3 U.S. amphibious vessels, minesweeper leave Okinawa

3 U.S. amphibious vessels, minesweeper leave Okinawa

KATSUREN, Japan - The 40,532-ton U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship Essex, carrying helicopters, leaves White Beach in the town of Katsuren, Okinawa Prefecture, on Oct. 8. for an undisclosed destination in the wake of U.S. strikes against Afghanistan. The Essex left the port along with two other amphibious vessels and a minesweeper.

U.S. amphibious assault ship Essex leaves Sasebo

U.S. amphibious assault ship Essex leaves Sasebo

SASEBO, Japan - The 40,532-ton U.S. amphibious assault ship Essex leaves Sasebo port in Nagasaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 2, heading for an undisclosed destination along with two dock landing ships and two minesweepers. The movement is believed to be connected to an expected retaliation by the U.S.-led multinational forces against the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

Amphibious assault ship Essex leaves Sasebo

Amphibious assault ship Essex leaves Sasebo

SASEBO, Japan - The U.S. amphibious assault ship Essex sails in the South China Sea after leaving the U.S. naval base in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, on Sept. 22 for an undisclosed destination. Sailing behind is the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Haruyuki, which is escorting the 40,532-ton Essex along with two patrol helicopters.

3 U.S. amphibious vessels, minesweeper leave Okinawa

3 U.S. amphibious vessels, minesweeper leave Okinawa

KATSUREN, Japan - The 40,532-ton U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship Essex, carrying helicopters, leaves White Beach in the town of Katsuren, Okinawa Prefecture, on Oct. 8. for an undisclosed destination in the wake of U.S. strikes against Afghanistan. The Essex left the port along with two other amphibious vessels and a minesweeper.

U.S. amphibious assault ship Essex leaves Sasebo

U.S. amphibious assault ship Essex leaves Sasebo

SASEBO, Japan - The 40,532-ton U.S. amphibious assault ship Essex leaves Sasebo port in Nagasaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Oct. 2, heading for an undisclosed destination along with two dock landing ships and two minesweepers. The movement is believed to be connected to an expected retaliation by the U.S.-led multinational forces against the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

Amphibious assault ship Essex leaves Sasebo

Amphibious assault ship Essex leaves Sasebo

SASEBO, Japan - The U.S. amphibious assault ship Essex sails in the South China Sea after leaving the U.S. naval base in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, on Sept. 22 for an undisclosed destination. Sailing behind is the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Haruyuki, which is escorting the 40,532-ton Essex along with two patrol helicopters.