USS Abraham Lincoln conducts SINKEX during RIMPAC 2022 [Image 11 of 11]

PACIFIC OCEAN

07.22.2022

Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Javier Reyes 

Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet           

PACIFIC OCEAN (July 22, 2022) U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 2nd Class Desiree Buttars, from Jacksonville, Fla., signals an F-35C Lightning II, assigned to the "Black Knights" of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, as it launches from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) for a sinking exercise (SINKEX) during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. RIMPAC military forces fired upon and sunk the decommissioned ex-USS Denver (LPD 9), July 22, during a SINKEX to gain proficiency in tactics, targeting and live firing against a surface target at sea. SINKEX vessels are put through a certified cleaning process, including removing all environmentally harmful material including trash, floatable material, mercury, fluorocarbon and petroleum. Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, three submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Javier Reyes)

• Date Taken: 07.22.2022
• Date Posted: 07.27.2022 01:21
• Photo ID: 7331332
• VIRIN: 220722-N-VI910-2278
• Resolution: 5551x3701
• Size: 1.12 MB
• Location: PACIFIC OCEAN