Keywords: USS Germantown operations 141111-N-UD469-117.jpg en Sailors signal to a CH-47 Chinook helicopter assigned to the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force JGSDF as it lands on the flight deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown LSD 42 during a personnel transfer for exercise Keen Sword Exercise Keen Sword is a bilateral field training exercise held biennially since 1986 The exercise is designed to increase the interoperability of U S Forces and the Japanese Self Defense Forces JSDF to effectively and mutually provide for the defense of Japan or respond to a regional crisis or contingency situation in the Asia-Pacific region Germantown is part of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group PELARG14 commanded by Capt Heidi Agle and is conducting joint forces exercises in the U S 7th Fleet area of responsibility U S Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Amanda R Gray/Released 2014-11-11 Petty Officer 2nd Class Amanda Gray https //www dvidshub net/image/1658832 141111-N-UD469-117 2014-11-15 02 44 BUCKNER BAY USAFRICOM AT SEA PD-USGov-Military-Navy Kawasaki CH-47 USS Germantown LSD-42 Images from DoD uploaded by Fæ |