180712-N-LR347-0022 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 12, 2018) Royal

180712-N-LR347-0022 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 12, 2018) Royal Canadian Navy Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel (MCDV) HMCS Whitehorse (MM 705) operates in a minesweeping exercise off the coast of San Diego as part of Commander Task Force (CTF 177) during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in the Southern California, July 12. CTF 177 is the RIMPAC Mine Warfare Commander. Twenty-five nations, 46 ships, five submarines, about 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 27 to Aug. 2 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 of the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2018 is the 26th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Matthew A. Stroup)