Olawale Abaire, Warrior Editorial Fellow
The planning and preparations for the 29th biennial Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) has begun fully. This is an extensive multinational military exercise that is scheduled to commence on June 27 and conclude on August 2 around the Hawaii Island. RIMPAC 2024 will be hosted by the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and led by Vice Adm. John Wade, Commander of the U.S. 3rd Fleet.
Vice Adm. Wade, who recently assumed command, emphasized the collaborative spirit of the exercise. “The subject matter expertise and wide-ranging insights that our partner nations, non-military organizations, sister services, and 3rd Fleet staff bring to planning is the reason RIMPAC is the premier joint and combined maritime exercise in the world,” said Wade.
RIMPAC 2024 will feature a diverse array of naval assets and personnel. The participating nations are contributing 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, and over 150 aircraft, including advanced platforms like the F-35 Lightning II, P-8 Poseidon, and V-22 Osprey. These assets will operate out of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay, facilitating a wide range of multi-domain warfare scenarios.
One of the most anticipated aspects of RIMPAC 2024 is the emphasis on amphibious operations and the capabilities of flattop amphibious assault ships. These ships, designed to launch and support amphibious assaults, will be subjected to intense scrutiny and simulated combat scenarios. The exercise aims to test their resilience and operational readiness in the face of advanced threats.
Elbit America Develops New Radar to Track 10,000 Targets at Once
Flattop amphibious assault ships, such as the USS Tarawa (LHA-1) used by the U.S. Navy, are designed to deploy Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs) and their equipment. They boast a flight deck capable of launching helicopters and vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aircraft, making them versatile assets in both combat and humanitarian missions. During RIMPAC, these ships will likely be subjected to simulated missile strikes, anti-submarine warfare scenarios, and multi-axis attacks to assess their defensive capabilities and the effectiveness of their onboard systems.
Amphibious assault ships like the Tarawa are designed to project power ashore, deploying Marines and their equipment via helicopters and landing craft. With a displacement of nearly 40,000 tons when fully loaded, these ships are fortified with multiple layers of defense and redundancy to withstand substantial damage. However, the Tarawa has been stripped of much of its operational gear, yet still offers a formidable target for live-fire testing.
The significance of using the Tarawa as a SINKEX target cannot be overstated. According to Vice Adm. John Wade, “RIMPAC offers a uniquely complex and challenging multinational environment for forces to train in areas where common national objectives overlap.” This statement underscores the exercise’s role in enhancing the operational readiness and interoperability of participating forces.
The last time a Tarawa-class ship was used in a SINKEX was in 2006 with the ex-USS Belleau Wood. The impending use of the ex-USS Tarawa, the largest target ship in more than a decade, offers a unique comparison point with smaller ships typically used in recent exercises, such as the 18,322-ton ex-USS Durham in 2020.
This year’s exercise will also highlight the differences in protection and resilience between the Tarawa-class ships and their predecessors, the Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ships. The latter, although having been used in previous RIMPAC SINKEXs, are less modern and smaller in scale compared to the Tarawa class.
While the specific weapons to be used in the 2024 SINKEX remain undisclosed, past exercises have employed a range of munitions, including submarine-launched heavy-weight torpedoes and advanced anti-ship missiles. The opportunity to observe the impact of these weapons on a large and well-protected ship like the Tarawa will provide critical data for future naval strategy and weapon development.
The insights gained from this exercise are particularly relevant given the evolving anti-ship capabilities of potential adversaries. For example, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has significantly enhanced its arsenal with advanced cruise and ballistic missiles designed to target enemy warships. Understanding the damage resilience of a Tarawa-class ship will help the U.S. and its allies develop countermeasures and improve the survivability of their naval assets. Vice Adm. Wade has emphasized the importance of environmental stewardship during RIMPAC, ensuring that protective measures are observed to safeguard cultural and natural resources. This commitment is crucial, given the ecological sensitivity of the Hawaiian Islands and surrounding maritime areas.
The backdrop of increasing tensions in the Pacific, particularly with China, adds a layer of urgency to RIMPAC 2024. The PLA’s expanding amphibious assault capabilities, including the introduction of the Type 075 and the development of the even larger Type 076, pose significant challenges. These developments underscore the need for robust defensive and offensive strategies, which RIMPAC seeks to refine.
