• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Japanese Officers Ride Curtis Wilbur During ANNUALEX

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS041123-07
Release Date: 11/23/2004 11:47:00 AM

By Lt. j.g. Christina Wong, USS Curtis Wilbur Public Affairs

ABOARD USS CURTIS WILBUR (NNS) -- USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) hosted four Japanese sailors aboard Nov. 10-19 as part ANNUALEX.

ANNULEX is a routine bilateral exercise with U.S. forward deployed naval forces, as well as those based in Hawaii and San Diego and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF). The exercise incorporates multiwarfare events and multiwarfare platforms in order to test both navies' abilities to operate together.

Three Japanese officers and one enlisted sailor, officially known as Liaison Naval Officers (LNO), lived in their counterparts' respective living quarters, enjoyed meals with their sponsors and embodied the spirit of ANNUALEX - the exchange of naval experiences and the increased understanding of each other as allies.

Japanese enlisted sailor Fire Controlman 1st Class Masanori Mando, a MK. 42 gun fire controlman aboard JDS Kuruma (DDH 144) quickly integrated into ship's routine. Mando conducted maintenance, troubleshot the SPY radar system and stood watch in the combat information center (CIC) with his sponsor, Fire Controlman 2nd Class (SW) Larry Harnage.

Mando said living aboard Curtis Wilbur is noticeably different from living aboard Kurama.

"The beds, showers and living quarters are smaller here [aboard Curtis Wilbur], but I liked it very much," said Mando. "My favorite part was having an American breakfast every day."

"It is always a good experience to cross deck with other nations' navies," said Harnage. "I am glad I had the opportunity to explain and show others what we do."

The Japanese officers were very interested in how Curtis Wilbur utilized its resources and capabilities. The guests conned the ship during tactical maneuvers, participated in the surface warfare officer qualification board, a luncheon with Rear Adm. James D. Kelly, commander, Battle Force 7th Fleet and observed two underway replenishments and multiple combat scenarios.

Lt. j.g. Yasutaka Ebata, who is on path to be Kuruma's navigator, stood watch on the bridge with his sponsor, Lt. j.g. Donald Shrader. On many occasions, Ebata could be heard on bridge-to-bridge radio, talking to fishing contacts, as well as other Japanese warships involved in ANNUALEX.

"I thoroughly enjoyed working with Lt. j.g. Ebata as a future navigator, fellow officer and sailor," said Shrader. "We were able to compare the differences and discuss the similarities between the JMSDF and the U.S. Navy. We definitely had a lot to learn from each other."

In the eyes of the LNOs, the personnel exchange directly enabled JMSDF officers to understand the U.S. Navy's abilities, techniques and fighting spirit.

"We [JMSDF] still have a lot of things to learn from the United States," said Lt. Cmdr. Atsushi Minami, the former executive officer and operations officer aboard JDS Samidare (DD 106), "and through lessons learned, it encourages bilateral relations between the United States and Japan."