Multi-National Mine Countermeasure Coalition Participate in RIMPAC

Photo By Senior Chief Petty Officer Mark Schultz | 180702-N-N0842-9003 SAN DIEGO (Jul. 2, 2018) Royal Netherlands Navy Mine Warfare Technician D. Moseley stands with an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) while calibrating the system's sensors while in port at Naval Base San Diego July 2, during mine countermeasure exercises in the Southern California operating area of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. The Royal Netherlands Navy UUV team is embarked aboard the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Whitehorse (MM 705) for the duration of the exercise to conduct mine clearance operations in support of the Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Commander. Twenty-five nations, 46 ships, five submarines, about 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 27 to Aug. 2 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security of the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2018 is the 26th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy photo by LT Andrew Thompson /Released)  

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

07.09.2018

Courtesy Story

Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet           

SAN DIEGO – Mine Countermeasures Squadron Three and Mine Countermeasures Division Three One, based at Naval Base Point Loma, are leading a coalition of international maritime forces throughout the month of July conducting Mine Countermeasure (MCM) operations as part of the Southern California component of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise 2018.
This Task Group consists of airborne, surface, and underwater assets designed to detect and neutralize potential sea mine threats. Teams from New Zealand and Netherlands deploy unmanned underwater vehicles to search for mines using sonar technology. Explosive Ordnance Disposal dive teams from Japan and New Zealand then visually inspect and defuse the detected mines. U.S and Canadian ships USS Ardent (MCM 12) and HMCS Whitehorse (MM-705) provide mine hunting and removal capability and diving support. MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters from Helicopter Mine-Countermeasures Squadron 14 (HM 14), based in Norfolk, VA, provide mine detection capabilities and airborne mine sweeping capability.
This deep coalition of allies and international partners shows the commitment and proven capabilities of each navy. RIMPAC 2018 provides a realistic training opportunity to develop trusting and flexible relationships with our partners in order to accomplish our shared goal of safe and free waterways around the globe.

• Date Taken: 07.09.2018
• Date Posted: 07.16.2018 21:24
• Story ID: 284509
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US