DVIDS – News – Ships and aircraft from partner nations take part in sinking exercise

PACIFIC OCEAN – Live fire from Rim of the Pacific 2022, partner nation ships and aircraft sank the decommissioned ex-USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60) on July 12, in waters 15,000 feet deep , 50 nautical miles
North of Kauai.

Units from Australia, Canada, Malaysia and the United States participated in the Sinking Exercise (SINKEX) to gain
proficiency in tactics, targeting and live fire against a surface target at sea.

“SINKEX was a professionally rewarding experience for the crew of KD Lekir,” said Admiral Mohd Reza Mohd Sany, Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy. “These events provide an excellent platform for
improve interoperability between participating navies.

Live-fire events provide realistic training that hones partner nation abilities to plan, communicate and
conduct complex maritime operations such as precision and long-range strike capabilities.

“This exercise provided an excellent opportunity for the extremely talented Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen who make up the RIMPAC 2022 team to hone their skills in a live-fire environment,” said Royal Canadian Navy Rear Admiral Christopher Robinson, Commanding Officer Deputy of RIMPAC. Joint working group. “There is nothing that really replaces the training value of opportunities like this, which allow us to test our weapons
and their associated combat systems as realistically as possible. These live-fire exercises are essential to maintain our skills, strengthen our interoperability and increase our readiness for the future.
operations. »

Former Navy vessels used in SINKEX are prepared in strict accordance with regulations prescribed and enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency under a general permit the Navy holds under
the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act. Each SINKEX must sink the hull in at least 1,000 fathoms (6,000 feet) of water and at least 50 nautical miles from land. Surveys are conducted to
ensure that humans and marine mammals are not in an area where they could be harmed during the event.

“The coordinated firing of anti-ship munitions is a complex activity. This SINKEX demonstrates the interchangeability of capable and adaptable RIMPAC partners,” said Royal Australian Navy Commodore Paul O’Grady, RIMPAC Maritime Forces Component Commander. “In doing so,
significant steps have been taken to protect the maritime training environment.

Before the vessel is transported to participate in a SINKEX, each vessel undergoes a rigorous cleaning process, including the removal of all polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), transformers and large capacitors, all small capacitors in as far as possible, waste, floatables containing mercury or fluorocarbons and elements containing easily detachable solid PCBs. Oil is also cleaned from tanks, piping and reservoirs.

Ex-Rodney M. Davis was the first ship to be named after the United States Marine Corps Sergeant who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor after being fatally wounded during the Vietnam War. The
The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate was commissioned on May 9, 1987, and conducted several joint operations with embarked Coast Guard law enforcement detachments, disrupting
human trafficking and drug routes. The ship was decommissioned on January 23, 2015.

Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft, more than 30 unmanned systems and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to August 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and California from South. The largest international maritime exercise in the world, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and maintaining cooperative relationships among participants essential to keeping sea lanes safe and the world’s oceans safe. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series which began in 1971.

-USN-

NOTE TO MEDIA:
All interview requests related to Exercise RIMPAC 2022 should be directed to RIMPAC Combined
News desk at [email protected].
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