USS Pearl Harbor Wraps Up RIMPAC SOCAL

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Jonathan Nelson | SAN DIEGO (July 29, 2016) The amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) pulls into Naval Base San Diego after participating in the Southern California portion of Rim of the Pacific 2016. 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. The world’s largest 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 2nd Class Jonathan A. Nelson/Released)  

CA, UNITED STATES

07.29.2016

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Stacy Atkins Ricks 

Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

SAN DIEGO -- Amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) returned to Naval Base San Diego July 29 after completing an underway period in support of the Southern California portion of Rim of the Pacific 2016.

During the exercise, Pearl Harbor hosted service members from the German Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Mexican Navy, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Chilean Army and personnel from the Marine Mammal Systems program.

"Participating in RIMPAC SOCAL was a great experience for our Sailors on board the Pearl Harbor,” said Cmdr. Judd Krier, Pearl Harbor’s commanding officer. “The opportunity to work with partner-nation navies allowed us to broaden our understanding of the benefits of our friendship and partnership."

During the nearly 23-day underway, Pearl Harbor’s crew joined forces with partner nations to complete more than 350 flight operations, including hundreds of touch-and-go deck landing qualifications, resulting in the certification of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CH-146 Griffon and CH-147 Chinook helicopters to land aboard U.S. amphibious dock landing ships.

“It was a neat experience to help Canadian pilots land on our deck. Others nations may not speak our language or know our hand signals, but that is why we train,” said Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Marcus Murphy, an enlisted landing signalman assigned to Pearl Harbor.

The team executed daily well deck and small boat operations in support of the MMS team’s MK-7 evaluation process and mine countermeasures dive operations performed by the embarked partner nations.

“Working with a multinational dive crew and being the first divers to work aboard Pearl Harbor after her maintenance availability was a very satisfying and rewarding experience,” said Leading Seaman Clearance Diver Dave Arnold from Australian Clearance Diving Team One.

Lt. Cmdr. Steffen Schubert, team leader of the German Navy’s Sea Battalion Clearance Diver Unit echoed Arnold’s enthusiasm. “It was a good experience. My team learned how to use new tactics, procedures and technologies and made a lot of lasting friendships at the same time,” said Schubert.

Pearl Harbor also hosted 25 U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen for summer training. Observing RIMPAC SOCAL events was a unique opportunity for them.

“Spending our summer aboard Pearl Harbor, especially during such a huge exercise, is valuable because it helps us understand what life will be like if we decide to become surface warfare officers,” said Midshipmen Yuan Zhang of the United States Naval Academy’s Class of 2019, 7th Company. “It gave me a peek into the type of atmosphere that I want to create when I become an officer.”

Near the end of the underway period, Pearl Harbor’s crew welcomed members of the Royal Canadian Infantry and Chilean Army for an overnight shipboard familiarization visit. Additionally, they made preparations for their upcoming deployment, including qualifying more than 30 Sailors in the use of crew-served weapons.

“It was a successful and beneficial exercise for my crew because they not only honed their amphibious skillsets, but they also gained valuable experience working alongside our partner nations,” said Krier.

Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships, five submarines, 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in the biennial exercise. RIMPAC, the world’s largest international maritime exercise, is designed to foster and sustain cooperative relationships to ensure the safety of sea lanes and security of the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise of the series that began in 1971.

For more information on RIMPAC 2016, visit www.dvidshub.net/feature/RIMPAC.

For more information on U.S. Third Fleet, visit www.c3f.navy.mil.

• Date Taken: 07.29.2016
• Date Posted: 08.02.2016 18:07
• Story ID: 205864
• Location: CA, US