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International Exercises: Warships prepare for massive exercise
June 8, 2012
By Shelley Lipke
Warships of the Pacific Fleet are getting ready for a month-long trip south to participate in the largest international maritime exercise - Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012.
Canada will join 21 nations from June 29 to August 3 in a variety of combat exercises off the coast of Hawaii, designed to maintain and improve their ability to work together.
“The scope of this year’s RIMPAC is huge,” says Commander Julian Barnard, Canadian Fleet Pacific Fleet Operations Officer. “This is the largest RIMPAC to date. It’s a great force generation training opportunity where a significant number of assets are available to gain a full spectrum of training.”
New this year will be the participation of HMCS Victoria – the first time a Victoria-class submarine has been involved. HMC Ships Algonquin, Ottawa, Brandon, Saskatoon and Yellowknife, along with Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific), will also take part in the exercise.
“We are definitely looking forward to it,” says Cdr Barnard. “It’s a great challenge and an interesting opportunity. We are looking to gain as much experience as we can.”
This year Canadian military officers will hold three senior positions in RIMPAC 2012. Rear-Admiral Ron Lloyd will be the Deputy Commander Combined Task Force; Brigadier-General Michael Hood will be the Combined Forces Air Component Commander; and Commodore Peter Ellis will serve as the Commander Combined Task Force 176, an amphibious task group led by USS Essex.
Photo : Jacek Szymanski
HMCS Victoria will be the first Victoria-class submarine to participate in RIMPAC.
At sea, warships will take part in scripted exercises that involve gunnery, missile firings and training serials. On the ground, more than 150 soldiers from the Royal Canadian Army’s 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry will work beside United States Marine Corps members and other coalition units in an exercise to practise the evacuation of non-combatants.
Up above, four CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft from 14 Wing Greenwood, N.S., and 19 Wing Comox, B.C., seven CF-188 Hornet fighter jets from 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alta, and two CH-124 Sea King detachments assigned to Algonquin and Ottawa will join military aircraft from other nations in aerial exercises.
Additionally, more than 100 Canadian Forces members will provide logistics and other support, and occupy a variety of staff and leadership positions within RIMPAC.
RIMPAC began as an annual exercise in 1971, and since 1974 has been scheduled every second year. This year’s exercise involves more than 40 ships, six submarines and more than 200 aircraft, as well as 25,000 personnel.
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