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Japan to end at-sea replenishment mission after nine years

By Tim Fish

1/7/2010

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) is to end its nine-year at-sea replenishment mission in support of NATO's Operation 'Enduring Freedom' in Afghanistan on 15 January.

The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which took the reins of government following a general election in August, has stated that it will not renew the Replenishment Support Special Measures Law that allowed the JMSDF to deploy tankers and escort ships to the Indian Ocean to refuel allied warships.

When the legislation expires on 15 January, the two ships engaged on the task – the Towada-class tanker JS Tokiwa and the Murasame-class destroyer JS Akebono – will return to Japan.

A spokeswoman at US Central Command said that the capability would in future be provided by replenishment vessels assigned to the US Navy's CTF 53 (Commander, Task Force 53), which co-ordinates naval logistics in the US Fifth Fleet area of operations.

The JMSDF despatched its first replenishment group to the Indian Ocean a few weeks after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

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