RIMPAC 2008
TEN NATIONS WILL PARTICIPATE IN COMBINED AND JOINT EXERCISE IN THE PACIFIC
Members of the Australian Defence Force will combine with forces representing nine other nations in the waters off Hawaii during Exercise RIMPAC 2008.
RIMPAC 08 will bring together maritime, air and land forces from Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Netherlands, Peru, Republic of Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.
This year’s exercise – to be conducted from 29 June through 31 July - is the twenty-first in a series of RIMPAC exercises conducted periodically since 1971.
RIMPAC has grown exponentially. This year’s exercise includes 35 surface combatant ships, including a carrier task group, six submarines, more than 150 aircraft and 20,000 sailors, marines, soldiers, airmen and Coastguardsmen.
Australian units, HMA Ships Anzac, Tobruk, Success and Waller, Australian Clearance Diving Team Four, two AP3C Orion Maritime Patrol aircraft, three RAAF crews, and a headquarters element will participate in the exercise.
For the first time, amphibious landing craft specialists from the Australian Army will deploy ashore, together with their Canadian counterparts.
RIMPAC 08 is intended to enhance the tactical proficiency of participating units in a wide array of combined operations at sea. By enhancing interoperability, RIMPAC helps to promote stability in the Pacific Rim region to the benefit of all participating nations.
Commander US Third Fleet, Vice Admiral Samuel J. Locklear is the Combined Task Force Commander, responsible for overall coordination of the exercise. Commodore David Johnston of the Royal Australian Navy is the Deputy Combined Maritime Component Commander.
All media interested in covering RIMPAC events should contact the Media Operations Centre in Canberra on (02) 6265 3343.