The forward deployed amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) returned to Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo (CFAS), Nov. 14, following a scheduled three-month patrol.
While on patrol, the ship operated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Japanese Self Defense Force (JSDF), Naval Beach Unit 7, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), 4th Marine Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.
Germantown participated in several exercises during the patrol. This included the Amphibious Integration Training, Certification Exercise for the 31st MEU, Amphibious Landing Exercise 2015, Blue Chromite and Keen Sword.
In addition to passing INSURV, Germantown and crew achieved many significant qualifications throughout the patrol, including certifications in engineering, combat systems, operations, search and rescue and visit, board, search and seizure.
Over the course of three months, 71 Sailors earned their ESWS qualification, three officers earned their Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) qualification and six officers earned their Officer of the Deck (OOD) qualification.
The ship moored at CFAS and will make preparations for its upcoming ship’s restricted availability (SRA) period. The SRA will take approximately three months and allows the ships crew, contractors and Intermediate Maintenance Facility to work on maintaining, updating and replacing many of the ship’s systems.
These modernizations will prepare the ship for continued successful patrols, supporting security and stability operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.
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Press release, Image: US Navy