HMCS Winnipeg fires Harpoon Missiles during RIMPAC 2022

Photo By Canadian Forces LS Melissa Gonzalez | 220712-O-LR179-1011-CA PACIFIC OCEAN (July 12, 2022) Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Winnipeg (FFH 338) fires two harpoon missiles as part of a sinking exercise (SINKEX) during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. RIMPAC 2022 military forces from Australia, Canada, Malaysia and the U.S., fired upon and sunk the decommissioned ex-USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60), July 12, 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, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29-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. (Royal Canadian Navy photo by S1 Melissa Gonzalez)  

HAWAII, UNITED STATES

07.16.2022

Story by Canadian Forces Capt Christine MacNeil 

Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet           

Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Winnipeg (FFH 338) is currently off the coast of Hawaii participating in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022, the largest maritime exercise in the world. The purpose of this exercise is to provide an opportunity for sailors to gain experience working with international forces, practice tactics and task force integration, and train with allied navies on equipment and weaponry.

RIMPAC provides a unique and invaluable training opportunity for the Royal Canadian Navy. It supports advanced team training in a complex, multinational maritime environment and is an opportunity to prove high-level combat capabilities through live-fire exercises using world-class weapon ranges.

On July 12, the crew of Winnipeg participated in a sinking exercise (SINKEX). During a SINKEX, an environmentally clean, decommissioned hull, in this case the decommissioned ex-USS Rodney M. Davis, is purposefully sunk to provide a unique opportunity to improve our coalition partner’s readiness.

“Winnipeg spent countless hours training to safely and efficiently execute this firing event,” said Lieutenant(N) Bucky Branscombe, Winnipeg’s operations officer. “It was great opportunity to showcase what the team has accomplished during our pre-deployment readiness training this year, and to prove that we are fully prepared to represent the Government of Canada anywhere in the world.”

The weapons system Winnipeg used for this exercise was the RGM-84 Harpoon Surface-to-Surface Missile (SSM), which is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile utilized by many NATO member states. While HMC Ships have fired Harpoon missiles in past RIMPAC exercises, this was the first time that an RCN ship worked with MQ-9 Reaper drones and its embarked CH-148 Cyclone helicopter in a coordinated surface engagement.

“As the Surface Action Group Commander for this evolution, Winnipeg and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) proved how we were able to integrate effectively with partner nations to conduct coordinated strike engagements, scoring a mission kill on the target.” said Petty Officer First Class Kevin Granger, the above water warfare director onboard HMCS Winnipeg.

Proficiency with this system is imperative for RCN frigates, as it provides the ship’s commanding officer the ability to address threats from over-the-horizon while maintaining a safe distance. With both Harpoon missiles striking the target, this SINKEX proved the capability of both the ship and the crew.

Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29- 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.

• Date Taken: 07.16.2022
• Date Posted: 07.21.2022 13:09
• Story ID: 425150
• Location: HAWAII, US