USS Pearl Harbor Departs for RIMPAC SOCAL

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class James Vazquez | SAN DIEGO (July 7, 2016) The amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) transits the San Diego Bay en route to take part in the Southern California portion of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016 exercise. Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 to Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class James Vazquez/Released)  

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

07.07.2016

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Curtis Spencer 

Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet           

SAN DIEGO (NNS)--The USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) departed her homeport of Naval Base San Diego July 7 for the biennial Rim of the Pacific 2016 exercise taking place in and around Southern California.

“It is an honor to take part in this year’s RIMPAC,” said Cmdr. Judd Krier, Pearl Harbor’s Commanding Officer. “This is a unique opportunity to train with our partner nations. We will all greatly benefit from the knowledge that will be learned and shared during this evolution.”

Pearl Harbor departed Naval Base San Diego for the Southern California coast where her crew will work with embarked partner nations during training evolutions including: small boat, well deck, flight and dive operations. For many Sailors aboard Pearl Harbor, this is their first opportunity to work alongside service members from foreign militaries.

“In the Navy we conduct operations all over the world,” said Lt. Walker Adams, Pearl Harbor’s Operations Officer. “RIMPAC gives us the opportunity to host multiple nations and build interoperability, a valuable asset when we deploy.”

Pearl Harbor will be hosting personnel from the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Mexican Navy, German Armed Forces, and the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force.

Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 to August 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. As the world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

For more information on RIMPAC 2016, http://www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac/
For more information on U.S. Third Fleet, visit www.c3f.navy.mil.

• Date Taken: 07.07.2016
• Date Posted: 07.08.2016 18:14
• Story ID: 203460
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US