RIMPAC sinkings a success

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

Off the coast of Kaua'i, the 439-foot frigate ex-USS Harold E. Holt withstood the thunderous blows of SM-1 and NATO Sea Sparrow missiles.

U.S. military personnel watch an amphibious assault vehicle land on Waimanalo Beach during the multinational RIMPAC 2002 exercises yesterday. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

Three "sink exercises" held as part of Rim of the Pacific, or RIMPAC naval training — the largest maritime exercises in the world — were held from about 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on three separate days so a succession of ships could have a crack at sinking a real vessel.

The Foster's shelling deep-sixed the Holt just after noon Wednesday.

"But I think everybody got a lot of valuable training and experience out of it," said RIMPAC 2002 spokeswoman Cmdr. Jacquie Yost.

RIMPAC started June 25 off Hawai'i's waters and will wrap up with all ships arriving back at Pearl Harbor Friday and Saturday.

Following a review of the exercise, the ships will depart July 22 and 23.

The sinking of three decommissioned ships was the first big phase of RIMPAC.

The second comes today during the "tactical" phase with an amphibious assault on Kaua'i.

U.S. Marine Pfc. Tim Bergeron, 20, of Houston drives a Light Armored Vehicle Anti-Tank (LAV-AT) during RIMPAC exercises. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

Republic of Korea submarine Nadaeyong and ship Wonju each fired Harpoon anti-ship missiles for the first time on July 8 in a sink exercise involving the ex-USS White Plains.

Both scored direct hits on the ship, which sank in 2,500 fathoms of water, the Navy said.

The exercise also involved gunfire from the Pearl-based guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal, Republic of Korea ship Yangmanchoon, and frigate USS Ingraham.

One Japanese and two Australian P-3 Orion aircraft also fired Harpoon missiles.

On July 5, the ex-USS Rathburne, a 439-foot frigate commissioned in 1970, also was sunk off the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kaua'i.

This year, RIMPAC, which has as its focus anti-submarine warfare, saw the number of forces about halved because of commitments to the ongoing war on terrorism.

Absent from the exercise is an U.S. aircraft carrier, air wing and battle group elements. But Yost said that's paid other dividends.

"It's been an added value for the surface ship personnel and sub personnel to have an exercise solely focused on anti-submarine warfare," she said.

Marines make an amphibious landing on Waimanalo beach. These vehicles provide logistical and defense support to troops who would be on the ground in a real war scenario. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

Part of this week, meanwhile, is focused on Marine Air Ground Task Force capabilities with beach assaults on Kaua'i.

Marines have been training for the exercise on the Big Island, and yesterday at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows with ground forces, helicopters, amphibious assault vehicles and Navy Landing Craft Air-Cushioned, or LCACs. Most of the 3rd Marine Regiment from Kane'ohe Bay, about 2,000 Marines, is participating in RIMPAC.

Today's culmination on Kaua'i replicates a geopolitical situation involving opposing factions calling for a "naval force to go in and exert military force where needed," Yost said.

A mine counter-measures squadron will clear the area prior to Marines going ashore, while opposing ships and subs lurk offshore.

Even though the scenario is scripted, Yost said it's still "wide open for commanders to react and basically decide how their forces are going to react to that scenario."

Different elements of the tactical phase will be practiced during the week, with all ships returning to Pearl Friday and Saturday.

The decommissioned ship White Plains is struck by a Harpoon anti-ship missile during RIMPAC sink exercises. U.S. Navy photo

"It's really unfortunate. No one ever wants to see anything like that happen on any ship," Yost said. "Everyone was saddened this happened. We really put an emphasis on safety and it was unfortunate it did happen."

But the Navy said the exercises overall have done much to bring participating forces together.

The Navy Region Hawai'i Morale, Welfare and Recreation department sponsored 20 sporting events June 25 to 27 for sailors to get to know one another, including a June 27 soccer match between the United States and Peru (the game ended in a shoot-out with the Peruvian crewmembers of the Montero beating a team from the USS Duluth).

Joint command receptions also were held.

Sailors said the land-based interaction helped with their sea duty cooperation.

The Australian submarine HMAS Sheean and U.S. submarine USS Honolulu, based at Pearl Harbor, trained together in RIMPAC and worked in adversary roles to simulate tracking, firing and "attacking."

"When you encounter another submarine out in the open ocean it usually becomes just another contact," said Honolulu's Chief of the Boat, Master Chief Sean Mullanuy. "When you meet the crew you realize they are guys just like us — hard-working sailors. The trust factor really goes up."

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.