Antietam arrived on station at Yokosuka Naval Base in February 2013 to assist operations inside the U.S. seventh Fleet space of operations.
Earlier than the cruiser departed for the ultimate time, officers from its sister ship, the Japan Maritime Self-Protection Power guided-missile destroyer JS Kirishima (DDG 174), supplied the crew of USS Antietam a plaque commemorating its time in Japan.
Antietam Sailors ceremonially manned the rails in service gown blue uniforms because the ship left Japanese waters.
“For greater than a decade, USS Antietam loved being a part of the Yokosuka neighborhood,” stated Capt. Victor Garza, commanding officer of USS Antietam. “Antietam was on the forefront of our nation’s efforts to guard peace and stability throughout the Indo-Pacific. On behalf of the crew, I wish to categorical my appreciation for our Japanese hosts, who’ve turn out to be our colleagues, family and friends. We’re happy with the relationships we constructed with the Japan Maritime Self-Protection Power and with like-minded nations and navies all through the area.”
Throughout its time serving as a part of U.S. seventh Fleet, Antietam accomplished quite a few missions and patrols, together with a 260-day deployment in 2020.
In 2023, the cruiser’s final full 12 months as a part of America’s Ahead Deployed Naval Forces-Japan (FDNF-J), Antietam sailed practically 34,000 miles, participated within the largest-ever Train Talisman Sabre alongside the Royal Australian Navy, and visited ports in Vietnam, South Korea, the Philippines and Palau.
Antietam is assigned to Commander, Job Power (CTF) 70, the theater strike warfare commander and theater air and missile protection commander. CTF 70 is forward-deployed to the U.S. seventh Fleet space of operations in assist of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
