Exercise Keen Sword 2011 Under Way in Pacific

Department of Defense Photo Essay

  • The USS John McCain, a U.S. Navy destroyer class cruiser, pulls alongside the USS George Washington to refuel in the East China Sea, Dec. 5, 2010, as part of Keen Sword 2011. Keen Sword is a bilateral exercise between the U.S. Navy and Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Juan Pinalez
  • The amphibious assault ship USS Essex, the amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga and ships from Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force prepare for exercise Keen Sword 2011 at White Beach Naval Installation, Japan, Dec. 4, 2010. Keen Sword is a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Japanese navies. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Colby Drake
  • USNS Tippecanoe, center, refuels two Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Escort Flotilla ships in the East China Sea, Dec. 5, 2010. The ships are participating in Keen Sword 2011, a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Japanese navies. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Charles Oki
  • An SH-60S Seahawk helicopter carrying U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Scott Van Buskirk, the U.S. 7th Fleet commander, and Kenichi Kuramoto, vice admiral of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, approaches the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is under way in the East China Sea, Dec. 6, 2010. The U.S. and Japanese navies are participating in Keen Sword 2011, a bilateral exercise to strengthen the two nations’ military partnership. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Casey H. Kyhl
  • Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Vice Adm. Kenichi Kuramoto, center, walks through two rows of U.S. Sailors from aircraft carrier USS George Washington as they salute him on the ship’s flight deck Dec. 6, 2010, in the East China Sea. The ship was participating in Keen Sword 2011, a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Japanese navies. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Casey H. Kyhl
  • U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, center right, commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet’s Amphibious Force, is greeted by U.S. sailors on the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is under way in the East China Sea, Dec. 6, 2010. The ship was participating in Keen Sword 2011, a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Japanese navies. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Casey H. Kyhl
  • U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, right, commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet’s Amphibious Force, greets Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force Vice Adm. Kenichi Kuramoto aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is under way in the East China Sea, Dec. 6, 2010. The ship was participating in Keen Sword 2011, a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Japanese navies. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Casey H. Kyhl
  • U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Dan Cloyd, center, commander of Task Force 70, talks with admirals from Japan’s Maritime Self Defense Force aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in the Pacific Ocean, Dec. 5, 2010. The talks were part of Keen Sword 2011, a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Japanese navies. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Cheng S. Yang
  • U.S. Navy Capt. William Wagner, second from left, commander of Destroyer Squadron 15, briefs Japan Maritime Self Defense Force admirals aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is under way in the East China Sea, Dec. 4, 2010, The briefing was part of Keen Sword 2011, a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Japanese navies. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Cheng S. Yang
  • Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Rear Adm. Umio Ohtsuka, center, listens to a brief in the war room of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is under way in East China Sea, Dec. 4, 2010. The ship was participating in Keen Sword 2011, a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Japanese navies. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class David A. Cox
  • U.S. Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Richard Kirchheiner, right, discusses navigation capabilities with two members of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is under way in the East China Sea, Dec. 6, 2010. The ship was participating in Keen Sword 2011, a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Japanese navies. U.S. Navy photo by U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Casey H. Kyhl
  • A U.S. sailor, right, briefs Japan Maritime Self Defense Force officers on the capabilities and mission of an unmanned undersea vehicle aboard the the amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver, which is under way in the East China Sea, Dec. 6, 2010. The ship was participating in Keen Sword 2011, a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Japanese navies. U.S. Navy photo by U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Bryan Blair
  • Aviation mechanics assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 14 perform maintenance on an SH-60S Sea Hawk aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is under way in the East China Sea, Dec. 5, 2010. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Juan Pinalez
  • U.S. sailors ready F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets for launch aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is under way in the East China Sea, Dec. 4, 2010. The ship was participating in Keen Sword 2011, a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Japanese navies. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class David A. Cox
  • Airman Dequesne Noel, directs a helicopter aboard the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is under way in the East China Sea, Dec. 5, 2010. The ship was participating in Keen Sword 2011, a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Japanese navies. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Juan Pinalez
  • A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force MH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter touches down on the flight deck of the amphibious transport dock USS Denver, which is under way in the Pacific Ocean, Dec. 5, 2010. The ship was participating in Keen Sword 2011, a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Japanese navies. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Bryan Blair
  • Senior Airman Issac Meese, center, a pararescueman with the 31st Rescue Squadron, performs a simulated rescue from a helicopter during Keen Sword 2011 at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 6, 2010. The squadron was participating in Keen Sword 2011, a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Japanese navies. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lakisha A. Croley
  • U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jeremy Garett lowers a stokes into the waiting hands of pararescuemen on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 6, 2010. The airmen were participating in Keen Sword 2011, a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Japanese navies. Garett is a flight engineer with the 33rd Rescue Squadron. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lakisha A. Croley
  • Japanese landing craft air cushions approach the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Essex, which is under way in the East China Sea, Dec. 6, 2010. The ships were participating in Keen Sword 2011, a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Japanese navies. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Adam M. Bennett
  • A Japanese landing craft air cushion debarks from the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Essex, which is under way in the East China Sea, Dec. 6, 2010. The ships were participating in Keen Sword 2011, a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Japanese navies. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Adam M. Bennett
  • USS George Washington Command Master Chief Marty King, left, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Master Chief Koji Himori, center, and Japan’s Escort Flotilla Command Master Chief Tanaka Naosuke observe operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is underway in the East China Sea, Dec. 5, 2010. The ships were participating in Keen Sword 2011, a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Japanese navies. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Adam K. Thomas