During the sinking exercise (SINKEX) on July 12 as part of the sea phase of RIMPAC 2018, live fires from an aircraft, a submarine, and land assets sank the decommissioned ex-USS Racine (LST 1191) in waters 15,000 feet deep 55 nautical miles north of Kauai, Hawaii.
The sinking exercise (SINKEX) featured live firing of surface-to-ship missiles by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) from a launcher on the back of a Palletized Load System (PLS) by the US Army.
A Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft also participated in the SINKEX.
“Today, we demonstrated the lethality and adaptability of our joint forces in the maritime environment,” said Admiral Phil Davidson, commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command. “As naval forces drive our enemies into the littorals, army forces can strike them. Conversely, when the army drives our enemies out to sea naval firepower can do the same.”
Sailors assigned to the “Golden Swordsmen” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 47 use a MHU-83 Munitions Handling Unit to load a AGM-84D Harpoon missile onto a P-8A Poseidon aircraft on Marine Corps Air Station, Hawaii, during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise 2018. US Navy photo
The Western Artillery of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force shoots the surface-to-ship missile at the Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands, Hawaii. US Army photo
U.S. Army 1st Battalion 94th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Field Artillery Brigade High Mobility Artillery Rocket System crew drives to the firing point to conduct a live-fire sinking exercise (SINKEX) from Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands. US Army photo
Twenty-five nations, 45 ships, five submarines, about 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are currently participating in RIMPAC that will end on August 2.
Source: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/613584/air-land-sea-strikes-sink-decommissioned-ex-uss-racine-during-rimpac