RIMPAC 2022: F/A-18 Hornets Launch during SINKEX

Credit: Lance Cpl. Haley Fourmetgustavsen | Date Taken: 07/22/2022
MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Hawaii (July 22, 2022) F/A-18 Hornets assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, Marine Air-Ground Task Force 7, fired upon and sunk the dcommissioned ex-USS Denver (LPD9) July 22, during a sinking exercise (SINKEX) to gain proficiency in tactics, targeting, and live-firing against a surface target at sea. SINKEX vessels are put through a certified cleaning process, including removing all environmentally harmful material including trash, floatable material, mercury, fluorocarbon and petroleum. Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Haley Fourmet Gustavsen)