USS Sterett (DDG-104), front, participates in a photo exercise with Chilean Frigate Almirante Lynch (FF-07), second, Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341), third, French Navy Floreal-class frigate FS Prairial (F-731), fourth, United States Coast Guard Cutter USCHC Bertholf (WMSL-750), fifth, the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10), sixth, and Royal Canadian Navy commercial container ship Asterix. US Navy Photo
About 25,000 naval personnel and 52 ships and submarines from 26 countries will participate in this year’s Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, which begins on Wednesday.
RIMPAC, the world’s largest international maritime exercise, includes rehearsal scenarios that cover disaster relief, amphibious operations, anti-piracy work, missile shots, mine clearance, maritime security, anti-submarine warfare and air defense operations, according to a statement released by U.S. 3rd Fleet.
During the course of the exercise, a series of live-fire events are scheduled, including: a long-range anti-ship missile (LRASM) shot by a U.S. Air Force aircraft; a surface-to-ship missile shot by members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force; and a naval strike missile (NSM) shot by the U.S. Army from a launcher on the back of a palletized load system (PLS), marking the first time a land-based unit is participating in a RIMPAC live-fire event, according to the 3rd Fleet statement.
Joining the U.S. military this year at RIMPAC are forces from the following nations: Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.
China had initially been invited to participate in this year’s RIMPAC but had its invitation revoked in May due to the nation’s continued militarization of artificial islands in the South China Sea, according to Pentagon officials.
In total, the exercise will involve 26 nations, 25,000 personnel, land forces from 18 countries, 47 surface ships, five submarines and more than 200 aircraft. The exercise spans from June 27 to Aug. 2 in both the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.
Australia
HMAS Adelaide (L01). US Navy Photo
HMAS Adelaide (L-01)
HMAS Melbourne (FFG-05)
HMAS Rankin (SSG-78)
HMAS Success (OR-304)
HMAS Toowoomba (FFH-156)
Canada
HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341). US Navy Photo
HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341)
HMCS Vancouver (FFH-331)
HMCS Whitehorse (MM-705)
HMCS Yellowknife (MM-706)
MV Asterix
Chile
CNS Almirante Lynch (FF-07)
CNS Almirante Lynch (FF-07)
France
FS Prairial (F-731). Royal New Zealand Navy Photo
FS Prairial (F-731)
India
INS Sahyadri (F-49)
INS Sahyadri (F-49)
Indonesia
KRI Martadinata (331)
KRI Makassar (590)
KRI Martadinata (OPV-331)
Japan
JS Ise (DDH-182) and USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110). US Navy Photo
JS Ise (DDH-182)
Malaysia
KD Lekiu (FFG-30)
KD Lekiu (FFG-30)
Mexico
The Mexican Navy tank landing ship ARM Usumacinta (A-412) arrives at Naval Base San Diego for the Rim of the Pacific 2016 exercise June 29, 2016. US Marine Corps Photo
ARM Usumacinta (A-412)
New Zealand
HMNZS Te Mana (F-111). New Zealand Navy Photo
HMNZS Te Mana (F-111)
Peru
BAP Ferré (PM-211) US Navy Photo
BAP Ferré (PM-211)
Philippines
BRP Andrés Bonifacio (FF-17)
BRP Andrés Bonifacio (FF-17)
BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602)
Singapore
Republic of Singapore navy guided-missile frigate RSS Tenacious (71) enters Pearl Harbor in preparation for Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2018 on June 25, 2018. US Navy Photo
RSS Tenacious (71)
South Korea
ROK Dae Jo Yeong (DDH-977)
ROKS Dae Jo Yeong (DDH-977)
ROKS Park Wi (SS-065)
ROKS Yulgok Yi (DDG-992)
United States
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on June 20, 2018. US Navy Photo
USCGC Bertholf (WMSL-750)
USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE-7 )
USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE-10)
USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO-187)
USNS Mercy (T-AH-19)
USNS Rappahannock (T-AO-204)
USNS Sioux (T-ATF-171)
USS Ardent (MCM-12)
USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6)
USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)
USS Dewey (DDG-105)
USS Halsey (DDG-97)
USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49)
USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26)
USS Lake Champlain (CG-57)
USS Lake Erie (CG-70)
USS Momsen (DDG-92)
USS O’Kane (DDG-77)
USS Preble (DDG-88)
USS Sterett (DDG-104)
USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110)
HOS Mystique, a private construction vessel similar to ones owned by HOS Hornbeck and chartered by the U.S. Navy in the past to perform submarine and special warfare support, according to the company website.