China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy and the Russian Navy wrapped up a joint exercise in the South China Sea and a separate joint naval patrol this week.
The two navies finished what the PLAN calls Joint Sea 2024, which is known as Maritime Interaction 2024 to the Russians. The drills began on Monday in the South China Sea, near the southern China city of Zhanjiang. The city is also the headquarters of the PLAN South Sea Fleet, from where the PLAN and Russian ships taking part in the exercise departed.
The drills included Russian Navy corvettes RFS Gromkiy (335) and RFS Rezkiy (343) and fleet oiler Irkut, which are all part of the Russian Pacific Fleet, and PLAN destroyer CNS Nanning (162), frigates CNS Xianning (500) and CNS Dali (553) and fleet oiler CNS Weishanhu (887).
During the exercise the combined force carried out various tactical drills, including joint live-fire air and missile defense drills. With the completion of the drills, Gromkiy and Rezkiy are now moving on to Southeast Asia to continue their Asia Pacific deployment.
The two navies also completed a joint naval patrol on Monday, which included Russian Navy corvette RFS Sovershenny (333), PLAN destroyer CNS Yinchuan (175), frigate CNS Hengshui (572) and fleet oiler Weishanhu. The joint patrol started south of South Korea’s Jeju Island, with the patrol transiting through the Osumi Strait to enter the Western Pacific Ocean and subsequently through the Philippine Sea before finishing in the South China Sea.
The joint patrol lasted 15 days, with the ships traveling 4,800 nautical miles in the Asia-Pacific region, according to a Russian Ministry of Defense news release. During the final stages, the patrol’s ships practiced escorting a ship and then carried out replenishment at-sea drills with Weishanhu.
“The objectives of the joint patrols are to strengthen naval cooperation between Russia and China, maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, monitor the sea area and protect the objects of maritime economic activity of Russia and China,” reads the release.
Meanwhile, in Hawaii on Monday, the humanitarian aid and disaster relief portion of the Rim of the Pacific 2024 exercise concluded, according to a U.S. Navy news release. The HADR phase featured nine countries: the U.S., Chile, Singapore, Germany, Japan, Canada, Mexico, South Korea and Peru. Two ships – Royal Canadian Navy offshore patrol vessel HMCS Max Bernays (AOPV432) and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force tank landing ship JS Kunisaki (LST-4003) – took part in the drills.
“Participants trained in a wide range of dynamic scenarios, including Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), Hawaii Healthcare Emergency Management (HHEM) mass casualty response, mass movement of evacuees, aerial survey, port restoration, and logistical support for humanitarian assistance,” reads the release from U.S. 3rd Fleet.
Meanwhile, U.S. Marine Rotational Force – Darwin sailors and Marines kicked off Exercise Predator’s Run 24 with the Australian Army, Philippines Army and the U.K. Commando Force in northern Australia on Monday, according to a Marine Corps news release issued Wednesday.
“MRF-D 24.3’s participation includes units from 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), Combat Logistics Battalion 5 (Reinforced), and Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (Reinforced),” the release reads.The MRF-D 24.3 MAGTF is also reinforced by 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.”
“During the exercise, MRF-D 24.3 will integrate into the ADF’s Combat Training Centre 1st Division as a supporting effort to the Australian Army 1st Brigade’s order of battle, conducting warfighting and live-fire field evolutions. These operations aim to enhance the MRF-D 24.3’s Ground Combat Element, 2nd Bn., 5th Marines (Rein.), interoperability and sustain mission-essential task list training readiness,” the release continues.
The U.K. Littoral Response Group (South) features 400 Royal Marine commandos of No. 40 Commandos, with amphibious dock landing ship RFA Lyme Bay (L3007) and hospital/aviation support ship RFA Argus (A135). The Philippines Army contingent is a composite group of 125 Philippine Army personnel.
