3 U.S. naval ships make port call in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Three ships of the U.S. navy Amphibious Squadron Three started to make a port visit in Hong Kong on Monday to get replenishment.

The flagship of the Amphibious Squadron Three, USS Peleliu, pulled into the Ocean Terminal besides Tsim Sha Tsui, on the northern bank of the landmark Victoria Harbor in the morning. The other two ships anchored in waters outside the Harbor.

Capt. Shawn Lobree, commander of the Amphibious Squadron Three, told reporters that the squadron had finished many months of deployment in the U.S. Fifth Fleet and visited Dubai before coming to Hong Kong.

While reporters continued asking him the relation between this visit and the tension on the Korean Peninsular, Lobree repeatedly responded to them by saying it was just "a routine visit."

"The purpose of our visit is strictly for leisure. This is a routine visit. It has been planned for a very long time. It doesn' t have anything to do with political things happening now. (It is) just a routine visit for the sailors and marines onboard the three ships."

The three ships and more than 2,500 sailors and marines are expected to stay in Hong Kong for four days.

Lobree said USS Peleliu would host the Chinese army and the navy on the ship on Tuesday, during which the U.S. side would show the Chinese representatives the ship and talk about the capabilities.

Lobree also said it is unusual for a ship of this size to be able to come to the pier side in any port and the squadron is very grateful for the opportunity.

The USS Peleliu (LHA-5), named for the Battle of Peleliu of World War II, is a Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship which entered service in 1980. It is about 250 meters long and 32.5 meters wide. Its full displacement reaches 39,438 long tons.

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