U.S. aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk leaves Yokosuka

Japan Policy & Politics, April 22, 2002

YOKOSUKA, Japan, April 15 Kyodo

The U.S. aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk on Monday left its home port of Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture for the West Pacific to engage in a military exercise there and prepare for any emergency contingencies, according to the U.S. Navy.

The 83,960-ton Kitty Hawk was accompanied by four other warships, it said.

The carrier set sail from Yokosuka Oct. 1 last year to join the U.S.-led military campaign against terrorism in Afghanistan following the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

It served as a base for some 20 helicopters and 600 special forces troops and returned to Yokosuka on Dec. 23 after a three-month tour.

It also departed Yokosuka March 18 to test an anti-ship weapon system and returned April 1.

The Kitty Hawk is part of the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet, which carries about 75 aircraft, including fighter jets, and has 2,800 crew. It can accommodate about 5,500 people including flight crews.