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EAST CHINA SEA (March 29, 2021) An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12 prepares to land aboard U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) during a bilateral exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) guided-missile destroyer JS Kongo (DDG-173), March 29, 2021, in the East China Sea. These types of operations provide an opportunity for each partner nation to share their unique capabilities in shipboard maneuvering procedures, maritime skills and interoperability. Blue Ridge is the oldest operational ship in the Navy and, as U.S. 7th Fleet command ship, actively works to foster relationships with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Charles E. White)