Marine Navy - Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Navy Marines in RIMPAC 2018

Exercise RIMPAC

RIMPAC, the Rim of the Pacific Exercise, is the world's largest international maritime warfare exercise. RIMPAC is held biennially during June and July of even-numbered years from Honolulu, Hawaii. It is hosted and administered by the United States Navy's Pacific Fleet, headquartered at Pearl Harbor, in conjunction with the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard, and Hawaii National Guard forces under the control of the Governor of Hawaii. The US invites military forces from the Pacific Rim and beyond to participate. With RIMPAC the United States Pacific Command seeks to enhance interoperability between Pacific Rim armed forces, ostensibly as a means of promoting stability in the region to the benefit of all participating nations. Described by the US Navy as a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans.

The first RIMPAC, held in 1971, involved forces from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US). Australia, Canada, and the US have participated in every RIMPAC since then. Other regular participants are Chile, Colombia, France, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Peru, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand. The Royal New Zealand Navy was frequently involved until the 1985 ANZUS nuclear ships dispute, but has taken part in recent RIMPACs such as in 2012, 2014 And 2016.

Several observer nations are usually invited, including China, Ecuador, India, Mexico, the Philippines, and Russia, who became an active participant for the first time in 2012.[2] While not contributing any ships, observer nations are involved in RIMPAC at the strategic level and use the opportunity to prepare for possible full participation in the future.

The United States contingent has included an aircraft carrier strike group, submarines, up to a hundred aircraft and 20,000 Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and their respective officers. The size of the exercises varies from year to year.

RIMPAC 2018

Twenty-six nations, 47 surface ships, five submarines, 18 national land forces, and more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel will participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise scheduled June 27 to Aug. 2, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.

As the world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity designed to foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s interconnected oceans. RIMPAC 2018 is the 26th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

The theme of RIMPAC 2018 is “Capable, Adaptive, Partners.” Participating nations and forces will exercise a wide range of capabilities and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of maritime forces. These capabilities range from disaster relief and maritime security operations to sea control and complex war fighting. The relevant, realistic training program includes amphibious operations, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air defense exercises, as well as counter-piracy operations, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal, and diving and salvage operations.

This year’s exercise includes forces from Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam.

Road to RIMPAC

1^st conference,

INITIAL PLANNING CONFERENCE (IPC)

Initial planning conference (IPC) was held from 6th June to 9th June 2017 at Naval Base Point Loma San Diego California. Cmde GEWMAN Ekanayake and Capt MHCJ Silva were attended as the Sri Lanka representatives. Main objective of the conference was to commence details planning of the exercise by participating nation and US Commands and units. The exercise is a US led combined live field training exercise that include operational and tactical level training in the Hawaiian and south California operational areas and is scheduled from 27th Jun to 02^nd August 2018

2^nd conference

THE EXERCISE RIMPAC 2018-MID PLANNING CONFERENCE (MPC)

Cdr (Marine) WMUI Wijerathne and LCdr (Marine) HMN Chandana were participated for Mid planning conference of the exercise rim of the pacific 2018 “RIMPAC” from 05^th December to 08^th December 2017 at joint base pearl harbour HICKAM.

The purpose of the MPC is for participating nations and commands to review a detailed plan of the exercise, proposed ideas, introduce component and provide final inputs by task force commander to the planning process and develop key exercise documents

3^rd conference

FINAL PLANNING CONFERRENCE (FPC) OF RIMPAC EXERCISE -2018 IN USA

Capt PASK Pitigala and LCDR HMN Chandana were attended for the Final Planning Conference which was held from 03-06 April 2018 at Naval Base Point Loma San Diego, California Main objective of the conference was to bridged all participating countries at the tactical level and US Commands & units in the RIMPAC exercise as planned at the MPC (Mid planning Conference). RIMPAC 2018There are 27 Nations taking part in Field Training Exercise (FTX) campaign led by United State MAGTF- HI (Marine Air Ground Task Force- Hickam). According to the simulated situation for the campaign there are numerous activities taking place in all platforms ( Air, Surface, Underwater and on land) include operational and tactical level training in the Hawaiian and Southern California operational areas and is scheduled from 27 Jun 18 to 02 Aug 18.

Sri Lanka Navy Marines in RIMPAC 2018

A group of 25 personnel of the Sri Lanka Marines left the country in May (21) to attend the 'Rim of the Pacific' (RIMPAC) - 2018 maritime exercise in Australia Which is the first time that a SL Navy Marine team is attending the exercise from 28th June to 4th August 2018, in the Hawaiian Islands.

It is expected that such joint naval exercises would enable to strengthen mutual partnerships with other marine forces and enhance the capacities of the young SLN Marine Battalion.

Combine training session started on 27th May to 1st June 2018 in Australia. There, marines attended for the exercise on mission in urban terrain, CRRC handling and weapon training

On 2nd June 2018 SL navy marines attached to the HMAS Adelaide (L01) which is the second of two Canberra-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) ships of the Royal Australian Navy for five days familiarization training exercise

On 6th June 2018 HMAS Adelaide started sailing to the Fiji Islands and stayed there until 12 June 2018.

On 13th June they reached Tonga Island which is another remarkable destination and there, SL Navy Marine team attend for the mangrove planting project and some sports activities