U.S. Navy quickens ship rotation in Japan with eye on Taiwan

Oldest destroyer USS Barry leaves Yokosuka after six years

The USS Barry departs Yokosuka, Japan on Feb. 17 as it shifts its homeport to Naval Station Everett, Washington, ending nearly seven years of forward deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet. © U.S. Navy

KEN MORIYASU, Nikkei Asia diplomatic correspondent

February 20, 2023 16:20 JST

TOKYO -- The U.S. Navy's guided missile destroyer USS Barry departed from Yokosuka, Japan last Friday, ending a forward deployment of six years. Its replacement, the newer USS Shoup, arrived at the base in December.

The six-year service is significantly shorter than previous Yokosuka-based destroyers. In 2021, the USS Curtis Wilbur and the USS John S. McCain left Japan after 25 years and 24 years, respectively. Other recent destroyers were stationed between 11 to 15 years.