During the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024 exercise, multinational forces carried out live-fire sinking exercises (SINKEXs) on July 11 and July 19, sinking the decommissioned USS Dubuque (LPD 8) and USS Tarawa (LHA 1). The operations took place in waters 15,000 feet deep, over 50 nautical miles off the northern coast of Kauai. Participants included units from Australia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, and the U.S. Air Force, Army, and Navy.
SINKEXs are crucial for enhancing proficiency in real-world tactics and targeting. According to U.S. Navy Vice Adm. John Wade, RIMPAC 2024 Combined Task Force Commander, these exercises allow participating nations to refine their capabilities in complex maritime operations and demonstrate their commitment to regional security. The sinking of ex-Tarawa included the deployment of a Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) from a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet, showcasing the missile’s precision and stealth capabilities.
Additionally, a U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bomber participated in a QUICKSINK demonstration, highlighting a low-cost method for defeating surface vessels. This initiative, funded by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, aims to provide flexible and effective options to neutralize maritime threats.
The ex-Dubuque, an Austin-class amphibious transport dock commissioned in 1967, and the ex-Tarawa, the lead ship of her class commissioned in 1976, were both decommissioned in the early 2010s. Their preparation for SINKEXs adhered to strict Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, ensuring the removal of materials harmful to the marine environment.
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