The amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, seen here at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, steamed into Tokyo Bay on Aug. 17, a day after Typhoon Ampil narrowly missed landfall. (Alex Wilson/Stars and Stripes)
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — The amphibious assault ship USS Boxer steamed into Tokyo Bay over the weekend for a stop on its first deployment in five years.
The Boxer’s visit is intended to “reaffirm the enduring partnership between the U.S. and Japan” and provide a chance for rest and relaxation for its crew of more than 2,000 sailors and Marines, according to Expeditionary Strike Group 7 spokesman Lt. Cmdr. John Mike.
“Boxer’s Sailors and the ship’s embarked Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit look forward to meeting the people of Yokosuka and experiencing the unique culture, food and sights the area has to offer,” he told Stars and Stripes by email Monday.
The ship arrived a day after Typhoon Ampil skirted northeast past the base and narrowly avoided landfall. Mike declined to say how long they’ll stay in port, citing operational security concerns.
Prior to its stop in Japan, the Boxer and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry visited Busan, South Korea, to offload 15th MEU personnel and equipment for training with South Korean marines, Mike said. The Harpers Ferry visited Sasebo Naval Base in southwestern Japan before heading for South Korea.
“Wherever Boxer operates in U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy-Marine Corps team will provide a flexible, self-sustained crisis response force, capable of conducting operations that range from combat missions to humanitarian aid and disaster relief,” Mike added.
The Boxer arrived in Yokosuka after a long series of mechanical issues that has plagued the ship since completing its last deployment in 2019, when it visited the Persian Gulf amid flaring tensions with Iran.
The Boxer returned to its homeport of San Diego in 2020 for a $200 million-plus overhaul initially scheduled to last around 18 months.
The work ultimately lasted more than two years. The Boxer returned briefly to sea in June 2022, a trip cut short when overhauled engine components called forced draft blowers failed in August 2022.
Subsequent repairs also failed, and issues with the ship’s boiler and other engine components arose in the following months, KPBS, the public broadcasting station in San Diego, reported March 4.
The Boxer left San Diego on April 1 for its summer deployment, only to turn back 10 days later for “additional maintenance in support of its deployment,” according to a 3rd Fleet statement to several news outlets.
The Navy didn’t elaborate on the repairs, but USNI News reported July 17 that the ship was underway once again following an emergency repair to its starboard rudder.
