Dzirhan Mahadzir September 30, 2025 2:05 PM
Aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) departed Tuesday from Yokosuka, Japan, to resume its patrol following a break.
The forward-postured carrier was slated to depart Yokosuka at 10 a.m. on Monday but delayed to 4 p.m. being ultimately canceled for the day. The carrier subsequently departed at 10 a.m. Tuesday. George Washington is the only U.S. carrier currently operating in the Indo-Pacific region.
George Washington and its embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 will initially conduct fixed-wing aircraft carrier qualification training off the coast of Japan’s main island of Kyushu before continuing its patrol. The air wing will conduct the training until Oct. 5, according to the Iwakuni City Council. It is unclear if the one-day delay will impact the carrier qualification training timeframe.
Japanese officials have requested the carrier qualification training minimize noise to lessen the impact on nearby residents. The U.S. has been asked to limit final take-offs and landings at Marine Corps Aviation Station Iwakuni at 11 p.m. every day.
The request comes on the heels of noise complaints from Japanese officials after the air wing’s training at the U.S. Marine base overlapped with a holiday, USNI News previously reported. Ultimately, the Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism requested that U.S. forces return to MCAS Iwakuni by 11 p.m., within runway operating hours, whenever possible.
George Washington’s patrol picks up after a previous stint at sea. The carrier previously departed June 10 from Yokosuka before returning to port Aug. 30. During that underway period, it operated with embarked CVW-5, cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG-62) and destroyer USS Shoup (DDG-86) as the George Washington Carrier Strike Group (CSG).
The carrier conducted a port visit to Manila in July and later participated in the U.S.-Australian led multinational exercise Talisman Sabre in Australia where it conducted dual carrier operations with Royal Navy carrier HMS Prince of Wales (R09) in the East Timor Sea. Following Talisman Sabre, George Washington joined Prince of Wales, amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyer carrier JS Kaga (DDH-184) in the Philippine Sea to conduct a multi-large deck event (MLDE).
Also in the Indo-Pacific, and on Tuesday as well, U.S. 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) departed Busan, South Korea, having earlier arrived there the week prior for a port visit.
“During this port visit, leadership from the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship is scheduled to meet with their Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy counterparts and local leaders to discuss ways of improving operational readiness, advancing future military capabilities, and enhancing the U.S.-ROK bilateral relationship overall,” reads a U.S. Navy release on its arrival.
Earlier Blue Ridge visited Pyeongtaek, South Korea, after completing participation in the U.S.-Japan-South Korea exercise Freedom Edge, which marked the first iteration where the exercise was not led by a U.S. aircraft carrier.
On Monday, destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) departed Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) following 10 years of forward-deployed service to U.S. 7th Fleet. The destroyer is relocating to Everett, Wash., to support U.S. 3rd Fleet operations. Benfold will also shift from Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 to DESRON 31 after it crosses the international date line, according to a Navy release.
Benfold arrived in Yokosuka and joined FDNF-J in October 2015. During the ship’s decade-long tenure, it participated in numerous multilateral maritime exercises, such as: Malabar, Maritime Counter Special Operations Forces Exercise, Pacific Griffin, Valiant Shield, Keen Sword, Annual Exercise, and Resolute Dragon, and sailed more than four million miles across the Indo-Pacific.
On Monday as well, fast attack submarine USS Santa Fe (763) returned to its homeport of Naval Base Point Loma following a six-month deployment to the U.S. Indo-Pacific command area of responsibility. A Navy release stated that the submarine participated in multi-national exercises in the Pacific, including Submarine Exercise (SUBEX) 25-1 alongside a JMSDF submarine.
“I am honored Santa Fe was selected to represent the U.S. Submarine Force in multi-national naval exercises in the Pacific,” Cmdr. Eric Knepper, Santa Fe’s commanding officer, said in the release. “These exercises, which included air, surface and subsurface assets from multiple nations, demonstrated our ability to execute complex missions and maintain dominance in support of America’s top priorities and interests.”