US Navy (USN) guided missile cruisers and destroyers assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15 (DESTON 15), cruise in formation during a transit of the Tsugaru Strait as part of a bilateral Annual Exercise 2005 (ANNUALEX) with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF). ANNUALEX focuses on improving the military-to-military relationship between the US and Japan, improving bilateral interoperability, defending Japan against maritime threats and to improve capability for surface warfare, air defense and undersea warfare. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy, seen onhttp://www.visualintel.net)

US Navy (USN) guided missile cruisers and destroyers assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15 (DESTON 15), cruise in formation during a transit of the Tsugaru Strait as part of a bilateral Annual Exercise 2005 (ANNUALEX) with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF). ANNUALEX focuses on improving the military-to-military relationship between the US and Japan, improving bilateral interoperability, defending Japan against maritime threats and to improve capability for surface warfare, air defense and undersea warfare. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy, seen onhttp://www.visualintel.net)