Destroyer USS Mustin to Replace Cruiser USS Robert Smalls in Japan

Destroyer USS Mustin (DDG-89) recently departed San Diego to replace USS Robert Smalls (CG-62), the sea service’s last cruiser forward deployed to Japan, the Navy announced this week.

Mustin departed Feb. 23 from Naval Base San Diego, Calif., the Navy announced Tuesday. Mustin will replace Robert Smalls, which has served as the cruiser escort for aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73).

“The forward presence of Mustin supports the United States’ commitment to the defense of Japan, enhances regional deterrence and ensures we maintain a combat credible force ready to operate in a contested environment. Mustin will directly support the Defense Strategic Guidance to posture the most capable units forward in the Indo-Pacific Region,” reads the Navy’s news release published Tuesday.

Robert Smalls is slated to return to the U.S. The ship is the last forward deployed cruiser in Japan, with USS Antietam (CG-54) departing Japan in January 2024. Antietam was decommissioned Sept. 27, 2024, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Robert Smalls was set to be decommissioned in Fiscal Year 2026, according to past Navy decommissioning schedules. However, the Navy’s Fiscal Year 2026 deactivation list released in February made no mention of the cruiser.

The guided-missile cruiser was previously named USS Chancellorsville after a Confederate Civil War victory but was renamed in 2023 in honor of a former slave who stole a Confederate States Navy ship in South Carolina and delivered it to the Union, USNI News previously reported.

Meanwhile at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, the U.S. Navy, Indian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), Royal Australian Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force began Exercise Sea Dragon 2026, a multinational drill, on Monday.

The exercise is meant to hone aircrew proficiency in anti-submarine warfare by progressing from track-simulated targets to detecting and tracking a live submarine, according to the U.S. Navy. The exercise involves two U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft, one Indian Navy P-8I MPA, one Japanese P-1 MPA, two Australian P-8As and one New Zealand P-8A MPA.

The U.S. patrol aircraft are from two squadrons based in Whidbey Island, Wash., and Jacksonville, Fla., and are currently deployed to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, and Misawa Air Base in Misawa, Japan, respectively. Both squadrons will be conducting maritime patrol and reconnaissance and theater outreach operations within the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

Exercise Sea Dragon comes on the heels of Iron Fist 2026, an amphibious bilateral drill that spanned Feb. 23 to Monday and took place around Japan’s southwest region. For the exercise, Marines and sailors from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) trained with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB) and the 3rd Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment.

The U.S. and Japanese forces conducted field training, close air support, urban operations, key leader engagements, subject matter expert exchanges, bilateral flyovers, convoy training and simulated air, ground and amphibious assaults as part of the exercise, according to a news release from the Marine Corps.

“This exercise was designed to enhance our interoperability and test our capacity to work as a cohesive team in the face of dynamic challenges. Iron Fist has once again demonstrated the strength of our alliance and the professionalism of the Marines and sailors,” Col. Chris Niedziocha, commander of the 31st MEU, said in the release.

Japan’s ARDB troops also spent time on amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) during the exercise, where they integrated with U.S. Marines and sailors to conduct various ship-to-shore operations. Amphibious transport dock USS New Orleans (LPD-18) also took part in the exercise, operating alongside Tripoli and JMSDF helicopter destroyer JS Ise (DDH-182) and landing ship tank JS Osumi (LST-4001), with all four ships conducting a formation sail March 1.

U.S. Marines also conducted for the first time during an iteration of Iron Fist large scale amphibious exercises on Tanegashima Island, according to a separate Marine Corps release.

Iron Fist 26 served as the final certification of the 3rd Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment. Coupled with the 31st MEU, which achieved full certification last month, U.S. and Japanese forces now bring to bear multiple amphibious formations capable of rapidly deploying anywhere in the region, according to the release.

“Such responsive capabilities send a clear signal that the U.S.-Japan Alliance continues to serve as a bulwark of deterrence against regional threats and ensures peace through strength in the Indo-Pacific,” reads the release.