Japan self-defense ships to have joint training with Vietnam side
Thursday, April 16, 2015, 19:16 GMT+7
Two ships of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force that arrived in central Vietnam on Thursday morning will have a co-training session at sea with the Vietnamese navy.
>> Vietnam, US start naval engagement activities, unplanned maritime encounters included
These ships, JS Kirisame (DD104) and JS Asayuki (DD132), with more than 500 officers and sailors onboard, are docking at the Tien Sa Port in Da Nang City and will leave Vietnam on April 19.
The Japanese guests are led by Commander, Escort Division 12 Jepang Captain Masaharu Sugimoto.
A welcoming ceremony for the visitors was held at the port in the presence of representatives from the Vietnam People’s Navy, the Da Nang Department of Foreign Affairs, and some local military units.
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Japanese naval officers (R) are welcomed by their Vietnamese counterparts at the Tien Sa Port in Da Nang City on April 16, 2015. Photo: Tuoi Tre
The ships are classified as destroyers, each of which is equipped with a vertical missile launching system, a close combat weapon system, an artillery gun, and a patrol helicopter (SH-60K).
The Japanese force aboard the ships will engage in a co-training session at sea with the Vietnam People’s Navy in Da Nang waters.
The guests will also pay a visit to local authorities and play an indoor football friendly with the staff of the High Command of Naval Zone 3.
A volleyball match will also be organized for the visiting naval officers and the staff of the Da Nang People’s Committee, among other joint activities.
Last week, two warships of the U.S. Seventh Fleet docked at the same port for annual naval exchange activities with the local naval force, including the practice of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea.
USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) and littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) arrived in Da Nang on April 6 for the sixth annual Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) with the Vietnam People’s Navy.
The NEA lasted for five days.
The officer in charge of these ships is Captain Le Ba Hung, deputy commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7.
Hung, a Vietnamese-American, commanded guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) when it visited Da Nang in November 2009.
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