RIMPAC/SINKEXs 2004

Sea Classics, Oct 2004 by Bonner, Kit

The exercises that have become known as RIMPAC and SINKEXs are vital to training and cooperative ventures with friendly nations. The summer of 2004 witnessed the 19th RIMPAC and included over 12,000 sailors, soldiers, Marines and Coast Guard personnel. This cooperative effort employed 35 warships, seven submarines and 90 aircraft from nine nations. The starting point was Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

The RIMPAC exercise helps to remedy the problems inherent in warship and aircraft coordination from various nations with varying levels of ability in warfighting at sea. It also refines communications among the nations which was a major problem during the early days of WWII. The Dutch, Javanese, Australians, British, Filipinos attempted to stop the Japanese from conquering half the Pacific and the language barriers alone cost hundreds of lives and numerous ships. This is being changed.

Most RIMPACs are concluded with live fire against target ships which just a few years ago included the former USS Oklahoma City (CGL-5). The "OK City" was sunk by torpedoes from a South Korean submarine.

This year's exercise saw the sinking of some of the favorites in the American Navy. The old 1950s destroyer USS Decatur turned self-defense test ship (SDTS or E-31) was sunk as were the relatively new Spruance-class destroyers USS Harry Hill (DD-986); USS Kinkaid (DD-965) and amphibious ship USS Peoria (LST-1183).

The former USS Portland (LSD-37), which just finished a tour in the Middle East as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom was sunk during a SINKEX off the Virginia coast. Two of the ships employed to sink the 33-year-old vessel were the destroyers USS Barry (DDG-52) and USS Thorn (DD-988). They used Harpoon missiles and concentrated gunfire from the ship's Mk. 45 5-in/45-cal weapons.

The value of a SINKEX is that it provides real-life near-actual battle conditions and allows the crews to witness a form of Naval warfare that might be expected of them in the future. This training and being able to sink a vessel cannot be replicated in a simulator.

For a segment of the Naval community, there is always the sadness of seeing a ship sunk. This is especially true of the target ship's former crew. The only rationale is that the target ship provides one last invaluable service to the Navy, and that is a key element to having the best-trained and motivated Navy in the world.