A Japanese naval training ship stopped over in Dutch Harbor on Sunday as part of its overseas training cruise.
Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr. welcomed the crew at the city dock, and greeted the ship’s commanding officer, Rear Admiral Ishimaki Yoshiyasu.
The JS Kashima is 143 meters long, with a mounted 76mm rapid-fire gun and two 324mm triple torpedo launchers.
Yoshiyasu said the JS Kashima is one of four training vessels the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force uses to train new officers.
About 110 newly-commissioned officers and more than 300 total crewmembers are on the ship for its nearly two-month journey. They’ve traveled from Hiroshima to Alaska, up to the Arctic and are now making their way to Pearl Harbor.
From there, they’ll tour the islands of the South Pacific, before returning to Japan.
“It’s a wonderful experience for the crew,” Yoshiyasu said.
The JS Kashima left the harbor on Monday morning, and headed for Pearl Harbor.
