatest heavy cruiser designs and how were they developed as such?
The Design
USS Newport News (Des Moines class) alongside USS Boston (Baltimore class). The Larger size of the Des Moines class is evident, especially her larger turrets.
