US Navy to form new strike group in southwestern Japan

February 8, 2018

Washington- The US Navy plans to form this month a new strike group led by the USS Wasp amphibious assault ship deployed at its Sasebo base in Nagasaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, Jiji Press has learned.

Specifically, multiple Aegis destroyers will join an amphibious assault ship group operating F-35 cutting-edge stealth fighter jets, US military sources said. It will be the first time for the US military to form an enhanced expeditionary strike group with a capability close to that of a carrier strike group.

By boosting its naval presence in East Asia, the United States is apparently aiming to increase pressure on North Korea, which continues nuclear and missile development, and keep a check on China, which is accelerating maritime expansion.

According to the sources, two Aegis destroyers of the Navy's 3rd Fleet left their home port in San Diego on Tuesday. They are expected to arrive in Japan by the end of this month to form the new strike group, which will comprise five ships including the USS Wasp.

They are expected to take part in the Foal Eagle joint field training exercise by the US and South Korean militaries, to be held in April, after the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and Paralympics in South Korea, the sources said.

The USS Wasp, which can carry F-35s, not only assists landing operations but also works as a light aircraft carrier.

The strengthened expeditionary strike group will be formed by adding Aegis destroyers to the existing amphibious ready group, composed of three ships including the USS Wasp.

A US military official said that the formation of the strengthened expeditionary strike group this time is still at the trial stage, while noting that the burdens of US carrier strike groups deployed worldwide may be reduced if such new strike groups become operational.

The official said that amphibious assault ships can also play an excellent role in disaster response operations, indicating hopes to promote strengthened expeditionary strike groups.

The Navy and the Marine Corps aimed to form such a strike group in the 1990s, but they gave up the ambition due to a problem in the command system.

After this problem was resolved with newly built warships and new warplanes, such as the Osprey tilt-rotor transport aircraft and the F-35, Adm. Scott Swift, commander of the US Pacific Fleet, has indicated his intention to try again to form a strengthened expeditionary strike group.

The USS Wasp was deployed at the Sasebo base last month to replace the USS Bonhomme Richard amphibious assault ship. The USS Wasp, which can carry some 1,600 Marine Corps members, will be operated in collaboration with the Marines in the southernmost Japan prefecture of Okinawa. Jiji Press