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A U.S. Navy Tactical Air Officer aboard the USS Duluth (LPD 6), Lt. Mike R. Ruther, searches the air with radar during RIMPAC maritime and air maneuvers. PHOTOS (L& R) BY PH3(AW) MICHAEL J. PUSNIK, JR., USN

A decommissioned U.S. Navy frigate, the ex-USS Rathburne is sunk by the torpedoes, missiles, rockets and guns of RIMPAC participants during the live-fire SINKEX. PHOTO BY PH1 TED BANKS, USN

With the LCACs in the water, the task at hand shifted to launching the amphibious assault vehicles, one-by-one, in seven-second intervals. While the amphibious assault vehicles slowly moved toward the beach, the deck crew had to bring on board an LCAC from the USS Tarawa (LHA 1), load it with trucks and send it to the beach. With the last LCAC in the water and on its way to the beach, the sailors and Marines arrived at the designated location at the designated time.

Once the beaches were clear, nearly 600 Marines and their equipment launched from the USS Tarawa’s (LHA 1) well deck in assault landing craft and from the flight deck in helicopters. They then set up a perimeter and searched for the "enemy." Well deck and flight deck crews conducted day-and-night operations aboard the USS Tarawa (LHA 1).

"This was a great opportunity for everyone involved, especially for our ship," said USS Tarawa’s (LHA 1) Commanding Officer, Capt. James L. Clark. "This exercise has definitely prepared us to be on task and on target, on time."