The objective was to sink the decades-old ship, which represented an enemy vessel approaching the Philippine shore.
That was followed by artillery units lined up along a grassy field firing rockets at floating drums 10km offshore.
The exercise was briefly interrupted when a small private aircraft entered the exercise area, Mannweiler told AFP.
“IRONCLAD ALLIANCE”
The drills aim to boost Manila’s military capability while serving as a US show of support for its Asian ally as China’s assertiveness in the region grows stronger.
Nearly 18,000 troops have taken part in the annual exercises dubbed Balikatan, or “shoulder to shoulder” in Filipino.
Wednesday’s event “demonstrated new potential and revitalised the strength of our militaries while we continuously forge an ironclad alliance,” the Balikatan director for the Philippine military, Major General Marvin Licudine, said in a statement.
The drills, which began on Apr 11, have involved helicopters landing on a Philippine island off the northern tip of the main island of Luzon, nearly 300km from Taiwan.
The Americans also showed off their Patriot missiles, considered one of the best air defence systems in the world.
This year’s Balikatan follows a deal announced earlier this month for US forces to use an increased number of bases in the Philippines, including one near Taiwan, which China considers to be part of its territory.
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