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	Australian Navy ABETW Jess Clarke goes over Vertical Launch System checks in preparation for a missile firing during the sea phase of RIMPAC 2004. Commonwealth of Australia Department of Defence photo by Royal Australian Navy ABph Brenton Freind
	Aboard the Canadian ship HMCS Protecteur (AOR 509), Canadian Navy personnel remove live rounds from a Close-In Weapons System following a live-fire exercise. Canadian Department of National Defence photo
	Aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1), U.S. Marine Corps CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters prepare to insert a combined force of Royal Australian Regiment troops and U.S. Marines on Bellows Beach at Bellows Air Force Station, Hawaii, for an amphibious assault exercise. Photo by PH3 Paula J. Sato, USN
	A RIM-7 NATO Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile launches from the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) during the exercise. The missile intercepted a remote controlled test drone. Photo by PH3 Mark J. Rebilas, USN
	A U.S. Marine protects his ears as an M-198 155-millimeter howitzer fires during a live-fire exercise. Photo by PH1 Jane West, USN
	Royal Australian Army soldiers and U.S. Marines prepare to embark on the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) for RIMPAC 2004 exercise events, including an amphibious assault on Bellows Beach. Photo by PH1 Michelle R. Hammond, USN
	U.S. Marines breach a simulated headquarters compound during the amphibious assault. Photo by PH1 Michelle R. Hammond, USN
	Australian soldiers take a mock prisoner of war during the assault on Bellows Beach. Commonwealth of Australia Department of Defence photo by Royal Australian Navy LAC Mike Lucas
	A U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air Cushion with embarked U.S. Marines and equipment heads toward Bellows Beach for an amphibious assault exercise. Photo by PH1 David A. Levy, USN

Chefs At Sea
Meals on a Japanese ship are not very different from those on U.S. ships. While some meals are traditional, officers and sailors aboard the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyer JDS Haruna (DDH-141) enjoy a variety of international flavors while at sea. A typical meal on the Haruna consists of a meat course, vegetables, pickled vegetables, and steamed rice.

“ We serve rice with every meal, but our cooks make many kinds of foods at sea — European, French, Chinese,” said JMSDF Public Affairs Officer Lt. Taijiro Omata. They also have spaghetti night. Japanese cooks, like U.S. Navy culinary specialists, go to school to learn their trade. The food is often flavored with various soy-based sauces. The JMSDF chefs use a lot of vegetables, beef, pork, chicken, and seafood in their cooking.

A traditional Friday lunch for Japanese sailors consists of curry rice. In the past, the Imperial Japanese Navy served rice to let sailors know what day it was. “They would work hard all week,” Lt. Omata said. “Sailors would forget what day it was. Curry rice let them know they get the next day off.”

A delicious curry roux (sauce) surrounds mixed pieces of chicken or pork, potatoes, onions, and carrots, served over rice. Originally not a Japanese dish, curry rice was adapted from British Navy stews and the spice trade. “We serve hamburgers too,” said Lt. Omata. “The crew likes the variety.”

PACFLT Band hosts Royal Australian Navy Band for RIMPAC
For the first time in RIMPAC’s exercise history, members of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Band performed with the U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) Band at change of commands, retirement ceremonies, and for local audiences.

“ One thing I’m really blown away by the U.S. Navy is how many people they have and the large amount of resources they have,” said RAN Able Seaman (AB) Musician Isaac Lo, piano and side drum player for the RAN Band. “I think there is just so much more that you can do with such a large number of people.” “They’re a very good, strong, professional band,” AB Lo added. “I’ve been really interested in their management structure and how they do business. I’ve learned a lot from them.”

“ Australia has always had strong ties and a significant relationship with the United States,” said RAN AB Musician Lachlan Macfie, bass guitar and drum player for the RAN Band. Seaman (SMN) Musician Carl Riseley, RAN band trumpet player, echoed this thought when he said, “I think the biggest thing we’ve done here is form a strong bond between the American and Australian bands. We’ve been staying at their homes and hanging out. Now there is quite a strong bond.”

“ It has been a great pleasure having [the RAN band members] here,” said PACFLT Band’s Senior Chief Musician Robert Bowman. “They have made a lasting impression on us. They’re very talented musicians and they’re good sailors. But above all that, they’re nice people. We’re going to miss them.”

Canadians Celebrate Canada Day
The crew of the HCMS Regina (FFH 334) brought their hockey sticks to celebrate Canada Day under the Hawaiian sun. Eight teams totaling about 70 Canadian Navy sailors tested their mettle in the tropical heat in an intense battle to claim the ship’s Inter-Mess Sporting Events Championship Trophy, while celebrating the anniversary of the formation of the union of the British North America provinces in a federation under the name of Canada on July 1, 1867.

“ It’s awesome, especially on Canada Day,” said Canadian Navy AB Charles LeBlond. “It’s fun to bring a little bit of our culture with us.” “This is our way to show our Canadian pride,” said Sub-Lt. Jae Hwang. The Esquimalt, British Columbia-based crew wanted to show Canada Day in style to the six other navies participating in RIMPAC 2004 said Lt. Cmdr. Art McDonald, Regina’s executive officer. “We thought on Canada Day what would be more [appropriate] than ball hockey.”

The Canadian teams, who are normally accustomed to skating on ice with a puck, ran around in tennis shoes and batted an orange rubber ball on an outdoor rink. Some nursed cuts and scrapes after falls, but played on, battling hot and humid temperatures. “It’s totally different,” said Sub-Lt. Hwang. “It’s almost like a different game.” Ordinary SMN Merk Laughland noted, “Everybody just loves to play it and we try to get as much in as possible. A lot of us have grown up playing it, so a lot of us are pretty good at it.”

But the heat was hard to ignore, especially for sailors from a country that is known for its snow. “A lot of us are thirsty out here,” said SMN Laughland. “We’re having to drink a lot of water.” Others didn’t mind. “It’s the first time I’ve seen palm trees,” noted Sub-Lt. Hwang. “I’m just enjoying every moment of it.” The Canadian sailors, who continued the national day of celebration with a lunchtime barbecue and an evening reception aboard the ship, said they appreciate the U.S. Navy’s hospitality. “We really feel at home with our American cousins,” said Sub-Lt. Nicholas Woloszczuk.

Conclusion
RIMPAC 2004 was an excellent opportunity for participating forces to improve tactical capabilities and significantly increase interoperability between participating units. RIMPAC provided an environment to hone critical maritime skills, such as anti-submarine warfare; practice combined operations; and learn new lessons. The ability to operate in a major exercise involving many coalition partners enhances combat readiness levels and improves coalition command, control, and communication procedures.

RIMPAC showed how coalition forces could counter strikes without relying on one nation to carry the full weight of the strike force. “Everyone’s downsizing their forces based on what other countries can provide,” said Lt. Cmdr. Tietzel. “Australia doesn’t have a carrier because we know the U.S. can provide that. A coalition is the only way anyone’s going to go in and do anything.”

‘‘ Exercise RIMPAC 04 was valuable training for operating in a coalition situation. Our personnel have overcome communication and system differences and shared their skills and expertise with our friends and allies,” said RAN Commodore Davyd Thomas, Deputy Commander of the Combined Task Force. “We came here to improve our readiness and efficiency in operating as a coalition force and we have done exactly that. We have also made some good friends along the way.”

“ It was a great challenge to undertake, not only in combating a simulated enemy, but to also have all elements of the coalition working together,” said Commodore Girouard, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific and the Multi-National Force Sea Combat Commander for the exercise.- “The root of success was being able to bridge differing cultures, language, and technology in order to present a unified front. It took great tenacity and professionalism by all involved. We were able to learn from each other and discover what issues we need to work on to make our allied coalition stronger,” he declared. “The important thing to take away from RIMPAC 2004 is how to make coalitions on the sea better.”- ?

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