Japan's refueling ships return home after antiterrorism mission

Japan's refueling ships return home after antiterrorism mission

TOKYO, Japan - The Maritime Self-Defense Force's 13,500-ton supply ship Mashu returns to Marumi Wharf in Tokyo Bay on Feb. 6, 2010, after winding up its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan. The 4,550-ton destroyer Ikazuchi, along with the Mashu, also returned home, marking the end of Japan's contribution to the operations since December 2001 in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that year in the United States.

MSDF ships at work on day before refueling mission ends

MSDF ships at work on day before refueling mission ends

ARABIAN SEA, Indian Ocean - Members of the 13,500-ton supply ship Mashu (L) of the Maritime Self-Defense Force prepare for fueling the 4,550-ton MSDF destroyer Ikazuchi (R) in the Arabian Sea on Jan. 14, 2009, a day ahead of the end of the final dispatch of MSDF ships for Japan's refueling mission in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

MSDF ships at work on day before refueling mission ends

MSDF ships at work on day before refueling mission ends

ARABIAN SEA, Indian Ocean - Members of the 4,550-ton destroyer Ikazuchi (R) of the Maritime Self-Defense Force pull hoses for fuelling from the 13,500-ton MSDF supply ship Mashu (L) in the Arabian Sea on Jan. 14, a day ahead of the end of the final dispatch of MSDF ships for Japan's refueling mission in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

Replenishment ships head to Indian Ocean on antiterror mission

Replenishment ships head to Indian Ocean on antiterror mission

YOKOSUKA, Japan - The 4,550-ton destroyer Ikazuchi of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force leaves its base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on April 20 for its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. The 13,500-ton fleet support ship Mashu also set off from its port in Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, the same day on the mission.

Support ship leaves Japan to join refueling mission

Support ship leaves Japan to join refueling mission

NAGASAKI, Japan - The 13,500-ton Oumi, a Maritime Self-Defense Force support ship, sails off Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, on Jan. 25 after leaving a base in Sasebo to join the Murasame, a destroyer that departed from a different port the previous day for antiterrorism refueling operations in the Indian Ocean.