Mexican Navy, Philippine Coast Guard sail in formation during RIMPAC 2026
Mexican Navy Reformador-class frigate ARM Juarez (POLA 101) sails in front of Philippine Coast Guard Gabriela Silang-class offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV 8301) during a formation exercise in the Pacific Ocean as part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2026, July 19, 2026.
Below is a news release reporting USCGC Kimball’s participation in RIMPAC 2026 and it mentions other Coast Guard units that participated (William Hart (WPC 1134), Oliver Berry (WPC 1124), Hollyhock (WLB 214), and the Pacific Regional Dive Locker).
Would really like to know what the other CG ships were doing. The Webber class may have just been playing the bad guys, WPBs used to do that a lot during Navy exercises.
Looking at what Kimball did during the exercise, it doesn’t really look like they did much in the way of training for war which is what I would have expected. Previously National Security Cutters have operated Navy helicopters and led multinational ASW task groups. The live-fire gunnery exercises may have been only .50 caliber. There were not photos of either the 57mm or Phalanx firing.
The three non-US ships mentioned are an interesting lot. All three were commissioned in 2020.
ARM Juarez (POLA-101) is classed by the Mexican Navy as a long range patrol vessel, but it is much different from their numerous WMEC like OPVs. It is one of a series of Damen designed SIGMA small combatants considered generally to be corvettes or light frigates. At one time I thought the OPC might have been based on a SIGMA design. The Mexican ship has both AAW (SeaRAM) and ASW (sonar, torpedo tubes, and helicopter) capability. I hope they got to exercise those capabilities.
BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) was the only non-US coast guard vessel participating in the event. She is a relatively minimalist 83.6 m (274 ft) Offshore Patrol Vessel, built in France for the Philippines. She is unusual in that she has an aluminum hull resulting in unusually economical operation, particularly at low speeds. She is claimed to be the largest aluminum hull Offshore Patrol Vessel in the World. Crew is only 35.
HMNZS Aotearoa (A11) is a New Zealand ice strengthened underway replenishment ship, built in South Korea, whose missions includes support of New Zealand’s Antarctic Scott Base, only three Kilometers from the US McMurdo Station. She has places for 22 twenty foot containers, so potentially very flexible.
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kimball concludes participation in RIMPAC 2026
HONOLULU — The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kimball (WMSL 756) concluded operations in support of the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026 exercise and returned to their homeport in Honolulu, July 27.
Throughout the in-port and at-sea phases from mid-June through late July, Honolulu-based assets, including Kimball, Coast Guard cutters William Hart (WPC 1134), Oliver Berry (WPC 1124), Hollyhock (WLB 214), and the Pacific Regional Dive Locker, partnered closely with international military forces to enhance interoperability and strengthen regional maritime security.
During the exercise, Kimball operated alongside key partner nations, including the Mexican Navy frigate ARM Benito Juárez (POLA 101), the Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessel Gabriela Silang (OPV 8301), the Royal New Zealand Navy support ship HMNZS Aotearoa (A11), and the cutters William Hart and Oliver Berry.
Together, the combined forces executed a rigorous series of tactical evolutions, including live-fire gunnery exercises, compliant and non-compliant vessel boardings, search-and-rescue drills, refueling-at-sea, damage control and helicopter crash training, and complex tactical maneuvering.
“Participating in RIMPAC 2026 reinforces the critical role the Coast Guard plays in driving international cooperation across the Indo-Pacific,” said Capt. Craig Allen, commanding officer of Cutter Kimball. “Working shoulder-to-shoulder with our foreign coast guard and naval allies sharpens our tactical readiness and deepens the trust necessary to ensure safety, security, and open sea lanes across the Pacific.”
Following the conclusion of RIMPAC, Kimball’s crew will enter an in-port maintenance before departing on a Western Pacific patrol. The upcoming deployment will build on the momentum generated during RIMPAC, focusing on bilateral maritime training, international law enforcement, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fisheries enforcement.
RIMPAC 2026 marks the 30th iteration of the world’s premier international maritime exercise, which began in 1971. Centered on the theme “Partners: Integrated and Prepared,” this year’s exercise brought together forces from 30 nations, 30 surface ships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 190 aircraft, and 30,000 personnel to foster relationships critical to sustaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.
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