According to pictures released by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) on January 6, 2021, U.S. Army Aviation Battalion-Japan has conducted deck landing qualifications with U.S. Navy USS Ashland (LSD-48) Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship.
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A U.S. Army Aviation Battalion-Japan UH-60L Blackhawk Helicopter successfully lands on the USS Ashland LSD-48 while conducting deck landing qualifications in the Sagami Bay on January 6, 2021. (Picture source U.S. Navy)
Two U.S. Army Aviation Battalion-Japan aircrews took off from Kastner Army Heliport on January 6, 2021, to support the USS Ashland (LSD-48) with personnel and equipment movement between Naval Air Facility Atsugi and their ship located in the Sagami Bay.
After completing the air mission request the UH-60L Blackhawk Helicopters conducted deck landing qualifications for aircrews and crewmembers aboard the ship. Both helicopters completed several landing and takeoffs guided by Sailors on the flight deck while communicating with the control room abroad the Ashland. These qualifications help maintain readiness between both services and increase joint interoperability required to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
U.S. Army Aviation Battalion Japan is a Table of Distribution and Allowances (TDA) unit. There are two companies and one attached detachment within the organization; Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), A Company, and a fixed-wing detachment. Organic to the unit are UH-60L helicopters and UC-35 fixed-wing aircraft (attached) in support of U.S. Army Japan (USARJ).
United States Army Aviation Battalion Japan conducts general-support operations throughout the U.S. Army Pacific area of responsibility to enable U.S. Army Japan operations and is prepared to deploy and conduct general support aviation operations in support of USARJ contingency operations.
The USS Ashland (LSD-48) is a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship in service with the United States Navy. The ship was laid down on 4 April 1988, by the Avondale Shipyards, New Orleans, La., and commissioned on 9 May 1992.
Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship was introduced with the U.S. Navy in 1985 as a transport vessel of United States Marine Corps (USMC) vehicles and has a large flight deck for the landing of helicopters or V-22 Ospreys tiltrotor aircraft.
