Canadian Armed Forces successfully complete Exercise RIMPAC 2018

More than 1,000 personnel created a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) contingent that completed Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2018 on August 3, following an intense multi-week program conducted in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The CAF also deployed five ships and a CP-140 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

“RIMPAC 2018 was a fantastic opportunity for Canada’s (military) to exercise a range of capabilities alongside our allies. Canada is a founding member of RIMPAC…we have demonstrated once again, we are a strong, capable partner in the Pacific,” said Rear-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, Deputy Commander, in a press release issued August 3. “As this exercise gets bigger and more nations participate, Canada will expand its knowledge and expertise while creating relationships that endure beyond the end of RIMPAC.”

The team left on June 27, operated alongside around 25,000 military personnel from 24 other nations with more than 200 aircraft and 50 ships and submarines, before returning on August 3. In keeping with the RIMPAC theme of ‘Capable, Adaptive, Partners,’ the CAF contingent demonstrated excellence in the complex land, sea, and air operations while unifying with allied forces.

RIMPAC is the largest maritime exercise in the world. Canada, alongside Australia and the United States, participated in every exercise since the beginning in 1971. This makes RIMPAC 2018 the 26th exercise in the series. It is held every two years, led by the Commander, United States Pacific Fleet, and executed by the Commander, United States 3rd Fleet.

The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) was represented by Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Vancouver, Ottawa, Whitehorse, and Yellowknife, with the Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment ship, Motor Vessel (MV) Asterix. They participated in a wide range of training scenarios like anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction operations, minesweeping and neutralization, command and control and communication operations, ship maneuvering, standard naval drills, weapons firings, and sea combat. MV Asterix conducted 20 successful replenishments at sea.

RCN Clearance Divers were a vital component of RIMPAC 2018, conducting explosive ordnance disposal and salvage diving operations with divers from allied nations.

 Canadian Army soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment, were part of the combined Marine Air-Ground Task Force in Southern California. They conducted many multinational training events, such as multiple live-fire ranges, infantry immersion training, aviation drills, helocasting, and amphibious assault training.

 The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) deployed their CP-140 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, conducting more than a dozen anti-submarine warfare missions, amassing over 100 hours of flying time.

Featured images: 

PACIFIC OCEAN (July 28, 2018) Chilean Navy frigate CNS Almirante Lynch (FF 07) and Indian Navy stealth multi-role frigate INS Sahyadri (F49) perform a replenishment-at-sea with Royal Canadian Navy supply ship MV Asterix (centre) off the coast of Hawaii during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), July 28, 2018. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Arthurgwain L. Marquez/Released)

Wahiawa, Hawaii, USA. 29 July 2016 – A member of the Canadian Armed Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel walks towards his mission objective during a vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) scenario as part of RIMPAC 16 at K bay, “Boondocker” range. (Photo: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Canadian Forces Combat Camera)