Harvey Milk Achieves Landmark Replenishment-at-Sea with Japanese Training Vessels

NORFOLK Va., (Sept. 24, 2024) — Civil Service Mariners aboard the Military Sealift Command’s USNS Harvey Milk successfully conducted their inaugural replenishment-at-sea with two vessels from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). This operation unfolded within the Virginia Capes’ operational area, marking a significant milestone for both naval forces.

The exercise involved JMSDF’s training vessels JS Kashima and JS Shimakaze. These ships, carrying 180 newly commissioned JMSDF officers, are part of a comprehensive six-month global training cruise initiated in May 2024. This joint maneuver underscores the commitment to bolster tactical capabilities and enhance the interoperability between Japan’s Maritime Forces and the U.S. Navy.

USNS Harvey Milk’s Ship Master, Capt. James “Jim” White, emphasized the significance of this operation, highlighting the rare opportunity it presented to collaborate with the JMSDF and showcase the prowess of the T-AO 205 class oiler. The event was only the second instance of a T-AO 205 class oiler refueling two ships simultaneously.

The USNS Harvey Milk, as the second vessel of its class under Military Sealift Command, plays a crucial role in providing fuel, provisions, and water to Navy ships at sea, significantly enhancing the Navy’s Combat Logistics Force. Moreover, this vessel stands as a testament to Harvey Milk, a U.S. Navy veteran and a renowned LGBT activist who made history in the political arena of San Francisco.

JS Kashima, constructed in the 1990s, serves as the flagship training vessel for JMSDF, focusing on fostering international relations and seamanship skills among its trainees. Its counterpart, JS Shimakaze, originally a guided missile destroyer, was reclassified as a training ship in 2021, enriching the JMSDF’s training capabilities.