USS Anchorage Sailors make preparations to deploy the Mk-105 sled from the USS Anchorage well deck, part of air mine countermeasure operations by Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 14 during Rim of the Pacific exercise 2014. Twenty-two nations, 49 ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC exercise from June 26 to Aug. 1 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2014 is the 24th exercise in the series that began in 1971.