HMAS Newcastle arrives for RIMPAC 2010
25 Jun 2010
HMAS Newcastle is the first Australian Navy ship to arrive in Hawaii for Exercise Rim off the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010, after taking part in a rare “Group Sail” from Canada.
At exactly 1030 Newcastle came alongside at Pearl Harbour after what had been a long journey. The upgraded Guided Missile Frigate had been in Canada to participate in a Fleet Review at Esquimalt.
Eleven of the ships who had participated in the event sailed together to Hawaii. Newcastle was joined for the journey by US Ships Chosin (CG 65), Sampson (DDG 102), Ford (FFG 54), McClusky( FFG 41) and Guadalupe (AO 200), Canadian Ships Algonquin (DDG 283) and Calgary (FFH 335), Japanese Ships Atago (DDG 177) and Akebono (DDG 108), and French Ship Prarial (F 731), all under the tactical command of Commander Carrier Strike Group 11, RDML Robert Girrier, USN. The ships comprised Task Force 175.
For many on board, this is their first time in the Island state. “The crew are very excited to be visiting Hawaii’", HMAS Newcastle Commanding Officer Commander Justin Jones said. “There are several sporting events organised for all of us to take part in some friendly rivalry with the other nations participating in RIMPAC prior to the sea phase.”
Newcastle sailed from Sydney on 19 April to complete workup before heading north to Guam, Japan and Exercise Nichi Go Trident, passage to Esquimalt in company with HMNZ Ships Endeavour and Te Kaha and the Canadian International Fleet Review.
HMAS Newcastle, and her crew of 219 are conducting their first overseas deployment since undergoing an extensive upgrade of the ship’s combat systems and weapons systems onboard. HMAS Newcastle is the final FFG to undergo the upgrade and put her systems to the test on the way to Hawaii for the multi-national exercise RIMPAC 2010.
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