Southern California portion of Rim of the Pacific 2016

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PACIFIC OCEAN (July 24, 2016)-- Three combat-rubber raiding crafts, piloted by members of the Royal Australian Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force return to the well deck of amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) after an underwater surveillance exercise as a part of the Southern California portion of Rim of the Pacific 2016. Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships, five submarines, 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in the biennial exercise. RIMPAC, the world’s largest international maritime exercise, is designed to foster and sustain cooperative relationships to ensure the safety of sea lanes and security of the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise of the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stacy M. Atkins Ricks/Released)