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The world’s largest international maritime exercise took place in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California with 26 nations, 45 ships, five submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel participating.
“Capable, Adaptive, Partners” was the theme of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016 exercise which concluded Aug. 4, after more than a month of training events.
The world’s largest international maritime exercise took place in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California with 26 nations, 45 ships, five submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel participating.
Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Cheyenne (SSN 773) transits in close formation as one of 40 ships and submarines representing 13 international partner nations during Rim of the Pacific 2016. (U.S. Navy Combat Camera photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ace Rheaume/Released)
RIMPAC provided a unique training opportunity that helped participants foster and sustain cooperative relationships critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans.
Sailors man the rails aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as the ship enters Pearl Harbor during Rim of the Pacific 2016. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Tomas Compian)
Explosive ordnance disposal technicians assigned to Commander, Task Unit 177.2.1 from the Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center, retrieve an inert mine during a mine-hunting exercise in support of the Southern California portion of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Bryan Jackson/Released)
Hosted by U.S. Pacific Fleet, RIMPAC 2016 was led by U.S. Vice Adm. Nora Tyson, commander of the U.S. 3rd Fleet, who served as the combined task force commander. “RIMPAC 2016 was an unqualified success,” saidTyson. “The collaboration and cohesiveness between participants proved that we can operate effectively with our partner nations and that we will be ready in the Pacific if or when we’re called upon. We operated as an effective team while simultaneously strengthening the skills of each and every participant. To safely and effectively execute an exercise of this scale and scope is a tribute to the leadership and skill of every participating unit. I could not be more proud of everyone who took part, and I value the friendships that we built.”
The amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) conducts flight operations near the island of Hawaii. America is underway conducting maritime exercises with partner nations for Rim of the Pacific 2016. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan Riley/Released)
An EA-18G Growler assigned to the Wizards of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jake Greenberg/Released)
Tyson said the involvement of so many different countries working together to successfully accomplish RIMPAC was a strong reminder of the unity coalition forces can exhibit in a real-world situation.
Landing Craft, Air Cushion 44, assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU 5), approaches the well deck of amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22) during the final amphibious assault of Rim of the Pacific 2016. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Joseph M. Buliavac)
The nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) conducts helicopter operations at sunset during Rim of the Pacific 2016. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jason Noble)
“From the beginning harbor phase to the closing ceremony reception, the different nations have demonstrated their capability and proven themselves to be very adaptive during the entire exercise,” said Tyson. “It’s all about our working together and becoming better partners and understanding how we work together in different scenarios. We’ve certainly accomplished what we set out to with RIMPAC and proven that we’re stronger as allies because of it.”
Sailors stationed on littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) test twin-boom expandable crane operations during Rim of the Pacific 2016. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Michaela Garrison/Released)
This year’s RIMPAC marked the 25th in the series, which began in 1971. The exercise held every two years.
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