There's a game of musical chairs (or aircraft carriers) going on as part of the Navy's Pacific rebalance strategy. The USS Ronald Reagan will leave San Diego for its new homeport in Yokosuka, Japan. The USS Theodore Roosevelt will then make San Diego its new home, leaving Norfolk, Va.
The Navy announced the change on Tuesday. According to a news release, the Reagan will replace the USS George Washington to become part of the U.S. 7th Fleet forward-deployed naval forces in Yokosuka, Japan.
Commander Naval Forces Japan spokesman Jon Nylander told Stars and Stripes:
Most of the crew of the George Washington will transfer over to USS Reagan, “so there will be no mass movement of families overseas.”
When the USS Washington leaves Japan, it will head to Virginia for a "mid-life refueling complex overhaul" at Newport News Shipbuilding, Huntington Ingalls Industries.
The Navy has not yet announced any specific timelines as to when the aircraft carriers will be making their moves, although Japanese media outlets have already speculated that the USS Washington will leave Japan in 2015.
