Four Nations’ Navies Flex Partnership While Operating in the Western Pacific

Ships from the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG), the Reagan CSG, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and French Navy steam in formation. Ships involved in the event are the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76); the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers USS Robert Smalls (CG 62), USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and USS Antietam (CG 54); the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108), USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) and USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93); JMSDF Izumo-class destroyer JS Izumo (DDH 183) and Murasame-class destroyer JS Samidare (DD 106); and French Navy Aquitaine-class frigate FS Lorraine (D 657). Nimitz is in U.S. 7th Fleet conducting routine operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Carson Croom)