The 29th edition of the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, recognised as the world’s largest international maritime exercise, officially kicked off today in Honolulu, Hawaii.

According to a press release from the U.S. Navy, the event commenced with an opening ceremony and a press conference, marking the start of operations that will run until August 1.

This year’s RIMPAC brings together approximately 29 nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft, and more than 25,000 personnel.

These participants will engage in various training and operational activities around the Hawaiian Islands, focusing on fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among international participants, which is essential for ensuring maritime security.

“The Rim of the Pacific exercise has grown over the years to be the world’s largest and premier joint combined maritime training opportunity,” said Vice Adm. John Wade, Commander of U.S. 3rd Fleet and RIMPAC 2024 Combined Task Force (CTF) Commander, in the press release.

“The exercise’s purpose is to build relationships, to enhance interoperability and proficiency, and ultimately, contribute to peace and stability in the vitally important Indo-Pacific region.”

The theme for RIMPAC 2024 is “Partners: Integrated and Prepared.” For the first time, a member of the Chilean Navy, Commodore Alberto Guerrero, will serve as deputy commander of the CTF. Other key leaders include Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Rear Adm. Kazushi Yokota as vice commander, Commodore Kristjan Monaghan of the Royal Canadian Navy commanding the maritime component, and Air Commodore Louise DesJardins of the Royal Australian Air Force commanding the air component.

This year’s RIMPAC will feature its largest humanitarian aid and disaster relief exercise, with eight countries, five ships, five landing craft, five aircraft, multiple land forces, and over 2,500 participants, including those from the statewide Hawaii Healthcare Emergency Management exercise. According to the press release, this comprehensive exercise aims to integrate and enhance capabilities ranging from disaster relief to maritime security operations and complex warfighting.

During RIMPAC, participating forces will engage in a wide range of exercises, including amphibious operations, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine, and air defence drills, as well as military medicine, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal, and diving and salvage operations.


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George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison

15 COMMENTS

    • Participating nations in this year’s iteration of RIMPAC are Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Republic of Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga and the United Kingdom.

      From Naval News

    • But it seems no RN ship

      Ship Participants

      • USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)
      • USS Princeton (CG 59)
      • USS Kidd (DDG 100)
      • USS Sterett (DDG 104)
      • USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110)
      • USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62)
      • USS Gridley (DDG 101)
      • USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54)
      • USS Somerset (LPD 25)
      • USCGC Midgett (WMSL 757)
      • HMAS Sydney (D48)
      • KDB Darussalam (06)
      • KDB Darulaman (08)
      • HMCS Max Bernays (AOPV 432)
      • HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331)
      • CNS Condell (PFG-06)
      • FS Bretagne (D655)
      • FGS Baden-Wurttemberg (F222)
      • INS Shivalik (F47)
      • KRI Raden Eddy Martadinata (331)
      • ITS Montecuccoli (P432)
      • JS Haguro (DDG-180)
      • JS Kunisaki (LST-4003)
      • KD Lekiu (FFG30)
      • ARM Benito Juárez (POLA-101)
      • ARM Usumacinta (A412)
      • HMNLMS Tromp (F803)
      • BAP Pisco (AMP-156)
      • ROKS Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin (DDH-975)
      • ROKS Yulgok Yi I (DDG-992)
      • ROKS Cheon Ja Bong (LST-687)
      • RSS Stalwart (72)

      Submarines

      • USS North Carolina (SSN 777)
      • USS Topeka (SSN 754)
      • ROKS Lee Beom-seok (SS-081)

      Support Ships

      • USNS Pecos (T-AO 197)
      • USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE-11)
      • USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205)
      • USNS Grasp (T-ARS-51)
      • MV Asterix
      • FGS Frankfurt Am Main (A1412)
      • HMNZS Aotearoa (A 11)
      • The only asset I could think of was HMS Anson as I know it finished its sea trials in the Caribbean about a month ago. But I guess we wouldn’t know even if it was!

      • Hmmm…actually thought there was a reasonable chance HMS Tamar or Spey would participate in current RIMPAC.
        More speculation shot in the ass by reality.

        • A slow offshore patrol vessel that has to keep an eye on the sea state, armed only with a single 30mm gun, wouldn’t be much use anyway. The only aggressive thing about them is their Jazzy Camouflage scheme. It’s a travesty that the RN can’t supply a single Frigate or Destroyer, never mind an Aircraft Carrier 😅

  1. We did sometimes have naval staff, helping with planning it
    But we never seem to put in any RN ship presence

  2. RIMPAC
    Interesting itinerary taken from an American site C.P.F/Newsroom

    syllabus includes amphibious operations, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine, and air defense exercises, as well as military medicine, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal, and diving and salvage operations.

    With inclusivity at its core, RIMPAC fosters multinational cooperation and trust, leverages interoperability, and achieves respective national objectives to strengthen integrated, prepared, coalition partners.

    For more RIMPAC 2024 information and updates, visit https://www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac/. Any additional questions or queries should be sent to [email protected].

    Watched some Ships and boats on a utube vid moving into Pearl Harbour, some real beautys amongst them, a lot of them looked tarted up for the event, pride no doubt !

    Watched an interview of the commanders, first question i did not hear all of it as the wind was clouding the mike, but the answer was firm when asked about china/Taiwan…’China was not invited’ to RIMPAC

    Enjoy the games RIMPAC participants👍👊

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