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Successful Multinational RIMPAC 2006 Exercise Concludes

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060729-01
Release Date: 7/29/2006 7:55:00 AM

From RIMPAC 2006 Coalition Information Bureau

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- The 20th multinational Rim of the Pacific exercise (RIMPAC) concluded July 28 after a month of intensive warfare training conducted off the coast of the Hawaiian Islands.

The coalition force comprised of eight nations, 35 ships, 160 aircraft and 19,000 personnel returned to Pearl Harbor for a short pause before beginning the final journey home at the end of the month.

“The exercise was a tremendous opportunity to learn and improve how we work together,” said Vice Adm. Barry Costello, commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, “but more importantly, RIMPAC continues to build positive relationships among allied nations who share a common interest in peace, security and stability in the region.”

The month-long exercise was broken into several phases, including a variety of drills and a tactical scenario play. During the initial phase, ships and aircraft worked on improving individual and task group level warfighting skills. Over a period of 10 days, the RIMPAC forces operated in waters off Oahu and Kauai and conducted numerous exercises including live missile, torpedo, and gunnery fire exercises, air defense, surface warfare, undersea warfare, maritime boardings, mine warfare and anti-submarine warfare.

“RIMPAC provides an opportunity to grow and develop professional forces capable of providing stability in our part of the world,” said Australian Commodore Richard Shalders, who served as the RIMPAC sea combat commander aboard HMAS Manoora. “One of the largest exercises in recent years, RIMPAC 2006 was successful as all units performed extremely well, achieving all of our operational aims,” he said.

The last phase of the exercise involved a fictitious scenario where coalition “blue” forces worked to enforce U.N. Security Council Resolutions to prevent country “orange” from overtaking country “green.” As part of this role play, U.S. Marines were used to conduct non-combatant evacuation operations, as well as an amphibious beach assault. The air forces provided close air support, surveillance, air strikes as well as anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

“We had the opportunity to practice operational level command and control, as well as flying various tactical air missions during the exercise. Participation in RIMPAC is critical because there is simply no substitute for the experience gained by planning, training and working in a coalition,” said Canadian Col. John McManus, who served as one of the Combined Force Air Operations Center directors.

Nations participating in RIMPAC 2006 were Australia, Japan, Chile, Canada, Peru, Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.

For related news, visit the Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cnrh/.