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Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Vice Adm. Bill Merz, left, and 7th Fleet deputy commander Rear Adm. Robert Clark participate in the Fleet Commander’s Roundtable with Commander, Australian Fleet Rear Adm. Mark Hammond, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Commander in Chief Vice Adm. Hideki Yuasa, and Republic of Korea Fleet Vice Adm. Jongho Lee aboard the 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19). As the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed fleet, with its approximate 50-70 ships and submarines, 140 aircraft, and 20,000 Sailors in the area of operations at any given time, 7th Fleet conducts forward-deployed naval operations in support of U.S. national interests throughout a free and open Indo-Pacific area of operations to foster maritime security, promote stability, and prevent conflict alongside 35 other maritime nations and partners.