Rim of the Pacific 2024 has now wrapped up with the Canadian Forces declaring a success and pointing out how the exercise is an example of the country’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.
Rim of the Pacific is the largest international maritime exercise in the world and is held bi-annually. RIMPAC 2024 this year consisted of 29 participating nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel. Exercises were conducted in and around the Hawaiian islands throughout the month of July.
HMCS Vancouver was accompanied by HMCS Max Bernays, Motor Vessel Asterix and a shore-based contingent of close to 300 Canadian Armed Forces members for RIMPAC 2024, according to the Department of National Defence.
After its successful participation in RIMPAC 2024, HMCS Vancouver continued on to its various other duties. In August it began its mission for Operation Horizon; on August 8, the Canadian frigate joined New Zealand’s HMNZS Aotearoa and later Singapore’s RSS Stalwart.
On Operation Horizon, Canada’s forward-presence mission in the Indo-Pacific region, HMCS Vancouver will join HMCS Montréal. In addition to its participation on Operation Horizon, HMCS Vancouver will contribute to Operation Neon, which serves to monitor the implementation of United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea in collaboration with allies and partners, National Defence spokesman Kened Sadiku told Esprit de Corps.
HMCS Vancouver will continue its deployment through December of this year, he added.
MV Asterix also had a highly successful RIMPAC 2024. Singapore, Germany and Italy). The 26,000-tonne Asterix, a commercial vessel converted for naval resupply purposes by Davie Shipbuilding in Quebec and leased to the Canadian government by the firm’s affiliate Federal Fleet Services, has become critical for the Royal Canadian Navy’s fleet. Just months after being delivered in early 2018 to the military it was at sea supporting RCN and allied operations. The RCN has come to rely so much on Asterix – now its only supply vessel – that the service increased the days the ship was required almost immediately. The lease for the Asterix has also been extended until 2025.
During RIMPAC 2024, MV Asterix conducted 34 Replenishments at Sea (RAS), which was recorded as the highest compared to other partner nations, Sadiku pointed out. Those replenishments were with 16 different vessels from nine nations (Canada, US, Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea).
The ship completed many firsts such as: First RAS between Asterix and South Korea; First RAS between Asterix and Italy; First RAS between Asterix and a San Antonio-class landing platform, dock (LPD) vessel; First RAS between Asterix and another auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) vessel (HMNZS Aotearoa heavy jackstay crew certification); Largest ever ammo transfer conducted by Asterix (operational stock to HMCS Vancouver); and seven RAS in 48 hours (28-29 July), highest RAS operational tempo for Asterix to date.
U.S. Navy SEALS and Republic of Korea special forces also conducted drills on Asterix.
Following its deployment on Exercise RIMPAC, MV Asterix departed Hawaii on August 4. The ship will transit the Panama Canal and conduct a brief stop in Norfolk, VA and is expected to arrive back in Halifax on September 3.
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