Hachinohe, Aomori
In 2011, USS "Tortuga" participated in disaster relief after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. As part of "Operation Tomodachi", the ship transported Japanese Self-Defense Force servicemen and equipment from Hokkaido to Honshu island. Divers from the ship helped map and clear debris from the ports of Hachinohe, Aomori and Miyako, Iwate, facilitating both ports to reopen to ship traffic.