Posted on 12/18/2009 11:53:25 PM PST by GATOR NAVY
SASEBO NAVAL BASE, Japan — Two minesweepers that arrived here on temporary rotation last summer will make a permanent home in Sasebo, the U.S. Navy announced Wednesday.
The USS Avenger and USS Defender, both from San Diego, will remain here after a review found it would be better to keep the two minesweepers in Sasebo rather than regularly rotate ships in from the United States, the Navy said.
Both ships had been in Sasebo for about six months and will join the base’s two other forward-deployed mine ships, the USS Patriot and the USS Guardian.
The change was not due to recent tensions in the region, including missile launches by North Korea, according to Navy spokesman Charles Howard.
“Their transition increases the availability of mine countermeasure capability in the Western Pacific region, eliminating transit and logistic constraints associated with periodic deployment to the Western Pacific from San Diego,” a Navy news release said.
More than 160 sailors and four civilians crew the two ships. They will be joined by family members, but the Navy said it is still uncertain how many will transfer from San Diego.
Howard said the new residents can be accommodated and will not strain services on the Navy base.
The change was not due to recent tensions in the region, including missile launches by North Korea, according to Navy spokesman Charles Howard.
They used these awesome warship names for minesweepers?
What else is based at Sasebo? Surely not just these 4 ships?
Did they also name a minesweeper USS Protector?
lol.
The change has nothing to do with anything I am sure. right.
These men will enjoy their stay there.
“...not due to recent tensions in the region...”
hehehe, bullbutter!
You know, I wish I could get a job as a bullsh!tter specialist...They have got to be making good money...;-)
They are pretty cool names, aren't they?
What else is based at Sasebo? Surely not just these 4 ships?
USS Essex (LHD-2), USS Denver (LPD-9), USS Tortuga (LSD-46) and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49) plus various support commands.
I sometimes write (okay, try to) science fiction and I often use those names for ships.
I spent eleven years there. Three sea tours on four ships, and one shore duty tour. Met my wife there, both my kids were born there. Went back last summer to visit the father-in-law. I loved it.
They’re interesting to me in that they sound more like Royal Navy names than US Navy names-except Patriot. That’s a USN name.
I guess they would replace PATRIOT with LOYALIST
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