7th Fleet Focus: Welcome to the Neighborhood

Within a week of her arrival, the USS George Washington (CVN 73) is already back to sea.

The USS George Washington aircraft carrier left its new home port south of Tokyo on Wednesday on its first mission from Japan.

The nuclear-powered carrier is expected to stop in Busan, South Korea, and then head farther south into the Pacific for drills and patrols.

The George Washington, the only U.S. carrier that has its home port outside the United States, is the centerpiece of the U.S. 7th Fleet, which is based in Yokosuka.

Time to say hello to the neighborhood. The ship has spent plenty of time in port following the fire, already has a fresh coat of paint, and needs to get back in the groove.

Besides, it will give the Chinese something new to take pictures of.