HMCS Windsor returns from multi-national overseas exercises
News Release
December 17, 2015
OTTAWA — Her Majesty’s Canadian Submarine (HMCS) Windsor returned to Halifax today after a successful three and a half month deployment to Western European waters. The submarine participated with allied navies in multi-national joint Exercises JOINT WARRIOR and TRIDENT JUNCTURE.
HMCS Windsor, along with HMC Ships Athabaskan, Halifax, Montréal, Goose Bay,and Summerside left Halifax in the early fall. These exercises served to enhance the combat readiness of units, improve unit interoperability, and confirm operational mission preparedness. The participation of Canadian Armed Forces personnel and Royal Canadian Navy assets in these exercises enhanced Canada’s ability to operate with its NATO allies and contribute to solutions for an evolving and challenging global security environment.
Quick Facts
- HMCS Windsor is the last Canadian participant of the multinational exercises this fall to return to Halifax. The crew of Windsor had the opportunity to work with other nations, strengthening interoperability with various defence partners and joint operations with Canadian Special Operations Forces personnel.
- With the participation of more than 800 Royal Canadian Navy sailors, this year’s TRIDENT JUNCTURE exercise was the largest NATO Maritime exercise Canada has participated in in over two decades. Canadians worked alongside armed forces members from 34 nations, with over 60 warships and 120 military aircraft.
- Various units and personnel from Canada, Poland, France, Germany, Denmark, Australia, the United States, United Kingdom, and others participated in Exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE.
- JOINT WARRIOR is a semi-annual Maritime exercise hosted by the Royal Navy, with participants varying from Western European countries, as well as Canada and the United States. The exercise provides a challenging tactical learning environment for participants by focusing on large scale exercises featuring numerous maritime and air units.
- After completing both JOINT WARRIOR and TRIDENT JUNCTURE, HMCS Windsor participated in exercises with la Marine Nationale (French Navy) off the western European coast.
- The Canadian Submarine Force is a key strategic military asset for Canada. As unseen warriors, submarines are stealthy, lethal and persistent, making them ideal for surveillance and intelligence gathering.
- Submarines enjoy unparalleled freedom of action and independence to act at a time and place of political choosing. In an emerging crisis their presence can shape regional decision-making profoundly and, should deterrence fail, their lethality can contribute decisively to combat operations, both in defending surface forces and placing opposing forces at peril.
- Canadian submariners conduct various missions, including counter-terrorism, support to Special Operation Forces and perform constabulary roles in support of RCMP anti-narcotic operations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ patrols, and illegal immigration interdiction operations.
Quotes
“Congratulations to the crew of HMCS Windsor on a successful overseas deployment. Submarines are a key asset for the Canadian Armed Forces and their crews are dedicated professionals. Your performance on the international stage rightly makes Canadians proud.”
- The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence
"This deployment is a milestone for the Canadian Submarine Force, as HMCS Windsor successfully completes a major submarine deployment overseas. It showcases our support of NATO and the robust capability and readiness of Canada’s Submarine Force to assist the Canadian Armed Forces and our international partners.”
- Vice Admiral Mark Norman, Commander Royal Canadian Navy
“During this long deployment, HMCS Windsor demonstrated the immense capability that submarines bring to naval warfare: professionalism, stealth, inter-operational effectiveness and the ability to significantly impact and alter the strategic maritime security environment in the face of opposing forces. I am exceedingly proud of Windsor and her entire crew, Bravo Zulu!”
- Captain (Navy) Jamie Clarke, Commander Canadian Submarine Force
Associated Link
Media Contacts
Maritime Forces Atlantic Public Affairs
Phone: 902-427-3766
Email: +marlantpublicaffairs@forces.gc.ca
After Hours: 902-452-5280 or hfx.dutypao@forces.gc.ca
For more information on the Royal Canadian Navy please visit www.navy-marine.forces.gc.ca or follow us @RCN_MRC @RCN_MARLANT
Search for related information by keyword
Hon. Harjit Singh Sajjan National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces Military