USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19)

The U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) transits to dry dock at Command, Fleet Activities Yokosuka for an incline survey. During the survey, Blue Ridge and shipyard personnel will take measurements and readings from the ship to help with future planning of structural additions. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mel Orr/Released)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19)

The U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) transits to dry dock at Command, Fleet Activities Yokosuka for an incline survey. During the survey, Blue Ridge and shipyard personnel will take measurements and readings from the ship to help with future planning of structural additions. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mel Orr/Released)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19)

The U.S. 7th Fleet flagship transits to dry dock at Command, Fleet Activities Yokosuka for an incline survey. During the survey, Blue Ridge and shipyard personnel will take measurements and readings from the ship to help with future planning of structural additions. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mel Orr/Released)

KNM Skjold (P-960)

KNM Skjold (P-960). (Photo: Caela Søndrol)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC/JCC 19)

USS Blue Ridge docks into the Port of Towsville during Exercise Talisman Sabre 05. (Photo: Australia DoD)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC/JCC 19)

USS Blue Ridge docks into the Port of Towsville during Exercise Talisman Sabre 05. (Photo: Australia DoD)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC/JCC 19)

A large harbor tug assists the amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) as she departs Fleet Activities Yokosuka for a scheduled underway. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nardelito Gervacio/Released)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC/JCC 19)

The amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) steams within sight of Mt. Fuji on its final stop to Shimizu, ending a six-week Spring Swing tour. Blue Ridge serves under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7/Task Force (CTF) 76, the Navy's only forward deployed amphibious force. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Heidi McCormick)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC/JCC 19)

The amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) steams within sight of Mt. Fuji on its final stop to Shimizu, ending a six-week Spring Swing tour. Blue Ridge serves under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7/Task Force (CTF) 76, the Navy's only forward deployed amphibious force. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Heidi McCormick)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC/JCC 19)

The amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) steams within sight of Mt. Fuji on its final stop to Shimizu, ending a six-week Spring Swing tour. Blue Ridge serves under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7/Task Force (CTF) 76, the Navy's only forward deployed amphibious force. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Heidi McCormick)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC/JCC 19)

The amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) steams in the western Pacific Ocean during a scheduled deployment. Blue Ridge is the flagship for Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Heidi McCormick)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC/JCC 19)

Amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) prepares to enter port upon the ship's return to Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka. The Blue Ridge returned after successfully participating in Exercise Talisman Saber 2007. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Byron C. Linder)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC/JCC 19)

Large harbor tug USS Manistee (YTB 782) prepares to help guide amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) into port upon the ship's return to Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka. Blue Ridge returned after successfully participating in exercise Talisman Saber 2007. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Byron C. Linder)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC/JCC 19)

A large harbor tug follows alongside amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) as she departs Commander Fleet Activities for a scheduled summer underway period. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Bryan Reckard)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC/JCC 19)

The amphibious command and control ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) pulls into her forward deployed operating base at Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. Blue Ridge is returning from a regularly scheduled deployment within the 7th Fleet area of responsibility. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Operations Specialist 2nd Class Kevin D. Harris)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC/JCC 19)

An Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter assigned to the 52nd Aviation Regiment approaches the amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) during a joint Army-Navy training evolution off the coast of Korea. The CH-47 is a twin-engine, tandem rotor helicopter designed for transportation of cargo, troops, and weapons during day, night, visual and instrument conditions. The Blue Ridge is the 7th Fleet command ship, forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Lowell Whitman)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC/JCC 19)

The amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) transit the South China Sea, during a two-month regularly scheduled deployment. Blue Ridge, the 7th Fleet command ship, is currently underway for a regularly scheduled deployment throughout the 7th Fleet area of responsibility. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Journalist Seaman Marc Rockwell-Pate)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC/JCC 19)

The amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) transit the eastern coast of Japan as Mt. Fuji looms on the horizon. Blue Ridge and embarked 7th Fleet staff recently deployed to complete routine port visits and community relations projects throughout the 7th Fleet area of operation (AOR). (Photo: U.S. Navy/Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class Roger Moore)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC/JCC 19)

The amphibious command and control ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) returns to her forward deployed operating base Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan (CFAY) after it's longest scheduled Western Pacific deployment since Sept. 11, 2001. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Photographer's Mate 2nd Class John L. Beeman)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC/JCC 19)

The U.S. 7th Fleet command and amphibious control ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) approaches Apra Harbor in the U.S. territory of Guam for a routine port visit. Blue Ridge is one of the Navy's forward deployed assets, homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Nathanael T. Miller)