EvanL
06-15-2004, 11:50 AM
RIMPAC has navy gearing up
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The navy is rested and ready to roll.
The departure of three Canadian warships for a major, multinational exercise this month marks the end of the "operational pause" a tired navy was forced to take following its contribution to the war on terrorism, says Commodore Roger Girouard.
"As far as I'm concerned the pause is over," said Girouard, who, working from his flagship HMCS Algonquin, will take on the role of sea commander of the multinational force in the RIMPAC exercise in the waters off Hawaii.
"It's a marker on the road we're picking the tempo up once again."
Algonquin, along with HMCS Regina and HMCS Protecteur, will join the USS John C. Stennis carrier strike force next week to make their way to Hawaii for the July exercise. HMCS Brandon, a smaller coastal defence vessel crewed by reservists, has already left.
"The U.S. was quite keen to see a coastal defence vessel involved in the mine warfare pieces here," Girouard said.
"It's an opportunity to learn a few things that are useful in the home-water scenario."
This is the 19th RIMPAC and involves about 11,000 military personnel from eight nations, including sailors, marines, soldiers and aircrew.
About 28 ships, including an aircraft carrier, surface warships, submarines and support ships will participate. The exercise also employs about 90 carrier- and land-based aircraft, and many amphibious vehicles.
About 1,100 Canadian personnel are participating.
RIMPAC 2004 forces are divided into three groups: U.S. and Japanese units form a bilateral force; remaining countries and other units from the U.S. form the multinational force.
Together, the two groups make up the combined task force.
Finally, a smaller opposing force is comprised of U.S. and non-Japanese units.
This is Girouard's first RIMPAC. A career naval officer, he sees it as one of the highlights.
Taking the role of sea combat commander for the multinational force means that at any given time he could have as many as a dozen ships and twice as many aircraft under his control.
He said past Canadian performances in the exercise and a strong, effective presence in the Arabian Gulf earned Canada such a prestigious role.
"This time around it has to do with what we had done in the Gulf and the current experience we were able to bring to the table."
The exercise has three phases. First is two weeks of work-ups allowing units to hone their skills and conduct live-fire exercises.
The second is a humanitarian assistance exercise to evacuate non-combatants. It is followed by a week-long unscripted maritime warfare scenario. Girouard said the exercise offers the opportunity to put a lifetime of experience to work.
"You could probably say I've been preparing my entire career because it's the inventory of knowledge and experience and scenarios that you store in your brain that gives you the wherewithal to do the job," he said.
Participating nations include Australia, Chile, Canada, Japan, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.
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The navy is rested and ready to roll.
The departure of three Canadian warships for a major, multinational exercise this month marks the end of the "operational pause" a tired navy was forced to take following its contribution to the war on terrorism, says Commodore Roger Girouard.
"As far as I'm concerned the pause is over," said Girouard, who, working from his flagship HMCS Algonquin, will take on the role of sea commander of the multinational force in the RIMPAC exercise in the waters off Hawaii.
"It's a marker on the road we're picking the tempo up once again."
Algonquin, along with HMCS Regina and HMCS Protecteur, will join the USS John C. Stennis carrier strike force next week to make their way to Hawaii for the July exercise. HMCS Brandon, a smaller coastal defence vessel crewed by reservists, has already left.
"The U.S. was quite keen to see a coastal defence vessel involved in the mine warfare pieces here," Girouard said.
"It's an opportunity to learn a few things that are useful in the home-water scenario."
This is the 19th RIMPAC and involves about 11,000 military personnel from eight nations, including sailors, marines, soldiers and aircrew.
About 28 ships, including an aircraft carrier, surface warships, submarines and support ships will participate. The exercise also employs about 90 carrier- and land-based aircraft, and many amphibious vehicles.
About 1,100 Canadian personnel are participating.
RIMPAC 2004 forces are divided into three groups: U.S. and Japanese units form a bilateral force; remaining countries and other units from the U.S. form the multinational force.
Together, the two groups make up the combined task force.
Finally, a smaller opposing force is comprised of U.S. and non-Japanese units.
This is Girouard's first RIMPAC. A career naval officer, he sees it as one of the highlights.
Taking the role of sea combat commander for the multinational force means that at any given time he could have as many as a dozen ships and twice as many aircraft under his control.
He said past Canadian performances in the exercise and a strong, effective presence in the Arabian Gulf earned Canada such a prestigious role.
"This time around it has to do with what we had done in the Gulf and the current experience we were able to bring to the table."
The exercise has three phases. First is two weeks of work-ups allowing units to hone their skills and conduct live-fire exercises.
The second is a humanitarian assistance exercise to evacuate non-combatants. It is followed by a week-long unscripted maritime warfare scenario. Girouard said the exercise offers the opportunity to put a lifetime of experience to work.
"You could probably say I've been preparing my entire career because it's the inventory of knowledge and experience and scenarios that you store in your brain that gives you the wherewithal to do the job," he said.
Participating nations include Australia, Chile, Canada, Japan, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.