US Navy Conducts Simultaneous Bilateral Exercises with JMSDF and ROK

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 30, 2009) The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JDS Kurama (DDH 144), left, and the guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) take part in Exercise Malabar 2009. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Navy are participating in Exercise Malabar 2009, an annual exercise led by the Indian Navy. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel Viramontes/Released)

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- U.S. Navy ships are conducting simultaneous bilateral maritime exercises with the Republic of Korea Navy and with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force today and tomorrow (April 25-26, local time).

The destroyers USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) and ROKN Wang Geon (DDH 978) are conducting combined maritime exercises in waters west of the Korean Peninsula while the destroyers USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) and JMSDF JS Chokai (DDG 176) execute combined maritime exercises in waters west of Japan.

Both exercises demonstrate a shared commitment to security and stability in Northeast Asia as well as the U.S. Navy's inherent flexibility to combine with allied naval forces in response to a broad range of situations.

VP-8 'Fighting Tigers' and Japanese Force Conduct MINEX

At Sea (NNS) -- The "Fighting Tigers" of Patrol Squadron (VP)8 took part in a coordinated operations mining exercise (MINEX) with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF), July 19.

The exercise took place in northern Japan's Mutsu Bay and consisted of VP-8 and JMDSF P-3C Orion aircraft operating with the Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship USS Guardian (MCM 5), as well as 23 Japanese small mine countermeasures ships (SMCMS) and aircraft from the 111th Helicopter Flight Squadron.

The focus of the exercise was on maintaining clear and precise communication and coordination with the bilateral partners, while also concentrating on tactical mine employment, hunting, and recovery.

During the exercise, The "Fighting Tigers" successfully coordinated and executed the employment of two MK-65 Quick Strike Mines between two rows of Japanese ships. The MK-65 is a recoverable inert-loaded mine, identical in size and weight to its explosive-loaded service mine counterpart, which is employed by the P-3C Orion, B-52H Stratofortress aircraft, F/A-18A-D Hornet, and B-1B Lancer.

The mines were hunted using SONAR and later recovered by a team of highly trained deep sea divers.

"Working with the Japanese forces is always a rewarding experience," said Lt. Dan Kuriluk, aircraft commander for the mission. "The mission was challenging. Overcoming the initial language barrier, as well as flying between mountains, while in the vicinity of so many ships made it tough, but I'm extremely proud of the way our entire crew prepared and performed today."

According to Lt. Jack Vine, a VP-8 patrol plane pilot, preparation and training were the keys to success for the Tigers.

"It was such a valuable training experience," he said. "Scenery was breath taking, the flying was challenging; it was the experience of a lifetime," Vine said.

"The crew performed flawlessly today," said Lt. Stephanie Sandifer, VP-8's tactical coordinator. "They are always consummate professionals, but today I'm especially proud of them."

Based in Jacksonville, Fla., the "Fighting Tigers" are currently on a six-month deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

U.S. 7th Fleet Completes Bi-lateral and Joint Ballistic Missile Defense Training Exercise

SOUTH CHINA SEA (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet (C7F), Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) and various other commands throughout Japan, the Pacific and continental United States completed Fleet Synthetic Training (FST) joint exercise 11-71, March 3.

The ballistic missile defense (BMD) exercise, held annually by U.S. Pacific Fleet, is a four-day event designed to enhance the joint, bilateral and interagency training in BMD against threats to regional and homeland installations and units.

"This fleet synthetic training event provides a great opportunity to exercise with our JMSDF allies and U.S. joint forces in Hawaii and Japan in a fast-paced, realistic environment," said Capt. Matthew E. Loughlin, commanding officer, USS Shiloh (CG 67), and commander, Ballistic Missile Defense Warfare for 7th Fleet.

"To watch standers on the ship, it seems as realistic as any at-sea exercise, but with the added benefit of a very robust threat sustained for an entire week," Loughlin added.

C7F command flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) served as the central hub for the computer-based simulated training, networking with ships at sea and pier side.

Loughlin also noted the important role Japanese partners in the training exercise played, particularly the integration of Japanese destroyer JS Chokai (DDG 176) to the Fleet Synthetic Training scenario network.

"The JMSDF's ability to integrate fully into the architecture this year makes for an even better training event and is a tribute to our enduring friendship, cooperation and willingness to improve interoperability," Loughlin said.

Lt. Cmdr. Michael Weber, a mentor supporting Tactical Training Group Pacific (TTGP), headquartered in San Diego, said the engineering and training communities were grateful to have the opportunity to train with the crew from Chokai.

"It was evident early on that the integration of JS Chokai into the FST was going to be a huge success," Weber said. "The crew is highly capable and extremely well trained. At every opportunity, the crew met challenges head on, completed their tasking in an outstanding fashion, and demonstrated themselves as a highly professional and capable team."

Chokai Commanding Officer, Capt. Tsutomu Okawa, commented on the exercise as being beneficial in strengthening Japan-U.S. alliance's ability to maintain combat readiness.

"JMSDF, through this Japan-U.S. Joint BMD simulation exercise, improved tactical skills and procedures of bi-lateral BMD mission, and acquired significant lessons," said Okawa. "On behalf of JMSDF, we sincerely appreciate all the kind support and cooperation of 7th Fleet, USS Shiloh, TTGP and staffs of the U.S. Navy."

JS Uzushio Begins Training with U.S. Navy

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW/SCW) Ronald Gutridge, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) submarine, JS Uzushio (SS 592) arrived at Naval Station Pearl Harbor to begin annual training exercises with U.S. Navy submarine forces, Feb.7.

"It is a pleasure to extend a heartfelt submarine force 'Aloha' to our friends from Japan on their arrival," said Rear Adm. Frank Caldwell, commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. "I'm honored to reciprocate the warm hospitality that Japan shows our U.S. submarines when they deploy to the Western Pacific. While the Pacific Ocean spans many miles, any submariner here in Hawaii will tell you the U.S. and Japan are neighbors."

Commissioned March 9, 2000, and based out of Yokosuka, Japan, the Oyashio-class submarine will be conducting both in-port and at-sea training on undersea tactics, anti-submarine warfare and war time strategies.

Uzushio is scheduled to attend training at the Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific (NSTCP) and the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) to conduct advanced sonar training and submarine damage control, as well as a series of Harpoon missile and torpedo operations during the visit.

"Your Sailors have a lot of experiences and deep knowledge. We want to learn a lot from them, "said Cmdr. Mitsutake Chihara, Uzushio commanding officer. "It's not only training but also our friendship. I think the friendship between submariners is the strongest in the navies, and I hope this visit will make the Japan-U.S. relationship stronger."

Continued joint training operations are essential aspects of maintaining strong relationships and enhancing interoperability with allies in the Pacific. Chihara emphasized the benefits of working and training together.

"This training gives a lot of merit for both submarine forces," said Chihara. "It is an honor for Uzushio to be invited to the best submarine sanctuary in the Pacific, and we are looking forward to improving our skills through the training at good facilities with good instructors."

The exercises are designed to enhance the tactical proficiency of warfare capabilities in a variety of sea operations and strengthen their knowledge in joint training operations.

Essex ESG Begins Bilateral Exercise with JMSDF

U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships separate from after completing a 20-ship formation surrounding the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73).

By Lt. Cmdr. Denver Applehans, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet Public Affairs

PHILIPPINE SEA (NNS) -- Amphibious Squadron 11, USS Essex (LHD 2) and USS Tortuga (LSD 46) with embarked Marines got underway from White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 12 for an exercise with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force.

Annual Exercise 21G (ANNUALEX) is a yearly bilateral training exercise for U.S. and Japanese maritime forces that enhances the ability of the two forces to work together increasing interoperability and communication.

Essex ARG will join with the USS George Washington carrier strike group, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force ships and numerous other US ships in conducting one of the most robust naval exercises in the Western Pacific.

Warfare areas practiced will include anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, ballistic missile defense and anti-air warfare.

Sailors from various ships exchange personnel to aid in communication and understanding of how the other nation's ships operate.

"This is my first time on a U.S. ship," said Ensign Masashi Ikezaki, liaison officer to USS Essex from JS Ashigara, "It's been great to meet U.S. Sailors over meals and train together."

The exercise also provides an opportunity to train and work together to develop professional relationships.

"I enjoy working with the Japanese military, it gives us the opportunity to work together as a team," said Lt.j.g. Terence Taylor, Officer in Charge of the air cushion landing crafts (LCACs). "The cultural integration is something you don't get to experience as much of stateside."

ANNUALEX 21G is one in a continuing series of regular exercises with the JMSDF. It is a routine, bilateral exercise held annually between the U.S. Navy and JMSDF. Approximately 8,500 U.S. naval personnel will participate in the exercise.

Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, Commander, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet is leading the Essex ESG and reports to Rear Adm. Kevin Donegan, Commander, Battle Force 7th Fleet, who is commanding all U.S. naval forces in the exercise.

U.S. 7th Fleet to Participate in ANNUALEX

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Ships, submarines and aircraft from the U.S. 7th Fleet will participate in a bilateral exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Nov. 10-18 in waters and airspace around Japan.

The exercise, called ANNUALEX 21G, is designed to enhance the capabilities of both naval forces, for continued success in coordinated and bilateral operations in the defense of Japan. In particular, ANNUALEX 21G will focus on enhancing military-to-military relationships, improving command and control, air, undersea and surface warfare.

U.S. Navy units taking part in the exercise with Japan Maritime Self Defense Force units include elements operating from Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Fleet Activities Sasebo and Naval Air Facility Atsugi.

The aircraft carrier USS George Washington will participate for the second time since replacing USS Kitty Hawk in the Forward Deployed Naval Force last year. Other units include USS Essex, USS Defender, USS Cowpens, USS Tortuga, USS City of Corpus Christi, USS Key West, USS Crommelin, USS Curtis Wilbur, USS Denver, USNS Alan Shepard, USS Lassen, USS Mustin, USS O Kane, USS Shiloh, USNS Rappahannock and USNS Victorious, as well as CTF-70, Destroyer Squadron 15, Carrier Air Wing 5 and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Rear Adm. Kevin Donegan, commander, Battle Force 7th Fleet, will command U.S. naval forces in the exercise.

ANNUALEX is a routine bilateral exercise held each year between the U.S. Navy and the JMSDF. Approximately 8,500 U.S. naval personnel will participate in the exercise.

The U.S. 7th Fleet is the largest of the forward- deployed U.S. fleets, with approximately 60-70 ships, 200-300 aircraft and 40,000 Sailors and Marines assigned at any given time.

Japanese Self Defense Force (自衛隊) HF Net

I had an email query from a HF Milcom monitor over the weekend asking me about the Japanese language comms on 6727.0 kHz USB. They believed it might be military in nature.

That is a very good catch and it is a Japanese military net. In fact, this net has been around 1973. It is a frequency used by the Japanese Self Defense Force (自衛隊, Jieitai), Air Traffic Control Squadron 1. This unit is located at the Ayase City, Kanagawa Prefecture and controls SDF and MSDF aircraft offshore of the islands to Hawaii and south to the equator. Shore station operators are primary YL (female) ops and use the callsign "Atsugioshanikku." Primary traffic is weather information and position reporting. And now you know the rest of the story.

While I am on the subject of the Japanese Self Defense Forces, I have been doing some extra searching around and here are some JSDF Air Defense group callsigns that I have dug up. I could use so help filling in the holes in the list below and the frequencies used by these units so feel free to contact me at the email address in the masthead.

Northern Air Defense Control Group
HEAD WORK Northern Air Defense Control Group - Misawa, Aomori Prefecture, DC 北部防空管制群 (青森県三沢ＤＣ）
KEY HOLE 18 Warning Group - Wakkanai, Hokkaido SS 第１８警戒群（北海道稚内ＳＳ）
DIVER 26 Warning Group - Nemuro, Hokkaido SS 第２６警戒群（北海道根室ＳＳ）
HARNESS 28 Warning Group - Abashiri, Hokkaido SS 第２８警戒群（北海道網走ＳＳ）
LAMINATE 29 Warning Group - Okushiri Hokkaido SS 第２９警戒群（北海道奥尻ＳＳ）
NAME PLATE 33 Warning Group - Akita Prefectural Kamo SS 第３３警戒群（秋田県加茂ＳＳ）
BACK GROUND 36 Warning Group - Erimo Hokkaido SS 第３６警戒群（北海道えりもＳＳ）
ZIP GUN 37 Warning Group - Yamada, Iwate 第３７警戒群（岩手県山田ＳＳ）
JACK KNIFE 42 Warning Group - Ominato Aomori 第４２警戒群（青森県大湊ＳＳ）
QUICK SAND 45 Warning Group - Toubetsu Hokkaido 第４５警戒群（北海道当別ＳＳ）

Central Air Defense Control Group
OFF SIDE Central Air Defense Control Group - Iruma, Saitama, DC 中部防空管制群（埼玉県入間ＤＣ）
TEA BAG 1 Group (Vigilance) (MIE笠取山SS ) 第１警戒群（三重県笠取山ＳＳ）
GOOD MAN 5 Warning Group - Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture 第５警戒群（和歌山県串本ＳＳ）
YARD ARM 22 Warning - Omaezaki, Shizuoka 第２２警戒群（静岡県御前崎ＳＳ）
MASCOT 23 Warning Group - Wajima, Ishikawa SS 第２３警戒群（石川県輪島ＳＳ）
CATS EYE 27 Warning - 大滝根山Fukushima 第２７警戒群（福島県大滝根山ＳＳ）
EAST WOOD 35 Warning - via Kensington Kyoto Qi SS 第３５警戒群（京都府経ケ崎ＳＳ）
FREE STONE 44 Warning - Okayama Mine棄県1000 SS 第４４警戒群（千棄県峯岡山ＳＳ）
ABLE GATE 46 Warning - Sado new渇県SS 第４６警戒群（新渇県佐渡ＳＳ）

Western Air Defense Control Group
DIALECT Western Air Defense Control Group (Kasuga, Fukuoka Prefecture, DC) 西部防空管制群（福岡県春日ＤＣ）
PIPE ORGAN 7 Group (Caution) - Shimane Prefecture Mt SS 第７警戒群（島根県高尾山ＳＳ）
I-BEAM 9 Group (Guard) - Island, Kagoshima Shimokoshiki SS 第９警戒群（鹿児島下甑島ＳＳ）
SHORT STOP 13 Warning Group - Hatakeyama Takashi Miyazaki 第１３警戒群（宮崎県高畑山ＳＳ)
UNIPED 15 Warning Group - Fukue Island, Nagasaki Prefecture, SS 第１５警戒群（長崎県福江島ＳＳ）
VENTURE 17 Warning Group - Mishima, Yamaguchi Prefecture 第１７警戒群（山口県見島ＳＳ）
RACKET 19 Warning Group - Awashima Sea Nagasaki 第１９警戒群（長崎県海粟島ＳＳ）
WATCH MAN Warning Group - Mountain Sefuri Saga SS 第４３警戒群（佐賀県背振山ＳＳ）

Southwest Air Defense Control Group
ROAD RICK Southwest Air Defense Control Group - Naha, Okinawa DC 南西防空管制群（沖縄県那覇ＤＣ）
PYRAMID FURUSHIMA 53 Warning Group - Okinawa Prefecture Government SS )第５３警戒群（沖縄県官古島ＳＳ
HARRIER 54 Warning Group - Island in Okinawa SS 第５４警戒群（沖縄県久米島ＳＳ）
READ MIT 55 Warning Group - Okinoerabu Island, Okinawa Prefecture, SS 第５５警戒群（沖縄県沖永良部島ＳＳ
ZEPPELIN 56 Warning Group - Mt Yoza Okinawa 第５６警戒群（沖縄県与座岳ＳＳ）

USN-JMSDF Conduct Undersea Exercises

The Seawolf-class submarine USS Seawolf (SSN 21), leads the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JS Oonami (DD 111), left, and the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) after a successful undersea warfare exercise involving the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and other naval vessels operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. John C. Stennis is on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Walter M. Wayman/Released)