NNS020729-24. RIMPAC 2002 Ends: Allies Head Home
By Journalist 1st Class Barbara Bailey, RIMPAC Combined Information Bureau
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- They came to Hawaii as allies -- they leave as friends. Eight nations came to the bi-annual Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises to combine strategies and tactics, to teach and to learn.
Participants met July 21 at Sharkey Theater, Naval Station Pearl Harbor, to close RIMPAC 2002 and share their thoughts on this year's exercise.
With no carrier battle group participating this year, the main focus of RIMPAC 2002 was anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations. All participating units had the opportunity to have contact with operational force ships and submarines, with 400 hours of submarine service provided to the multi-national force (MNF).
This year also provided 240 hours of theater undersea warfare combat (TUSC) participation, a marked increase from RIMPAC 2000.
Participants far exceeded goals and expectations, and achieved many milestones. A total of 521 flights were successfully completed with more than 300 rounds of ammunition fired, including 15 torpedoes, 20 surface-to-air missiles and 17 Harpoon missiles.
In the ship-sinking exercise (SINKEX), three decommissioned ships and 20 air targets were destroyed. The Republic of Korea fired the Harpoon missile for the first time, hitting the target with precision -- to the pride of all participants.
RIMPAC 2002 was coordinated by Lt. Cmdr. Bruce Legge of the Royal Australian Navy -- another first. Legge took on the 18 months of intensive planning as part of a two-year officer exchange program.
Australia brought two new ships to RIMPAC. Canada, despite heavy commitment in operation Enduring Freedom, sent three mine-clearing vessels that successfully cleared the way for the Marine amphibious assault exercise held on Kauai.
Canada's maritime coastal defense vessels (MCDV) normally range 100 miles from the coast. This was the furthest they have traveled, sailing more than 2,400 miles to participate.
Peru marked its first participation in a RIMPAC exercise. In his closing statements, Capt. Luis Chumbiauca, senior Peruvian officer, expressed appreciation for the support and friendship offered by all participants. "We are sea warriors," Chumbianuca said. "We had to face difficult matters aboard and appreciated the support. We gained valuable experience."
"An effective MNF needs three things," said Cmdr. Cristian De la Maza, senior Chilean officer. "TWT -- talk, will and trust. Talk, to communicate; will, the will to succeed; and trust, to cooperate together."
Rear Adm. Mark Edwards closed the outbrief, thanking all who participated. "RIMPAC 2002 was more robust, the most intensive ASW RIMPAC to date. All nations worked aggressively to minimize and solve problems. It was a chance to forge relationships with nations we will work with in the future," Edwards said.
More than 30 ships participated in RIMPAC 2002. "But the three most important ships are leadership, partnership and friendship," Edwards said.
Edwards reiterated that the goal of RIMPAC 2002 was to improve and hone the skills needed to prosecute the diesel submarine, and it was immensely successful.
"No one platform can execute this alone," Edwards said. "This is definitely a team sport."
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