The U.S. amphibious assault ship Essex left the U.S. naval base in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, on Saturday morning for an undisclosed destination.
The departure of the 40,532-ton Essex follows the U.S. aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk's departure from its home port of Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Friday morning, also for an undisclosed destination.
On Thursday, the Essex left the U.S. military's special quay after loading ammunition and other supplies in preparation for its departure.
After stopping at the Yokosuka base, the Essex is expected to head for the Indian Ocean to participate in the anticipated retaliatory measures against terrorists for the Sept. 11 attacks on New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon outside Washington.