'Rim of Pacific' Maritime Exercise Kicks Off June 26

American Forces Press Service

SAN DIEGO, June 24, 2014 - Twenty-three nations, 47 ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel will participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific, or RIMPAC, maritime exercise scheduled June 26 to Aug. 1 in and around the Hawaiian Islands.

The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2014 is the 24th exercise in the series, which began in 1971.

Brunei and China are slated to participate in RIMPAC for the first time in 2014.

This year's exercise also includes forces from Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Hosted by U.S. Pacific Fleet, RIMPAC 2014 will be led by Navy Vice Adm. Kenneth Floyd, commander of the U.S. 3rd Fleet, who will serve as the Combined Task Force commander. Royal Australian Navy Rear Adm. Simon Cullen will serve as deputy commander of the CTF, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Rear Adm. Yasuki Nakahata will be the vice commander.

Other key leaders of the multinational force will include Rear Adm. Gilles Couturier of the Royal Canadian Navy, who will command the maritime component, Air Commodore Chris Westwood of the Royal Australian Air Force, who will command the air component, and U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Richard Simcock, who will lead the land component.

RIMPAC 2014 also will include, for the first time, a special operations component, to be led by U.S. Navy Capt. William Stevens. Also for the first time at RIMPAC this year, two hospital ships, USNS Mercy and PLA(N) Peace Ark, will participate in the exercise.

This year's exercise theme is "Capable, Adaptive Partners." The participating nations and forces will exercise a wide range of capabilities and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of maritime forces. These capabilities range from disaster relief and maritime security operations to sea control and complex warfighting.

The relevant, realistic training syllabus includes amphibious operations and gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air defense exercises, as well as counterpiracy, explosive ordnance disposal, and mine clearance, diving and salvage operations.