TSUSHIMA STRAIT (Dec. 15, 2020) - The Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Alan Shepard (T-AKE 3) conducts an aircraft start up with embarked PUMA detachment during a freedom of navigation operation in the vicinity of the Tsushima Strait. The ship conducted normal operations within Japan’s claimed territorial seas to challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access and navigational freedoms consistent with international law. U.S. 7th Fleet conducts forward-deployed naval operations in support of U.S. national interests in the Indo-Pacific area of operations.