USA: USS Tortuga to Arrive in Philippines April 2 to Participate in Balikatan Exercises

USS Tortuga (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki Commons)

Manila, April 1, 2013 -- The USS Tortuga (LSD 46), an amphibious dock landing ship of the U.S. 7th Fleet, will arrive in the Philippines on Tuesday, April 2, to participate in this year’s Philippine-U.S. Balikatan exercises.  Her first port of call will be Manila, followed by a brief stop in Subic.

During Balikatan, which takes place on the island of Luzon from April 5 to 17, the Tortuga will support Philippine and U.S. troops’ joint training for humanitarian assistance and disaster response scenarios. 

The Tortuga is part of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and is currently on deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.  The Bonhomme Richard ARG reports to the commander, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet, Rear Adm. Jeffrey A. Harley, headquartered in White Beach, Okinawa, Japan.

US Embassy Philippines