Three Australian navy ships left Sydney harbor Monday to participate in seven-nation maritime war games near Hawaii.The guided missile frigate HMAS Newcastle, supply ship HMAS Success and Anzac frigate HMAS Parramatta will make up Australia's contingent in the exercise, Rimpac 2004, to be held next month.
More than 35 ships, seven submarines, 90 aircraft and 17,000 sailors, airmen, marines, soldiers and coastguardsmen from Australia, the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Peru, Chile and Britain will participate, the defense ministry said.
"Rimpac will provide the opportunity to practice our warfighting skills in a combined forces situation," said Australian Commodore Davyd Thomas, who will act as deputy commander of the maneuvers.
"We aim to improve our readiness and efficiency in exercising with our allies and friends," he said.
"By enhancing interoperability, Rimpac helps promote stability in the Pacific Rim region," he said.
Next month's war games will be the 19th Rimpac exercise held since 1971.
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