South Korea’s battle group consisting of its Navy and Marine Corps units departed Jinhae Harbor on May 4 to participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012 exercise that is scheduled to begin on June 29 in waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands area and will end on Aug. 4.
The RIMPAC exercise is an international maritime exercise to enhance interoperability between the Pacific Rim nations as a means of securing safety of the sea lanes and to act jointly to fight terrorism.
The RIMPAC 2012 is the 23rd in the series exercise that began in 1971. Conducted biennially, it is hosted and administered by the U.S. Third Fleet Command. The South Korean Navy has participated in this exercise for the 12th time since its inception in 1990.
This year’s RIMPAC is the largest-ever exercise which is set to include 39 ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel from 22 Pacific Rim nations.
The South Korean Navy’s three-dimensional fighting power consisting of ROKS Yulgok Yi I (DDG-992) destroyer, a 4400-ton DDH-II destroyer Choi Young (SS-061), the Chang bogo-class submarine, a P-3C surveillance plane and a Lynx anti-submarine helicopter, is expected to join the exercise. RIMPAC 2012 will feature the first demonstration of a South Korean Marine platoon to foster its multinational amphibious landing operations capabilities.
During the drill, participants will conduct not only a basic tactical exercise through the established exercise scenario which comprises various exercises such as anti-ship. anti-aircraft, anti-submarine combat exercises, a ballistic missile launch, and expeditionary operations including amphibious landing, but also a free offensive and defensive exercise without any planned scenario.
The South Korean Navy which has executed a mission to command a multinational surface battle group in this exercise since 2006 will perform, too, the same mission to direct a five-ship surface warfare group consisting of 4 nations’ navies - South Korea, the United States, Canada and Columbia.
The South Korean Navy is expected to display its international position and combat operations capabilities that have been already elevated through its successful ‘Gulf of Aden Dawn Operation’ and ‘detection of North Korea’s long-range missile launch.’
ROKS Nadeayong submarine will conduct a gunnery drill by firing a Harpoon anti-ship missile targeting a disused landing ship during a RIMPAC sinking exercise.
In the meantime, South Korean marine force will first carry out field training exercises at a U.S. marine base in Hawaii such as a ROK-U.S. joint urban combat and a combat firing practice and then board a U.S. landing ship to execute a noncombatant evacuation and amphibious operations.
Prior to the 2012 RIMPAC exercise, South Korean Navy’s Aegis-equipped destroyer Yulgok Yi I which went into commission in 2010 is scheduled to undergo Combat System Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQT), the last stage of the preparations for the exercise.
CSSQT is a series of at-sea tests to evaluate a ship's combat readiness. The tests include anchoring and cruise exercise, equipment employing and maintenance, and military logistics support.