HMCS Fredericton replaces HMCS Winnipeg in support of Operation REASSURANCE
News Release
January 8, 2016
OTTAWA — The Royal Canadian Navy frigate Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Fredericton officially joined Standing NATO Maritime Forces in the eastern Mediterranean Sea today as part of Operation REASSURANCE, Canada’s support to NATO assurance measures in Central and Eastern Europe.
In support of NATO-led maritime assurance activities, the ship joins Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2), currently engaged in NATO counter-terrorism patrols and related activities in the region. HMCS Fredericton is replacing HMCS Winnipeg which concluded a six months operational deployment.
Quick Facts
- Standing NATO Maritime Groups are multinational, integrated maritime forces made up of vessels from various Allied countries. These vessels are permanently available to NATO to perform different tasks ranging from exercises to operational missions. They also help to establish Alliance presence, demonstrate solidarity, conduct routine diplomatic visits to different countries, support partner engagement, and provide a variety of maritime military capabilities to ongoing missions.
- Operation REASSURANCE refers to the Canadian Armed Forces’ activities in support of NATO assurance measures through the provision of military capabilities for training, exercises, demonstrations and assigned NATO tasks. These measures are based on the principles of defence, deterrence, and de-escalation.
- HMCS Fredericton is a Halifax-class frigate with a crew of approximately 250 personnel of all ranks, including a CH-124 Sea King helicopter and air detachment.
- HMCS Fredericton previously deployed on Operation REASSURANCE from January 6 to July 7, 2015.
- HMCS Fredericton departed its home port of Halifax, N.S., January 5, 2016, conducting mission work-ups while enroute to replace HMCS Winnipeg. Work-ups are the final phase of training to bring the ship to the highest level of operational readiness.
- HMCS Fredericton is the second HMC Ship to deploy an Enhanced Naval Boarding Party (ENBP) on an operational mission. The ENBP is a new capability for the Royal Canadian Navy that will be used in support of maritime interdiction operations. The ENBP team is better trained and equipped to provide HMC Ships with enhanced agility, flexibility, and tactical expertise to confront and deter a variety of threats in high-risk operational environments.
- HMCS Fredericton completed its modernization/frigate equipment life extension (HCM/FELEX) refit in 2014. The ship has a new Combat Management System, new radar capability, a new electronic warfare system, upgraded communications, and more advanced missiles. The ship now also boasts a new Integrated Platform Management system offering better damage control, as well as more modern electrical and machinery control.
- HMCS Winnipeg, a Halifax-class frigate, had been conducting maritime security operations and joint NATO training exercises in the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Baltic Sea as part of SNMG 1 and 2 since July 2015.
Quotes
“The deployment of HMCS Fredericton to Op REASSURANCE demonstrates Canada’s commitment to reinforcing Allied solidarity and collective defence in Europe and the Mediterranean Sea with our NATO partners. Congratulations to the crew of HMCS Winnipeg on a successful deployment. I wish them a safe journey home as they return to their families and friends for some well-earned rest.”
The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence
“HMCS Fredericton’s deployment builds upon the successes of the skilled crew onboard HMCS Winnipeg throughout the last six months on Op REASSURANCE. It is the ability to deploy capable, modern ships like HMCS Fredericton that enables the Canadian Armed Forces to deliver diverse and robust capabilities in response to developing and ongoing crises in regions around the world.”
Lieutenant-General Stephen Bowes, Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command
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