USS Essex Visits Hawaii Before RIMPAC
The San Diego-based USS Essex is on its way to participate in the Rim of the Pacific, or RIMPAC, exercise for 2012. RIMPAC is the world's biggest maritime exercise, according to the Navy. More than 25,000 military personnel from 22 nations take part in RIMPAC.
Today the USS Essex arrived in Hawaii for a ten day visit.
The USS Essex has been in the headlines as of late. Earlier this month, the Navy fired Essex commanding officer Capt. Chuck Litchfield for “loss of confidence in his ability to command" after the Essex collided with another vessel at sea.