• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Coalition Invades Bellows Beach at RIMPAC

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS040722-09
Release Date: 7/22/2004 7:00:00 PM

By Journalist 1st Class Daniel J. Calderón, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- Sailors, Marines and coalition forces from Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 3 conducted an amphibious assault exercise at Bellows Beach on the island of Oahu July 20.

The attack was part of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2004 exercises that have been conducted around the Hawaiian Islands over the past few weeks. The assault of the beach simulated an end to the ground forces of the fictitious "Country Orange," which had been operating from areas around Hawaii.

The forces invading Bellows Beach came in on amphibious assault vehicles and landing craft air cushion from USS Rushmore (LSD 47) and USS Tarawa (LHA 1). A helicopter insert, in which helicopters from Tarawa flew over simulated Country Orange assets to deliver forces, was also part of the invasion force.

"We've got a more chronological exercise," said Lt. Cmdr. Dave Tietzel, of the Royal Australian Navy. Tietzel has been assigned to Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet for two years and is the RIMPAC coordinator. "It was good the way we did it before, but you didn't get a good overall picture."

In past RIMPAC exercises, the training was conducted separately, and many of the forces involved did not get an appreciation for how the entire operation was happening.

"We try and train as we fight," said Tietzel.

This involved synchronizing assaults on various Country Orange assets, including sea, air and land attacks at targets on several islands, as well as on and below the Pacific Ocean.

"Diesel boats are quieter and slower, so they're harder to find," said Tietzel. "For this exercise, we had three nuclear subs and four diesel-powered ones. One from Australia, Japan, Chile and Korea. They're harder to find, but they have to surface more often."

Tietzel said the simulated undersea battles against diesel submarines are vital, since many nations that do not have nuclear submarine technology are using the slower, quieter subs. Coalition submarines were able to eliminate the danger from Country Orange boats.

Once the threat from Country Orange's air and sea assets had been eliminated in the water and on other islands, the attack on Bellows Beach was ready to proceed. Tietzel said this year's exercise helped coalition nations become more focused.

"It used to be two big nations with carrier groups lobbing stuff at each other from a distance," he said. "Now, it's a lot more 'whites of the eyes' stuff."

He likened the current stratagems employed to playing "underwater chess," since coalition forces had to anticipate what the enemy forces might throw at them.

With the RIMPAC exercise, coalition forces were able to conduct mine clearing exercises before moving on to the air warfare portion. Then, ground assets could be utilized once the area had been "softened" by air strikes. Once the area had been hit from the air, U.S. Marines and coalition forces, including a company from the Royal Australian Regiment, assaulted the area in AAVs [amphibious assault vehicles] and LCAC [landing craft air cushioned].

"Marines are here to assault through to an objective," said Marine Staff Sgt. Jeff Middleton, with Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay. "Once they get through, they secure the beach head then become the lifeline for Marines coming in [after them]."

Tietzel said the entire exercise was performed well, despite the hurdles encountered.

"We're pleased with the way it's progressed, and we're pleased with the coverage," he said. "Everyone involved is getting good training.

We've come a long way in being able to talk with each other," he continued. "Now, we're able to talk at the level we've always wanted to before. We don't let little things stop us. We find ways around problems."

Tietzel credits the pre-war game interaction as crucial to the enhanced communication. In addition to the camaraderie, RIMPAC showed how coalition forces could counter strikes with no one nation carrying the full weight of the strike force.

"Everyone's downsizing their forces based on what other countries can provide," said Tietzel. "Australia doesn't have a carrier because we know the U.S. can provide that. A coalition is the only way anyone's going to go in and do anything."