U.S. Navy to transfer command of patrol force from Yokohama to Misawa

The Japanese government has informed Yokohama and Misawa cities that the U.S. Navy in Japan will relocate its Command, Patrol and Reconnaissance Force at the U.S. Kamiseya Base in Yokohama City to the U.S. Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture by the end of October.

Scheduled to be transferred are the Command, Patrol and Reconnaissance Force (the 72nd task force) of the U.S. 7th Fleet maintaining a forward presence throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean and the Command, Patrol and Reconnaissance Force (the 57th task force) of the U.S. 5th Fleet covering the Persian Gulf, both operating P3C reconnaissance planes. About 150 personnel, including families, will relocate.

Akahata on September 18 reported:

Hawaii-based Command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet Patrol and Reconnaissance Force is reportedly to relocate to Misawa. Specialists say that the U.S. is attempting to integrate the function of two separate U.S. commands of Patrol and Reconnaissance Force managing the Pacific and the Middle East areas.

Last May, steel towers for a parabola antenna relaying U.S. bases were withdrawn from the U.S. Kamiseya Base, which made the base completely useless. Meanwhile, the Japanese government has announced a plan to construct 800 housing units for U.S. personnel in Yokohama City as an alternative to the planned return to Japan of four U.S. base sites in the city.

Though the Kamiseya Base lost all its functions, the Japan-U.S. agreement claims for return of only a part of Kamiseya Base, said Suzuki Kazuhiro, the Kanagawa Peace Committee's activist. "When the Yokosuka-based U.S. aircraft carrier is replaced with a nuclear-powered one in FY 2008, a plan will be announced that Japan will provide U.S. forces with more housings at the Kamiseya base site," he warned.

The Japanese Communist Party Yokohama City assembly members' group stresses the need to get the Kamiseya Base site returned to Japan immediately and unconditionally. (end)