Last September, the U.S. Navy and its allies used a decommissioned American ship as target practice during a major Pacific military exercise, launching missiles from the air and sea to demolish and sink the vessel.
Planes and ships from the U.S., Australia and other partner nations turned their fire on the retired Navy ship USS Durham. The sinking exercise was part of the annual Rim of the Pacific event, or RIMPAC, the world’s largest set of multilateral maritime drills.
We assume it sent the right message.