A very significant number of US military installations are located in the Asia-Pacific region. This primarily applies to South Korea and Japan, where large American military contingents are deployed.
But other countries are not deprived of attention either. So, about halfway between Australia and Vietnam in Singapore there is an American naval base known as Sembawang Naval Base. Large American warships are often moored here.
Satellite image of Google earth: USS George Washington (CVN-73) docked at the Sembawang naval base
The Sembawang Naval Base was founded by the British in 1923. After the withdrawal of the British forces in 1971, it was transferred to the control of the Singapore government and was used as a logistics center for the US, Australian and New Zealand navies. In 1992, an agreement was signed between the United States and Singapore to deploy the 73rd logistics group of the US Seventh Fleet, withdrawn from the Philippine base, Subic Bay.
At two Singapore airfields, American military transport aircraft and air tankers periodically make intermediate landings. In addition, the KC-135R refueling aircraft from the Changi Air Base, which are part of the Singapore Air Force, can, if necessary, be used to refuel the American military aviation in the air.
Satellite image of Google earth: KS-135R tanker aircraft at Changi airbase
It is known that in the past, the procedures for refueling American MH-130N aircraft, MH-53 helicopters and MV-22B convertiplanes of the US Special Operations Forces with Singapore Air Force KC-130B refueling aircraft from the Paya Lebar Air Base were worked out.
As of 2014, there were 29,000 American troops in the Republic of Korea. The US Army in Korea is part of the US 8th Field Army, headquartered in Yongsan.
Google earth satellite image: Chinghai port
The only US naval base on the Korean Peninsula is Chinhae Port (Commander Fleet Activities Chinhae). In the past, American warships, including those with nuclear power plants, have repeatedly stopped at the base for repair and maintenance. At the moment, the central base of the Republic of Korea Navy is located here.
There are two major American air bases in South Korea: Kunsan Air Base and Osan Air Base. Gunsan Air Base, with a 2,700-meter concrete runway, is located in the western part of the Korean Peninsula on the Yellow Sea coast, 240 kilometers south of Seoul. The airbase is jointly operated by the US Air Force and the South Korean Air Force.
Google Earth Satellite Image: Gunsan Air Base
The airbase was built during the Korean War and became operational in April 1951. Initially, it housed the A-26 piston bombers and the F-84G jet fighter-bombers, later replaced by the F-86. After the incident with the US reconnaissance vessel Pueblo in Kunsan in January 1968, the F-4Ds of the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing settled. In September 1974, after the end of the Vietnam War, Phantoms of the 8th Fighter Wing (8 FW) flew here from the Ubon Air Base in Thailand. In 1992, the air wing was reorganized into the 8th Fighter Aviation Regiment. At the moment, this aviation unit is armed with F-16C / D fighters. The airbase is protected from air strikes by the battery of the South Korean air defense system "Hawk" and the American battery of the air defense missile system "Patriot".
The F-16C / D and A-10C of the 51st Fighter Aviation Regiment are currently based at the Hosann airbase, which is much closer to the contact line between the Republic of Korea and the DPRK. The F-16C / D fighter-bombers belong to the 36th Fighter Squadron, and the A-10C attack aircraft belong to the 25th Fighter Squadron.
Satellite image of Google earth: F-16C fighters and A-10C attack aircraft on the Osan airbase runway
In February 1951, the area of the Hosann Air Base, 60 kilometers south of Seoul, was the site of fierce fighting between North Korean and American forces. In 1952, after the repair of the runway, piston fighters P-51D and jet F-86 began to fly from here. In the late 50s, after the reconstruction of the airfield and the lengthening of the concrete strip to 2,700 meters, military transport aircraft C-54 and C-119 were based here. In 1968, F-106 interceptors were deployed from the United States. After the withdrawal from Vietnam, the aircraft of the 51st F-4D / E and OV-10, the 19th tactical support and observation squadron, were relocated to the Osan airbase. U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft regularly flew from here towards the line of demarcation with the DPRK.
After the rearmament of the 51st Aviation Regiment on the F-16, the construction of highly protected concrete shelters for aircraft began at the air base. This was dictated by the appearance in the DPRK of operational-tactical missile systems, created on the basis of Soviet R-17 missiles.
Satellite image of Google earth: Patriot air defense system at Osan airbase
In 1993, in the vicinity of the airbase, two batteries of the Patriot air defense missile system were deployed, which are part of the 35th Air Defense Brigade. One of them with launchers oriented northward is deployed close to the runway.
At the end of 2009, the South Korean press reported that from the Osan airbase in the direction of the DPRK, an RQ-170 UAV made using stealth technology was making reconnaissance flights.
In early 2016, after another round of aggravation of the situation on the Korean Peninsula, an American B-52H strategic bomber flew through the airspace of the Republic of Korea.
Satellite image of Google Earth: B-52H bombers at Andersen airbase
This aircraft, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, flew from Andersen Air Force Base on the island of Guam. The territory of the island of Guam, which is the southernmost in the archipelago of the Mariana Islands, has the status of an unincorporated organized territory (that is, not part of the United States, but being their possession).
The Guam airbase was established in 1944 after the Japanese were driven off the island. At the end of the construction of the runway, B-29s of the 314th bomber wing were located here. In the post-war period, in addition to the B-29, the B-36, B-47, B-50 bombers and KV-29 tankers were based at the airbase, in the early 60s they were replaced by the B-52. Since June 1965, B-52s flying from the island of Guam were involved in bombing North Vietnam. Particularly intense bombing raids were carried out during Operation Linebacker II. More than 150 bombers were involved in it, flying 729 sorties over 11 days. After the fall of South Vietnam, about 40,000 refugees passed through Andersen airbase on their way to the United States.
Satellite image of Google earth: B-2A bomber at Andersen airbase
At the moment, Andersen airbase, which is under the control of the command of the 36th Air Wing, is used as an intermediate airfield for strategic bombers. On a permanent basis, there are up to ten B-52s, and the airbase is regularly visited by the "invisible" B-2A.
Satellite image of Google earth: military transport aircraft C-130H and UAV RQ-4 Global Hawk at Andersen airbase
In the past, Andersen Air Force Base played an important role as a transfer point for the transfer of military cargo and combat aircraft to different parts of the world. In addition to bombers, the airbase also has military transport aircraft C-17 and C-130H, as well as flying tankers KS-135R. At the moment, the airbase is home to several RQ-4 Global Hawk UAVs, which make long-distance patrol flights over the Pacific Ocean.
Satellite image of Google earth: American nuclear submarines in the parking lot of the Guam naval base
In the protruding western part of the island is the Naval Base Guam, administratively united with the Andersen airbase. The base is assigned to 15 multipurpose nuclear submarines of the US Seventh Fleet. During combat patrols, Los Angeles-class SSBNs enter the base for urgent repairs, maintenance and rest of the crew.
Satellite image of Google earth: warships docked at the Guam naval base
It also houses three ocean-class Coast Guard vessels. Guam is regularly visited by warships from the Australian Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces.
Japan, perhaps, has the highest density of American military installations on its territory among other states. In fact, the country is still under occupation, and a large part of it is controlled by the American military administration. The reluctance of the US authorities to drastically reduce its military presence is explained by the fact that Japan has long turned into an "unsinkable aircraft carrier" and a forward outpost of the American army in the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, the presence of a large American military contingent in many respects restrains the global political ambitions of the Japanese leadership and allows the Americans to control Japan's domestic and foreign policy.
Approximately 60% of US military installations are located in Okinawa, although this territory is only about 1% of the area of the Japanese islands. At the same time, 14 American bases, located on an area of 233 square kilometers, occupy about 18% of the island's territory.
There are two major American airfields in Okinawa - Relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and Kadena Air Base.
Satellite image of Google earth: CH-53D helicopters at Futenma airbase
At the USMC Futenma airbase, there is an asphalt concrete runway with a length of 2,700 meters. Initially, the airfield was used to house B-29 bombers and as an alternate airfield for interceptors from the Kadena airbase.
Satellite image of Google earth: AN-1 combat helicopters at Futenma airbase
In 1959, it was handed over to the Marine Corps. Since then, it has housed A-4 attack aircraft, A / V-8 vertical takeoff aircraft, transport and combat helicopters.
Satellite image of Google earth: tiltrotors MV-22 at Futenma airbase
Since 2009, the airbase began replacing military transport helicopters CH-46F and CH-53D with MV-22 tiltrotors. Osprey combines the vertical takeoff and landing capabilities of a helicopter and the cruising speed of a turboprop aircraft.
Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler is located a few kilometers north of Futenma AFB. About 3,000 US Marines are stationed in the area.
Satellite image of Google earth: basic patrol aircraft R-3C and carrier-based AWACS aircraft E-2C at the Naha airfield
To the south of the Futenma airbase is the Naha airfield. It is divided into two sectors - the civilian, where the air terminal is located, and the military - shared by the Japanese Naval Self-Defense Force Aviation and the US Navy aviation. In the southern part of the Naha airbase, close to the aircraft parking, the Patriot air defense missile system battery is deployed.
Satellite image of Google earth: Patriot air defense system at Naha airbase
The largest American Kadena Air Base in Japan has been operating since July 1945. Soon after the capture of Okinawa by American forces, the construction of an airstrip began here by the forces of the engineering service of the 7th Infantry Division of the US Army. From here, before the surrender of Japan, bombers A-26 and B-29 made combat missions, they also attacked DPRK targets during the Korean War. In 1954, the F-86 jet fighters of the 18th Fighter Wing arrived here, in 1958 they were replaced by the F-100. Since 1960, RF-101 of the 15th tactical reconnaissance squadron has been based at Kadena airbase. In 1968, the Voodoo was replaced by the RF-4C, which served until 1989. In 1979, the first F-15A appeared at the airbase. At the moment, the 5th generation F-22A fighters are based here together with the F-15C.
Satellite image of Google earth: F-22A fighters at Kadena airbase
In addition to fighters, E-3D AWACS aircraft, RC-135 V / W reconnaissance aircraft, KS-135R tankers, C-130N and S-12 military transport aircraft, as well as aircraft of special operations forces MC-130 are also based on a permanent basis. and basic patrol P-3S.
Satellite image of Google earth: E-3D AWACS aircraft, RC-135 V / W reconnaissance aircraft and KS-135R tankers at Kadena airbase
Satellite image of Google earth: basic patrol aircraft R-3C at Kadena airbase
In 2012, two heavy RQ-4 Global Hawk UAVs were based here to carry out reconnaissance flights in the direction of the DPRK. In November 2006, a battalion of the 31st anti-aircraft brigade consisting of four batteries of the Patriot PAC-3 air defense system was redeployed from Fort Bliss, Texas to Kadena airbase.
Google earth satellite image: THAAD missile defense launchers in Okinawa
In 2012, information appeared about the deployment in Okinawa to protect against North Korean ballistic missiles of the mobile anti-missile system THAAD. THAAD launchers are located in the southeastern part of the island, at the former positions of the Hawk air defense missile system.
