RIMPAC 2008: Navy fires torpedoes and missiles
These two items came in from the Navy regarding the ongoing Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises:Here's an image gallery of a frigate's weapons systems.
An Australian sub was on the receiving end of several Canadian Mark 46 torpedoes [couldn't find a Canadian link - MC] during the RIMPAC exercises earlier this week. Canadian sailors and air crews on Her Majesty's Canadian ships Ottawa and Regina prepped their Mark 46 exercise torpedoes and on Tuesday, each ship and a CH-124 Sea King anti-submarine warfare helicopter fired a total of four exercise torpedoes against the sub.
The Australian diesel submarine was operating within a specific depth range, and the torpedoes were fired at a different depth to avoid physical contact. The different depths ensured the safety of the crewmembers of the target submarine.
The firings took place in Barstur Range within the Pacific Missile Firing Range (PMFR) in Hawaiian waters. Barstur Range has hydrophones strategically placed within its 12 by 14 nautical mile area to "hear" where the torpedoes go, thereby allowing PMFR analysts to calculate whether each shot was a "hit" or "miss."
Canadian ships have conducted similar firings at Barstur Range in the past against U.S. Navy nuclear submarines. This year's event was unique in that it not only involved firing on a different nation's submarine, which evaded detection using unique tactics and procedures, but the event was against a diesel submarine, which is a quieter and consequently harder to find, especially closer to shore where such boats have the greatest advantage.
Anti-submarine warfare is a focus for RIMPAC, the world's largest maritime exercise taking place in the waters off Hawaii. During the final week, six submarines will join other warships and aircraft to form the "opposing force", whose mission is to breach the defensive perimeter of the friendly forces. At specified periods and under pre-scripted conditions, the two forces will hunt for each other by sea and air over vast ocean areas, simulating complex, multi-threat "kinetic engagements" upon discovery.
THIS ALSO IN FROM RIMPAC:
NAVY CO-ORDINATES HARPOON MISSILE LAUNCHES AGAINST SHIP
Canadian sailors in Her Majesty's Canadian ships Ottawa and Regina have taken their place in Canadian Navy history. Yesterday, Halifax-class frigates Ottawa and Regina each fired two Harpoon anti-ship missiles at a decommissioned Navy ship under controlled conditions at the Pacific Missile Firing Range off Hawaii. The coordinated Harpoon launch is a first for the Canadian Navy.
"The coordinated harpoon fire marks the most advanced firing of its kind by the Canadian Navy," said Canadian Lieut-Cmdr. Steven Thorton of the Canadian Forces Maritime Warfare Centre (CFMWC), who was "front and centre" for the test fire on board HMCS Ottawa. "CFMWC will use the results of both ship's test fires to better understand Halifax-class capability to cooperate in anti-surface warfare."
Harpoon missiles would be used against surface combatants who pose an imminent threat to a naval task group. Two missiles coming at a hostile ship from two different directions simultaneously introduces an increased level of difficulty for the enemy ship to defend against. The ship must choose which missile to intercept, which increases the chance of at least one missile getting through the ship's defensive perimeter. The importance of a coordinated fire is to overwhelm the hostile ship's defenses, thereby disabling the hostile ship's ability to maneuver and return fire.
"At the moment of firing, it was very stressful. The firing of a live weapon is different than in training mode as it fires two to three seconds slower than in training, so I was thinking that there was a problem," said Petty Officer, First Class Keith Macfarlane, HMCS Ottawa's Above Water Warfare Director. "I was glad when it launched."
Canadian naval ships have had Harpoon missiles for more than a decade, and have fired them before, but never a coordinated live firing, where two or more ships fire simultaneously, as happened with HMC ships Ottawa and Regina.
Update: Guns too (from an e-mail with the Maritime Forces Pacific Media Release:)
July 18, 2008
Release 06-08
CANADIAN SAILORS FIRE AT FAKE ISLAND
AT SEA, PACIFIC OCEAN - After Monday's historic coordinated harpoon firing and Tuesday's torpedo fire against an Australian submarine, Canadian sailors will find today's live fire event a bit different. Her Majesty's Canadian ship Ottawa and Regina, with warships from five other navies, will take their turn shooting at "Fake Island", a virtual, three-dimensional landmass at an instrumented range off of Hawaii. Each of the six navies' shots will be judged for accuracy, and a winner declared. The winner of today's live fire event will receive the coveted RIMPAC Naval Surface Fire Support Trophy.
"Adding a competitive twist to today's live fire event helps keep our sailors on track and their morale high after a busy week," said Canadian Commodore Nigel Greenwood, Sea Combat Commander, from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk. "Today's live fire event will be icing on the cake before we move to the final week of the exercise, where we test multi-national participants to ensure we have collectively learned from the operational phase what we need to execute our mission at sea."
Ships will be given a bearing, distance and altitude for the virtual target, a fake fuel depot. Specialized software on board will convert the information to aim at a specific point in the water. After the ship fires, the range's hydrophones, will "hear" where the shot lands. The resulting information is fed back through the software to judge whether the ship had "hit" or "missed" the fuel depot.
"Live fire exercises such as this one provide the most realistic training possible in peacetime," said Commodore Greenwood. "Sailors come to understand the effectiveness of - and gain confidence in - the employment of modern naval weapons and technology."
HMC ships Ottawa and Regina each have a 57 mm gun, a rapid fire defensive weapon normally used for anti-air or anti-surface engagements. In a littoral environment, the 57 mm gun allows Halifax Class frigates to defend against a shore based threat, thereby allowing them to stay on station and complete their mission. This is the first time a Halifax Class frigate has participated in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise's longstanding tradition.
Live fire exercises have been a focus during the operational phase of the multi-national Rim of the Pacific exercise (RIMPAC), the world's largest maritime exercise [emphasis added], taking place in the waters off Hawaii. During the final week, six submarines will join other warships and aircraft to form the "opposing force", whose mission is to breach the defensive perimeter of the friendly forces. At specified periods and under pre-scripted conditions, the two forces will hunt for each other by sea and air over vast ocean areas, simulating complex, multi-threat "kinetic engagements" upon discovery. Multi-national exercises such as RIMPAC further Canadian Forces participants' combat and operational skills, continually enhancing Canada's contribution to global maritime security.
Canada has participated in every RIMPAC exercise since the first in 1971. This year's exercise involves ten nations, 35 ships, six submarines, over 150 aircraft and 20,000 military personnel. During the five-week event, RIMPAC participants will be put to the test in an intense series of drills and training that include live missile firings, torpedo firings, gunnery exercises, air defence, surface and undersea warfare, maritime interception operations, boardings, mine warfare, diving, and amphibious operations.
1. Lt. Josh Hall [aboard USS Kitty Hawk] gives a tour to pilots and enlisted personnel assigned to Canadian 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron.2. The executive officer of the Canadian frigate HMCS Regina (FFH 334) gives instructions to the crew before firing a missile.3. Sailors assigned to Her Majesty's Canadian frigate HMCS Regina (FF 334) perform a replenishment at sea.4. Soldiers assigned to the "Red Devils" of 1st Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry conduct physical training on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2008.5. The Canadian frigate HMCS Regina (FFH 334) steams off the coast of Hawaii during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2008.6. Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) The Honorable Dr. Donald C. Winter and Canadian Navy Commodore Nigel Greenwood, center-right, the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise sea combat commander...7. Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) The Honorable Dr. Donald C. Winter, left, and Canadian Navy Commodore Nigel Greenwood, the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise sea combat commander, discuss the surface warfare tactics used during RIMPAC...8. THE MONEY SHOT! The Canadian frigate HMCS Regina (FFH 334) fires a Harpoon anti-ship missile during a Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) sinking exercise...9. Canadian soldiers assigned to the "Red Devils" of A Co., 1st Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, board the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) at Naval Station Pearl Harbor.10. The Canadian Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa (FFH 341) transits the channel at Pearl Harbor to participate in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2008.11. The Canadian Halifax-class frigate HMCS Regina (FFH 334) leaves Pearl Harbor to participate in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2008.12. Canadian Sailors aboard the Canadian Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa (FFH 341) handle mooring lines.13. The Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ottawa (FF 341) arrives at Naval Station Pearl Harbor for the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2008 exercise.
posted by Mark, Ottawa at 3:31 p.m.
3 Comments:
I've checked around a bit and there doesn't seem to be much in the way of news photos out there from any participants about this year's RIMPAC exercise. However, here's a photo of a cruiser in RIMPAC firing a Harpoon about a week ago.
There's some coverage at the CFB Esquimalt newspaper, the Lookout.
Check it out at www.lookoutnewspaper.com
I spent 9 days embarked in HMCS Regina to cover the exercise.
WUPS, the Number 8 image correct URL is here.
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