Two Royal New Zealand Navy vessels departed Devonport Naval Base this morning, heading 3,800 nautical miles north to Hawaii to join RIMPAC, the world's largest international maritime exercise, alongside 30 other nations.
HMNZS Te Mana, a frigate, and HMNZS Aotearoa, the Navy's dedicated replenishment vessel, left together with a combined complement of 280 personnel. The exercise runs across July and August once the ships reach the Hawaiian Islands.
RIMPAC draws together 31 nations and a considerable concentration of naval assets: around 40 surface ships, five submarines, more than 140 aircraft, and upwards of 25,000 personnel in total. Activities span a wide spectrum, from missile proficiency, gunnery, and anti-submarine warfare through to amphibious operations, humanitarian assistance, counter-piracy, mine clearance, and diving and salvage work.
New Zealand is taking part in the biennial exercise for the 17th time. Maritime Component Commander Commodore Shane Arndell was on the Devonport wharf to farewell both vessels as they moved out into the Waitematā Harbour, speaking to the value the exercise holds for working alongside partners across the Indo-Pacific.
"It provides a valuable opportunity to work seamlessly with international partners to improve interoperability and enhance the operational readiness of our people and platforms, to ensure we can support the maintenance of a free and open Pacific," he said.
HMNZS Te Mana's commanding officer, Commander Tuijo Thompson, noted that his ship's company had come through an intensive three-month work-up following a lengthy maintenance period.
"Exercises of this scale allow us to challenge ourselves in realistic scenarios and demonstrate the professionalism and capability of our sailors, and I am very confident we will not be found wanting."
HMNZS Aotearoa is attending RIMPAC for the third consecutive time, underlining how central the replenishment vessel has become to New Zealand's contribution to coalition maritime operations. Commanding Officer Commander Rob Welford said that alongside warfare activities, Aotearoa would be providing essential replenishment and support to allied ships throughout the exercise.
For some on board, the deployment carries particular personal significance. Able Electronic Technician Serenity Olive, 22, is undertaking her first overseas deployment aboard Te Mana.
"This is exactly why I joined the Navy," she said. "To travel, to challenge myself and be part of a great team — and RIMPAC offers all of that."
As both ships cleared the harbour and set course north, a haka performed by sailors on the Devonport wharf marked the occasion.
