PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii –
Multinational task force consisting of nine ships from four nations arrived in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, June 24, after participating in a group sail from Guam to participate in the 24th biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise.
Led by Capt. Patrick Kelly, commanding officer of the guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65), the task force included maritime forces from Brunei, the People's Republic of China, Singapore and the United States.
"During our transit from the Guam Operating Area to Pearl Harbor, we refined our interoperability and strengthened our partnerships with a number of exercises involving personnel exchanges, weapons firing, shiphandling and maneuvering drills and communications exercises," added Kelly. "We are honored to have been chosen for this opportunity and we have learned and benefitted greatly from this experience. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and training during RIMPAC."
RIMPAC 2014, conducted by Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, marks the first time in which maritime forces from Brunei and China will participate in the world's largest international maritime exercise.
"The multinational group sail has provided a wonderful opportunity to establish working and personal relationships with the navies from Brunei, China and Singapore in preparation for RIMPAC," said Kelly. "Although the planning began months ago, the realities associated with four different navies converging at sea to transit together are always challenging."
Ships taking part in the group sail included USS Chosin (CG 65) and USS Howard (DDG 83); along with KDB Darulaman (OPV 08) and KDB Darussalam (OPV 06) of the Royal Brunei Navy; PLA(N) Haikou (DD 171), PLA(N) Yueyang (FF 575), PLA(N) Qiandaohu (AO 886), and PLA(N) Peace Ark (T-AH 866) from the Chinese navy; and the Republic of Singapore Navy's RSS Intrepid (F 69). Each of the ships, with the exception of Howard, will participate in RIMPAC.
The planning for the 2014 RIMPAC exercise has been ongoing for more than a year and is focused on enduring maritime force capabilities. The event is scheduled to take place in the Hawaiian Operating Area and off-shore ranges including: Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Bellows Air Force Station, Pohakulao Training Area and Schofield Barracks. Some training events are also scheduled to occur off the coast of Southern California.
Beginning in 1971, RIMPAC is intended to provide a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of the sea-lanes and security of the world's oceans.
The theme of RIMPAC 2014 exercise is "Capable, Adaptive, Partners."