Asia Pacific Defense Forum Fall 2000

Multilateral Naval Maneuvers in the Pacific

By Cmdr. Charles D. McWhorter, USN

The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) is among 20 warships from Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the U.S. during the largest multilateral naval exercise in the Asia-Pacific region. More than 50 ships and hundreds of aircraft from six nations took part; a seventh country, the United Kingdom, participated with naval aircraft. Japan’s participation was a bilateral exercise with the U.S., held in conjunction with Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2000.

Photo by PH2(NAC) David C. Mercil, USN

Six nations – Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom – joined the United States in the largest multilateral naval exercise in the Asia-Pacific region. Japan’s participation was a bilateral exercise with U.S. naval forces. Conducted from 2 June through 6 July 2000, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2000 brought these forces together for a multi-week maritime exercise, which tested coalition interoperability in a variety of challenging exercise scenarios.

Cooperation is the byword in RIMPAC. Canadian Navy Master Seaman Mike Teviling and U.S. Navy IST2 Robert Parker work together on communications equipment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).

Photo By PH3 Mark Molindano, USN

Cmdr. Charles D. McWhorter, USN, is the Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Third Fleet, Coronado Naval Station, California.

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