BAY OF BENGAL (April 5, 2021) The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship JS Akebono (DD 108), front, and French navy ship FS Tonnerre (L9014) maneuver through the Bay of Bengal during La Perouse 2021. The amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) is part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group with embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. La Perouse is an exercise during the annual French navy midshipman deployment called Mission Jeanne d'Arc. The exercise is designed to conduct training, enhance cooperation in maritime surveillance, maritime interdiction operations, and air operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brendan Mullin)