HMCS Regina departed Esquimalt’s HMC Dockyard this morning, marking the initial deployment of Canadian military personnel for RIMPAC 2020.
The Rim of the Pacific event is hosted every two years by the United States Navy in and around Hawaii and California. It is scheduled for Aug. 17 to 31.
The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC is designed to foster and sustain co-operative relationships. Twenty-six nations participated in 2018.
This year’s exercise was redesigned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The California portion was cancelled, there will be no social events ashore, and minimal contact between nations’ sailors.
The Royal Canadian Navy will send two warships: HMCS Winnipeg and HMCS Regina with helicopter detachments crewed by about 450 sailors and aviators.
2020 marks Canada’s first RIMPAC exercise with the Cyclone helicopter.
The exercise will include anti-submarine warfare, maritime intercept operations and live-fire training events.
