Two Navy ships are about to be decommissioned and heavy-lifted back to San Diego, as part of a ship swap.
Special Section: San Diego Military News
In their place, two new and more capable "mine counter-measure ships" will head to Japan in May.
USS Pioneer and USS Chief will become part of the Navy's Forward Deployed Naval Forces.
They will replace USS Avenger and USS Defender.
Both ships have served the U.S. Navy for a combined 52 years.
