HMAS Hobart successfully fires missile during its first RIMPAC

Photo By Shaun Donnelly | PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 25, 2020) Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Hobart (DDG 39) executes a live missile firing off the coast of Hawaii during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC). Ten nations, 22 ships, one submarine, and more than 5,300 personnel are participating in Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) from August 17 to 31 at sea around the Hawaiian Islands. RIMPAC is a biennial exercise designed to foster and sustain cooperative relationships, critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The exercise is a unique training platform designed to enhance interoperability and strategic maritime partnerships. RIMPAC 2020 is the 27th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (Royal Australian Navy courtesy photo)  

PACIFIC OCEAN

08.26.2020

Story by Shaun Donnelly 

Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet           

HMAS Hobart has become the first of the Hobart-class guided missile destroyers to conduct a live fire during Exercise Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), making it the most sophisticated and lethal warship ever operated by the RAN.
Alongside ships from the United States and Canada, Hobart successfully fired an SM-2 Standard Missile against an unmanned target as part of the exercise scenario.
Commanding Officer Hobart Commander Ryan Gaskin said the missile firing proved the ship was ready to fight and win at sea as part of a joint force.
“RIMPAC provides the Navy a unique training opportunity to strengthen international maritime partnerships, enhance interoperability and improve our readiness for a wide range of potential operations,” Commander Gaskin said.
“This year has also proven the ability to operate in company with partner nations at sea during a global health crisis through the employment of strict COVID-19 safe measures on board.”
HMA Ships Hobart, Stuart, Arunta and Sirius, which are on a Regional Presence Deployment through South-East Asia and the Pacific, are taking part in RIMPAC.
Commander Gaskin said credible, ready-maritime partners help to preserve peace and prevent conflict in the region.
“The Indo-Pacific has experienced economic prosperity largely because of the security and stability that exists at sea,” he said.
“We train to ensure the ability to deter disruptions to global supply chains and threats to lines of communication and commerce.”
HMAS Hobart carries a range of weapons systems, including a Mk41 Vertical Launch System containing SM-2 Standard Missiles and Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles, a Mk 45 5-inch main gun, Phalanx Close-In Weapons System, two 25mm Typhoons guns, and MU90 and Mk54 light-weight torpedoes for subsurface defence.
Ten nations, 22 surface ships, one submarine, multiple aircraft, and about 5,300 personnel are participating in RIMPAC.
This year’s exercise includes forces from Australia, Brunei, Canada, France, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, and the United States.
Participating forces will exercise a wide range of capabilities from multinational anti-submarine warfare, maritime intercept operations, and live-fire training events, among other cooperative training opportunities.

• Date Taken: 08.26.2020
• Date Posted: 08.26.2020 07:38
• Story ID: 376786
• Location: PACIFIC OCEAN