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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Wednesday, June 19, 2002

OTHER NEWS
War thins RIMPAC's ranks

 •  Graphic: Comparing the numbers

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

Rim of the Pacific, one of the largest military maritime exercises in the world, is feeling the effects of war.

RIMPAC 2002, scheduled to begin Monday, will bring 36 ships, 26 aircraft and 11,000 military personnel from nine nations to Hawai'i for a month of naval training.

Two years ago, the biennial exercise drew 50 ships, 200 aircraft and 22,000 military personnel from seven nations to Pearl Harbor.

"It is at reduced numbers — numbers of assets, number of personnel participating — primarily because a number of countries have assets committed to the war on terrorism," said Cmdr. Jacquie Yost, a spokeswoman with the Navy's Third Fleet in San Diego.

The Third Fleet organizes RIMPAC, which has been held periodically since 1971. Ships taking part in the war games are expected to begin arriving today.

Yost said the reductions are across the board from the participating nations, which include the United States, Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, France, South Korea, the United Kingdom and an addition this year — Peru.

Absent from this year's exercise, which runs through July 22, is a U.S. aircraft carrier and accompanying air wing, which account for about 5,000 service personnel. Two years ago, the USS Abraham Lincoln took part in RIMPAC.

"We had a two-carrier presence in the (Arabian) Gulf since October, and there's been some accelerated deployment duties for some of the carriers," Yost said, "so that carrier battle group commitment to the war on terrorism has meant we are not able to bring a carrier and air wing to RIMPAC this year."

Still, Navy officials say RIMPAC remains a significant exercise with the purpose of improving tactical proficiency and cooperation at sea while promoting stability in the Pacific Rim. At the same time, RIMPAC injects tourist dollars into the local economy.

Sailors take leave before and after the exercises and stay in hotels, eat at restaurants and see the sights. RIMPAC typically means millions of dollars for local hoteliers and merchants.

"It's clear RIMPAC is a boost when you have this many people coming in and spending money," said John Mapes, an economist with the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism's research and economic analysis division.

Pearl Harbor-based ships — including the guided missile cruiser USS Port Royal, guided missile destroyer USS O'Kane, guided missile frigate USS Crommelin, attack submarines USS Honolulu and Key West, and Coast Guard cutter Kiska — are participating in RIMPAC 2002. The event is being held north and south of O'ahu, at Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island, and in conjunction with the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kaua'i.

Three Navy P-3 Orion maritime surveillance and anti-submarine aircraft based at the Marine Corps base at Kane'ohe Bay will be involved in this year's exercises, which have an anti-submarine emphasis. Most of the 3rd Marine Regiment, about 2,000 Marines, will also participate in RIMPAC. Marines will be involved in an amphibious "off-load" at Bellows Air Force Station in mid-July and in exercises on the Big Island through the month of July, officials said.

Yost said two separate "surface action groups" will be formed for the exercises involving ships from the United States and Japan — which will be the first to leave port — and the United States and other nations.

Among this year's exercises, which typically include air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missiles, will be three "sink exercises" with old Navy ships as targets and using submarine, surface and air forces.

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