US Navy Missile Destroyers Boost Moral in Tomakomai, Japan

The U.S. Navy’s Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyers USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) and USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) docked in Tomakomai, Japan, on February 4 for a taste of Japanese culture.

Namely, the ships’ staff, accompanied by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and local citizens will take part in the annual Sapporo Ice Festival.
The participation includes a number of events such as community relations projects, snow carving contests and sports competitions.
The Sapporo Snow Festival, is an annual seven-day winter event, which attracts about two million people to Sapporo to see a large number of snow and ice sculptures.
John S. McCain and Curtis Wilbur left Yokosuka, Japan, to conduct joint training exercises on February 1 off the coast of Japan.
During the exercises, the Arleigh-Burke class destroyers tested their tactical surface warfare capabilities, heavy engineering coordination, casualty-control communication and system link drills, followed by simulated ballistic-missile defense and anti-submarine warfare exercises.

ARLEIGH BURKE CLASS DETROYER SPECIFICATIONS
Length	154 m (Flights I and II) 155 m (Flight IIA)
Beam	20m
Draught	9.3m
Displacement	Fully loaded: Flight I: 8,315 t; Flight II: 8,400 t; Flight IIA: 9,200 t ; Flight III: 9,800 t
Speed	Over 30 knots
Complement	Flight I: 303 total Flight IIA: 23 officers, 300 enlisted
Range	4,400 nm
Status	active

Naval Today Staff, February 6, 2014; Image: US Navy