USS Germantown returns to San Diego after a decade in Japan

An SA-330J Puma helicopter prepares to pick up cargo from the USS Germantown, which is now returning to San Diego after a decade in Japan. NavySept. 16 (UPI) -- After a decade of forward deployment in Japan, the USS Germantown departed U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo on Wednesday. The USS Germantown, which has detached from Amphibious Squadron 11, is returning to San Diego, the same port it departed from on Jan. 5, 2011 to replace the USS Harpers Ferry in Japan. The USS Rushmore will replace the USS Germantown later this year, according to the Navy. As part of the deployments, the American Expeditionary Strike Group, which included the USS Germantown, conducted routine operations in the Philippine Sea.