Amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD 23) set sail to participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014, July 10.
Anchorage is acting as the afloat sea-base, supporting Cmdr. Max Muller, the commander of Task Group 177.1. Anchorage is also serving as the operating platform for the multinational mine countermeasures group that includes airborne mine countermeasures, underwater vehicles, divers, and marine mammals. Anchorage’s crew of more than 400 will join the additional 400 personnel from Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, and the United Kingdom.
In preparation for RIMPAC, Anchorage’s crew ensured everything from berthing to food was in place to ensure embarked partner nation participants felt welcomed, acclimated and integrated into the ship’s company and mission during RIMPAC.
Anchorage was commissioned in May 2013 and this is the ship’s first time participating in RIMPAC.
Twenty-two nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 26 – Aug. 1, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.
[mappress] Press Release, July 14, 2014; Image: US Navy