USS Ronald Reagan returns to Northwest, but won't arrive in Bremerton just yet

The USS Ronald Reagan arrived in the Pacific Northwest on Thursday, at the Navy's Indian Island facility, but its not settling into its new homeport just yet. The aircraft carrier will head to San Diego to do hull swap operations with the USS George Washington before relocating to Bremerton, the Navy said.

The ship's arrival at the Naval Magazine Indian Island was confirmed by Julianne Leinenveber, a spokesperson at Navy Region Northwest. As a matter of operational security, the Navy doesn't discuss specific dates regarding future ship movements, but the Ronald Reagan will first stop at Naval Air Station North Island to conduct hull swap operations with USS George Washington, Beth Teach, a spokesperson at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego told the Kitsap Sun in an email.

More: USS Ronald Reagan departs Japan for final Indo-Pacific patrol before relocating to Bremerton

The George Washington arrived in San Diego on July 10.

The Ronald Reagan departed Japan in mid-May for the ship's final patrol in the Indo-Pacific region. The ship participated in the Valiant Shield 2024 multinational exercise and then visited Guam from June 19 to June 22.

The George Washington will return to the 7th Fleet, relieving the Ronald Reagan as the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier stationed in Yokosuka, Japan, and the Ronald Reagan will relocate to Bremerton for a scheduled docking planned incremental availability period at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: USS Ronald Reagan returns to Northwest, but won't arrive in Bremerton just yet