Military

The 4,950-ton escort ship Haruna, from the MSDF Maizuru base in Kyoto, and the
8,100-ton supply ship Tokiwa, from Yokosuka base in Kanagawa, left their homeports Tuesday
morning. The 3,950-ton escort ship Sawakaze left its Sasebo base Wednesday morning.

About 700 MSDF troops were dispatched on the three ships under the command of Rear Adm.
Masahiko Sugimoto, commander of the 3rd MSDF Escort Fleet, based in Maizuru, said an MSDF
public affairs spokesman.

The three warships are expected to arrive in the Indian Ocean in about two weeks,
replacing the escort ships Kurama and Kirisame and the supply ship Hamana, which are
scheduled to return to Japan in mid-March.

Five MSDF vessels are deployed in the region. Their main mission is supplying fuel to
allied warships.

The MSDF spokesman said that as of Jan. 16, 22 refuelings had been made, supplying 7.9
million gallons.

The escort ship Sawagiri and the supply ship Towada will remain in the Indian Ocean.

"No date is set yet as to when the deployment mission is over," the MSDF
spokesman said.