Australian ships arrive for world's largest maritime exercise
29 Jun 2010
Australian ships and personnel have arrived in Pearl Harbour, Hawaii ready to begin their participation in Exercise Rim of the Pacific(RIMPAC 10). RIMPAC is the largest multi-national maritime exercise in the world.
HMA ships Warramunga and Kanimbla made the transit from Australia and berthed in time for the Harbour Phase of the Exercise. This initial phase covers planning conferences, sporting competitions and a few days rest for ships companies before they sail again for the at-sea part of the exercise. HMAS Newcastle, fresh from a visit to Canada will also participate. As Royal Australian Navy ships were secured alongside, they joined ships from USA, Canada, Singapore, South Korea, Japan and France which had already arrived for the month-long exercise.
Personnel from Australian ships will play a significant role, with live missile firings planned for the Guided Missile Frigates Newcastle and Warramunga while Kanimbla will be involved in amphibious landings. This will also be the final RIMPAC for Navy’s Sea King Helicopters (817 Squadron), which are scheduled to be withdrawn from service in 2011.
According to Commodore Stuart Mayer, leader of the Australian contingent, RIMPAC is an essential training ground for our sailors and soldiers who will soon work out of the Royal Australian Navy’s new Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships.
“Our new LHDs will be more than Navy ships, they will be a truly joint capability,” Commodore Mayer said.
“The LHDs and their landing craft will be jointly crewed by Navy, Army and Air Force and the people who serve on these ships will be part of a world class amphibious warfare capability.”
Some of Commodore Mayer’s team will receive first hand exposure to ships similar to our new LHDs during RIMPAC. The Amphibious Task Group, which includes a command element and soldiers from Townsville’s 2 Royal Australian Regiment is based on the United States Ship Bonhomme Richard, a similar class LHD to the ones Australia will receive in 2014 and 2015.
Navy is also providing 69 members from Australian Clearance Diving Teams who will operate in two separate teams during the exercise. The Royal Australian Air Force is providing AP – 3C Orion aircraft, as well as co-ordination centre staff.
Related Stories
- ADF Shines as World’s Largest Maritime Exercise Comes to an End in Hawaii
- Thoughts on RIMPAC 2010
- Navy Divers Get The Job Done at RIMPAC 2010
- A Glimpse of an Amphibious Future at RIMPAC 2010
- Sea Kings Bid Farewell to RIMPAC
- RIMPAC A Win For High End Warfighting
- 3rd Fleet Admiral Talks to Navy News
- Training Amphib Style
- Navy Band Rocks Bonhomme Richard
- Clearance Divers at RIMPAC 2010
- HMAS Warramunga fires missiles in RIMPAC 2010
- Navy and Army team up at RIMPAC 2010
- Navy Band a hit at RIMPAC 2010
- 817 Squadron tours Aviation museum at RIMPAC 2010
- HMAS Kanimbla strives for RIMPAC Sports glory
- Australian ships arrive for world's largest maritime exercise
- Navy prepares for world's largest maritime exercise
- Aussie Sailor gets Hawaiian Honeymoon
- HMAS Newcastle arrives for RIMPAC 2010
- Cry Havoc takes aim at RIMPAC
