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MSC Participates in RIMPAC Exercise

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS040721-18
Release Date: 7/21/2004 7:33:00 PM

From Military Sealift Command Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Five Military Sealift Command (MSC) ships are participating in the 19th biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise June 29 through July 27 off the waters of Hawaii.

Pacific Rim countries United States, Chile, Canada, South Korea, Australia and Japan, are participating in the exercise to promote cooperation and compatibility in future missions.

Of the 40 ships and submarines participating in the exercise, there are five MSC ships involved. Fast combat support ship USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7), fleet replenishment oiler USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO 193), break bulk ship SS Cape Girardeau (T-AK 2039), and ocean surveillance ships USNS Loyal (T-AGOS 22) and USNS Effective (T-AGOS 21) are vital contributors to RIMPAC.

Some of the scenarios that will be played out during RIMPAC include sinking decommissioned ships, simulated anti-submarine warfare and a humanitarian assistance mission.

The main mission of Diehl, Rainier and Cape Girardeau during the exercise is to provide supplies and fuel for the other ships. Diehl will provide fuel to the 40 participants while under way, allowing the exercise to continue around the clock. Rainier will also provide supplies for the ships, in addition to fuel.

"We are extremely proud to be taking part in this multinational force for this year's RIMPAC, and we are keeping busy," explained Capt. Mike Leahy, master of Rainier.

Ready Reserve Force ship Cape Girardeau has been activated from her reduced operating status to function as a resupplying platform. Cargo will be taken from Cape Girardeau and then dispersed among the other participating ships. The ship is crewed by four teams of Naval Reservist cargo afloat rig teams (CART). The CART teams are made up of members of several Reserve units for the purpose of training.

Two different 50-person teams will be used during the exercise to transfer cargo. The remaining teams will attend the ship as she travels back and forth between her layberth and Hawaii.

Both Loyal and Effective are equipped with sensor systems that can be used to track submarines. During RIMPAC, they will interact with the seven submarines participating in mock anti-submarine warfare.

RIMPAC is a valuable training exercise for the 18,000 people participating. Although MSC ships will be involved with more ships than normal during RIMPAC, the exercise will only sharpen the skills the crews use every day.

Operating an average of 120 ships a day, MSC is actively supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, in addition to participating in training exercises such as RIMPAC.