An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


USS Tripoli Hosts JSDF Flag/General Officers

06 June 2022

From Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Peter Burghart, USS Tripoli (LHA 7) Public Affairs

Commanders from each branch of the Japan Self-Defense Force visited the amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli for a tour.
Download Icon Download

220603-N-TT639-1073 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 3, 2022) – Vice Adm. Hideki Yuasa, commander in chief, Self-Defense Fleet, center, Vice Adm. Karl Thomas commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, left of center, members of the Japanese Self Defense Force and U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force pose for a photo during a tour aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), June 3, 2022. Tripoli is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christopher Sypert)
220603-N-TT639-1073 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 3, 2022) – Vice Adm. Hideki Yuasa, commander in chief, Self-Defense Fleet, center, Vice Adm. Karl Thomas commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, left of center, members of the Japanese Self Defense Force and U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force pose for a photo during a tour aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), June 3, 2022. Tripoli is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christopher Sypert)
220603-N-TT639-1073 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 3, 2022) – Vice Adm. Hideki Yuasa, commander in chief, Self-Defense Fleet, center, Vice Adm. Karl Thomas commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, left of center, members of the Japanese Self Defense Force and U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force pose for a photo during a tour aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), June 3, 2022. Tripoli is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christopher Sypert)
220603-N-TT639-1073
220603-N-TT639-1073 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 3, 2022) – Vice Adm. Hideki Yuasa, commander in chief, Self-Defense Fleet, center, Vice Adm. Karl Thomas commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, left of center, members of the Japanese Self Defense Force and U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force pose for a photo during a tour aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), June 3, 2022. Tripoli is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christopher Sypert)
Download Image
Image Details
Photo By: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christopher Sypert
VIRIN: 220603-N-TT639-1073

PACIFIC OCEAN -- Commanders from each branch of the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) visited the amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7) for a tour June 3, 2022.

Vice Adm. Hideki Yuasa, commander in chief, Self-Defense Fleet (JMSDF), Lt. Gen. Kizuki Ushijima, chief of staff, Ground Component Command, Japanese Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), and Lt. Gen. Takehiro Morita, vice commander of Air Defense Command, Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) came aboard to discuss the F-35B Lightning II operations.

Capt. Joel Lang, Tripoli’s commanding officer, provided a brief that detailed the capabilities of the ship and the options Tripoli offers to numbered fleet commanders. These include the ability to operate as a lightning carrier, employment of the F-35B, or operating as the flagship of an amphibious ready group with a traditional Marine expeditionary unit embarked.

The guests, who are interested in their own F-35 program, had a lot of questions for Capt. Lang and his team. These focused on ship design features that optimize air operations, Navy/Marine Corps integration, Tripoli’s ability to operate independently, and challenges the crew worked through to operate at such a high level. 

220603-N-XN177-1178 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 3, 2022) – Members of Japan Self-Defense Force disembark an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 on the flight deck aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), June 3, 2022. Tripoli is conducting routine operations in U.S. 7th Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Peter Burghart)
220603-N-XN177-1159 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 3, 2022) – Members of Japan Self-Defense Force walk across the flight deck aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), June 3, 2022. Tripoli is conducting routine operations in U.S. 7th Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Peter Burghart)
220603-N-TT639-1013 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 3, 2022) – Vice Adm. Karl Thomas commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, left, greets Vice Adm. Hideki Yuasa, commander in chief, Self-Defense Fleet aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), June 3, 2022. Tripoli is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christopher Sypert)
220603-N-TT639-1004 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 3, 2022) – Vice Adm. Hideki Yuasa, commander in chief, Self-Defense Fleet boards amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), June 3, 2022. Tripoli is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christopher Sypert)
220603-N-CM110-1082 PACIFIC OCEAN, Japan (June 3, 2022) – Members of Japan Self-Defense Force transit the flight deck aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), June 3, 2022. Tripoli is conducting routine operations in U.S. 7th Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Maci Sternod)

The visit also included a tour of Tripoli, visiting primary flight control and the hangar bay, which also included a training exhibition of the F-35B. The guests were able to see and discuss the innovations which Tripoli employs in order to support air operations, to include: a reconfigured flight deck, larger fuel capacity, and more depot-level maintenance facilities.

USS Tripoli (LHA 7) is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Guidance-Card-Icon Dept-Exclusive-Card-Icon