The U.S. Navy and its naval infantry, the U.S. Marine Corps, will launch their first large-scale amphibious landing exercise over the past few decades during the ongoing RIMPAC or Rim of the Pacific naval exercise, the world's largest involving warships from 26 countries led by the United States.

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Brig. Gen. Ray Descheneaux, commanding general of Fleet Marine Forces for RIMPAC, noted that exercises like RIMPAC allow the U.S. military services and their allies to prepare for large-scale amphibious missions in the future.

He said Marines haven't carried out a large-scale amphibious landing in decades. There's still a need to train for these missions, especially as Marines test new high-tech tactics and gear, he said.

RIMPAC 2016 began June 30 and will end August 4. It will cover a vast area extending from Hawaii to the U.S. West Coast.

It involves 45 warships; five submarines; over 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel from 27 countries, including China and the Philippines, which are engaged in a diplomatic war of nerves over China's claim to own most of the South China Sea.

Also of keen interest to foreign navies will be the interaction between the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and the U.S. Navy, which is also involved in the dispute over the South China Sea.

Experts, however, are concerned the PLAN will use its participation at RIMPAC to spy on other nations, especially the U.S., using electronic warfare, military intelligence and radar and electronic warfare

"You can tweak and modify ships to do information gathering if you've got the phased arrays, you certainly have the ability to emit signals and if you have the right antennae, you can certainly collect signals," said Dean Cheng of the Heritage Foundation in Washington.

RIMPAC 2016 is the first time Marines will practice simultaneous amphibious operations in Hawaii and Southern California, said Maj. Timothy Tiller, Marine Forces Pacific lead RIMPAC planner.

Men of the 3rd Marine Regiment will lead a multinational force in a large amphibious training exercise around the Hawaiian Islands. The other Marine units taking part are the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines; Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 and Combat Logistics Battalion 3.

Training missions will include amphibious assaults, helicopter raids and combined arms operations ashore. The 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment will contribute half of the troops for the ground combat element.

This type of training at RIMPAC will integrate joint and combined capabilities to conduct amphibious, offensive, defensive, and stability operations.

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit will lead a second multinational force training off Southern California's coast along with elements of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines; Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 and Combat Logistics Battalion 15.

The Marines and other troops will complete amphibious assaults, raids, non-combatant evacuation operations, and combined-arms training at ranges at Camp Pendleton and San Clemente Island. There will also be artillery and small-arms live-fire events.

TagsU.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, Brig. Gen. Ray Descheneaux, RIMPAC 2016, Dean Cheng