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

Chilean Navy Lt. Marco Cepeda and PO2 Jorge Torrez prepare the blades of their HA-1 Super Puma helicopter aboard the frigate PFG Amirale Condell (FFH-06). Photo By PH2 Lena Gonzalez, USN

The Chilean Navy frigate PFG Amirale Condell (FFH-06) extracts its HA-1 Super Puma helicopter for RIMPAC exercise operations. Photo By PH2 Lena Gonzalez, USN

One of the five participating Canadian ships, HMCS Winnipeg (FFH-338), enters Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Photo By PHAN Robyn Kropka, USN

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Cpl. Liam Schipanski directs the uploading of a Harpoon missile to an RAAF F-111C strike aircraft, observed by Cpl. Warren Blake. Photo by PHAN Robyn Kropka, USN

RAF Flt. Lt. Ian Cavendish works at the Nimrod MR2 maritime patrol aircraft navigation station. Photo by PH2 (NAC) David C. Mercil, US

Sailors from the Republic of Korea submarine Parkwi tour the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during RIMPAC 2000. Photo by PH3 Mark Molinado, USN

View of the Korean destroyer ROKS Ulchimoonduk (DDG 972). Photo by PHAN Robyn Kropka, USN

A U.S. Marine surveils the beach landing area from tree cover during an amphibious assault exercise in RIMPAC 2000. Photo by PH2 Michael D. Smotherton, USN

The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) aircraft carrier and four warships cruise in formation during a RIMPAC 2000 maritime exercise. Photo by PH2 (NAC) David C. Mercil, USN

To provide realistic training in a RIMPAC humanitarian disaster relief exercise, local civilian Red Cross volunteers gather to play the roles of refugees. Photo by PH2 Lena Gonzalez, USN

RIMPAC 2000 successfully brought together multilateral forces from six countries to share expertise and to build friendships. U.S. Navy Signalman Seaman Norketa Buckley stands between ROK Navy Gunner Chiefs Kim Suk Bum and Woo Nam Hak aboard the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Photo by PH3 Mark Molinado, USN

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

Historic U.S. Navy facilities at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, provide the operating base for exercise ships and aircraft from seven countries. Photo By PHAN Robyn Kropka, USN

Cmdr. Federico R. Niemann, Commanding Officer of the PFG Amirale Condell (FFH-06), reviews message traffic on the bridge of the Chilean frigate. Photo By PH2 Lena Gonzalez, US

Canadian aircrew members upload a sonar buoy to their P-3C Orion aircraft for RIMPAC air operations over the water. Photo by PHAN Robyn Kropka, USN

Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and U.S. Navy P-3C Orion aircraft fly over the Japan-U.S. bilateral exercise ships during RIMPAC 2000. Photo by PH2(AW/NAC) Andrew Rutigliano, USN

RAF Flt. Lt. Ian Cavendish works at the Nimrod MR2 maritime patrol aircraft navigation station. Photo by PH2 (NAC) David C. Mercil, US

RAF Sergeants Mark Widger and Shelly Faulkner operate radar, radios, and electronic support measures on the Nimrod MR2. Photo by PH2 (NAC) David C. Mercil, USN

RAF Sergeants Mark Widger and Shelly Faulkner operate radar, radios, and electronic support measures on the Nimrod MR2. Photo by PH2 (NAC) David C. Mercil, USN

A U.S. Marine jumps from an anphibious assault vehicle during an amphibious assault excercise at Bellows Beach, Hawaii. Photo by PH2 Michael D. Smotherton, USN

Temporary tents provide shelter for the mock refugees in the humanitarian disaster relief exercise. Photo by PHCS (SW) Terry Cosgrove, USN

U.S. Navy SEALs (Sea-Air-Land special operations personnel) "fast rope" during an exercise insertion from a U.S. Navy SH-60H helicopter. Photo by PHCS (SW) Terry Cosgrove, USN

U.S. Navy Seaman Alay Smith covers a ship suspected of smuggling weapons with twin .50 caliber machine guns during a visit, board, search, and seizure exercise. The night photo was taken through a night vision device. Photo by PH1 (NAO) Chris Desmond, USN