Friends sail together at RIMPAC*
HMAS Sydney rendezvoused with good friends and partner nations during the sea phase of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) in the waters off Hawaii this month.
CAPTION: Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Regina, Royal New Zealand Navy Polar-class auxiliary ship HMNZS Aotearoa and Royal Australian Navy Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Sydney conduct a dual replenishment at sea during the sea during RIMPAC 2026 off the coast of Hawaii. Photo by Leading Seaman Lauren Pugsley.
Sydney furthered training with Canadian frigate HMCS Regina, New Zealand maritime sustainment ship HMNZS Aotearoa and frigate HMNZS Te Mana, as well as United States destroyers USS Decatur and USS Carl M. Levin.
Aotearoa replenished her smaller friends at sea after a week of the exercise’s sea phase.
Commanding Officer HMAS Sydney Commander Hayden Jenkins said the replenishment-at-sea evolution provided a valuable logistics opportunity and excellent seamanship training.
“The multi-ship activities were enhanced by the close relationships that have developed between crews during RIMPAC both ashore and at sea,” Commander Hayden Jenkins said.
Sydney‘s Executive Officer Lieutenant Commander Matthew Stobo said it was a valuable training lesson.
“Replenishment at sea activities provide an opportunity for partners to work together, ensuring processes and procedures are understood between nations,” he said.
Having topped up on essential fuel supplies, members of the task group resumed training activities at sea.
Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026 is the world’s largest international maritime exercise, featuring 31 participating nations, roughly 30,000 personnel, on major training operations in and around Hawaii.
Approximately 430 Australian Defence Force personnel are deployed on the exercise, aboard the guided missile destroyer HMAS Sydney, support vessel ADV Guidance, and in support of RAAF P-8A Poseidon and E-7A Wedgetail aircraft.
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*CONTACT’s Editor-at-large Brian Hartigan threw up in his mouth a little bit when he read the original Defence headline for this story…
No ships like friend ships
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