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In an effort to
promote cooperation and interoperability in the area of submarine rescue
in Asian waters, USS La Jolla (SSN-701), acting as the mother
submarine (MOSUB) for the U. S. Navy’s Deep Sub-mergence Rescue Vehicle
(DSRV) Mystic, the Deep Submergence Unit (DSU) from Submarine
Development Squadron Five (SUBDEVRON 5), and USS Safeguard
(ARS-50) participated in Pacific Reach 2004 this May. The exercise, held
in the Eastern Sea near Cheju Island, Korea, practices the ability to
mobilize assets worldwide in the unlikely event a submarine becomes
disabled and is not able to return to the surface on its own.
Pacific Reach 2004 is
the third in this a series of bi-annual exercises. Similar to NATO’s
Sorbet Royale, Pacific Reach 2004 is specifically designed to bring
together nations that operate submarines in Asian waters. The 2002
exercise was conducted in Sasebo, Japan and the 2000 exercise in
Singapore. VADM Sung Man Kim, Commander-in-Chief, Republic of Korea Navy
said, during the opening ceremony, “I’m confident we’ll be able to
enhance the level of submarine rescue operations by familiarizing rescue
procedures, sharing information on each navy’s rescue assets, rescue
operations, techniques, and medical treatments.”
Pacific Reach has a
number of goals, including enhancing submarine rescue capability,
fostering mutual trust among participating countries, demonstrating capability
and interoperability among participating submarine and submarine rescue
vehicles, and developing submarine rescue techniques. It also provides
rescue vehicle pilots and operators with training opportunities in actual
conditions, increases familiarity with other participating countries’
submarine rescue equipment, and develops new mating and rescue
procedures.
According to CAPT
Russell Ervin, from SUBDEVRON 5, “Pacific Reach 04 is a showcase for both
the cooperation and growing organic capability that Asian submarining
nations are building. Many rescue techniques are unique to Asia, having
evolved from the immense distances and variable operating conditions of
the Pacific.
“From arctic to
tropical waters, from reef and shoal-littered littorals to the deepest
blue water in the world, those navies operating in Asian waters contend
with the most challenging operating theater on the planet. Asian navies
are emerging as submarine rescue thought leaders and have a great deal to
offer the international community. Several Asian nations are in the
process of sending submariners to the International Submarine Escape and
Rescue Liaison Office (ISMERLO) located in Norfolk, Virginia. In Asia,
especially due to the distances and limited rescue assets, we depend on
one another more than other areas of the world,” he added.
Worldwide interest in
this event has grown to five participating and eight obser- ving
countries. Gathered at Jinhae, Korea, on the southeast coast of the
country and home base to the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy, the U.S.
participated with the navies of Japan, Australia, and Singapore.
Observing nations included Canada, China, Chile, France, India,
Indonesia, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.
The major assets
provided by the other countries included:
- ROKS Hwachun
(AOE-59)
- ROKS Cheonghaejin
(ASR-21)
- ROKS Choimoosun
(SS-063)
- JDS Chiyoda
(AS-405)
- JDS Sachishio
(SS-582)
- HMAS Rankin
(SS-78)
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