Our Navy Today - Volume 7 Issue 5

Canadian ships sail to RIMPAC 2024 

Motor Vessel (MV) Asterix has departed for San Diego with 72 RCN members on board. They will join HMCS Vancouver to travel together to Pearl Harbour for the 29th Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024, along with HMCS Max Bernays.

RCN’s participation in RIMPAC helps our Navy to hone its military expertise in the Indo-Pacific region while fostering relationships between partners and allies, one of the core mandates of the RCN. 

Commodore Coates commands NATO task group with HMCS Charlottetown as Flagship  

On June 15, HMCS Charlottetown departed Halifax to join Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) as its Flagship for a six-month deployment in the Mediterranean Sea on Operation REASSURANCE.  

While on deployment, Charlottetown will participate in international exercises and execute missions in support of regional maritime security in the Mediterranean.  

On July 1, Commodore Matthew Coates officially took command of SNMG2 onboard Charlottetown, supported by a Canadian and international staff.  

SNMG2 is one of four Standing Naval Forces that operate under NATO Allied Maritime Command. 

Commodore Coates’ command of SNMG2 and Charlottetown’s deployment under Op REASSURANCE demonstrates Canada’s commitment to security and stability in the region.

HMCS Ville De Québec operates with U.S. Navy, defending North America

HMCS Ville de Québec operated off the Atlantic coast alongside U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels from the US 2nd Fleet in early June. This joint operation tracked the movements and activities of a Russian naval flotilla. The RCN, alongside its U.S. counterparts, routinely carries out operations in support of our continental defence mission. Routinely monitoring the approaches to North America is part of our mandate to defend Canada and North America. 

HMCS Montréal participates in Exercise VALIANT SHIELD 2024 

HMCS Montréal, along with an embarked CH-148 Cyclone helicopter, participated in Exercise VALIANT SHIELD 2024 in the Indo-Pacific while on Operation HORIZON.  

Exercise VALIANT SHIELD 2024 ran from June 7 to 18 and marked the CAF’s first participation in the US-led exercise. The exercise aims to foster regional security relationships, strengthen military partnerships, and improve interoperability with allied and partner nations. 

HMCS Margaret Brooke returns from Operation CARIBBE

After a nine-week deployment on Operation CARIBBE, HMCS Margaret Brooke returned home on Sunday June 23.

During the deployment, the crew participated in Exercise TRADEWINDS 2024, an annual exercise led by the U.S. that aims to strengthen partnerships, promote human rights, and enhance cooperation in Central America and the Caribbean. Still deployed on Operation CARIBBE is HMCS Summerside, with an expected return home in few weeks.

Bravo Zulu to all involved, and a warm welcome home to the crew of HMCS Margaret Brooke!

Naval Experience Program passes first year 

The Naval Experience Program (NEP) has now reached the end of its first year, thanks to our supporting sailors. As the RCN moves into the second year of NEP, RCN leadership is confident the program will continue to attract enthusiastic new recruits to the Navy.  

The NEP allows participants to explore naval occupations before making a long-term commitment, offering recruits the tools to make informed career decisions.  

To date, the enrollment target of 144 participants was surpassed, with 179 successful enrollees, demonstrating a promising start for NEP. There are currently more than 500 applicants remaining in the recruiting process.   

Participants like Sailor 3rd Class Emma Duncan from Winnipeg, Manitoba, have found the program fulfilling. “The opportunity to explore the Navy without a long-term commitment was too good to pass up,” S3 Duncan said.  

Preliminary data indicates that 74% of the inaugural cohort have opted to stay in the CAF after their one-year engagement. A more comprehensive analysis of retention data will be available in the fall of 2024, following the completion of a larger cohort’s one-year engagement.  

Implementing such a unique program is not without challenges.  

Concerns were raised about incorporating NEP sailors into existing training programs, knowing there are current sailors awaiting career training and qualifications.  

NEP participants were loaded onto courses that had space available. Training for current members has not been delayed by NEP. In some cases, current members were not loaded onto courses that they could have been. The RCN is working with Military Personnel Command to improve this process. 

The program has made up for low fill rates in some courses, allowing them to run rather than be canceled. 

MyRCN App updated: easy login and PaCE access 

Thanks to user feedback, the MyRCN mobile app now offers a simpler login process and access to the Performance and Competency Evaluation (PaCE) feature.

Introduced in May 2023, MyRCN provides all CAF members with access to leave request submissions, fleet schedules, and availability reports for Naval Reservists.

The MyRCN team is working on adding new features in the future. Stay tuned for updates later this year!

Sea-to-Shore Connector passes acceptance trial

Our Atlantic fleet recently completed the Sea Acceptance Trial for one our newest pieces of equipment.

The Sea to Shore Connector, part of the Protecteur-class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR) project, can be stored inside the support ship and assembled as needed to transport equipment, stores, or people to shore when a jetty isn’t available.

The trials determined the Sea to Shore Connectors meet all design specifications, enabling the Protecteur-class AOR vessels to offload critical personnel and cargo in locations without port support. They can also be deployed as a standalone unit for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, or evacuation operations, both domestically and internationally.

Each AOR vessel will eventually have two Sea-to-Shore Connectors aboard.

Point Defence Missile System Upgrade reaches Initial Operational Capability 

The Point Defence Missile System Upgrade project has achieved Initial Operational Capability for the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2. 

Achieved through a decade-long collaboration with NATO allies and industry partners, ESSM Block 2 enhances the Halifax-class ships’ Point Defence Missile System against evolving threats. 

Naval Large Tugs enroute to Esquimalt

The RCN’s first two Naval Large Tugs are on their way to Esquimalt, B.C., expected to arrive in late July.

After completing some minor outstanding work and completing the familiarization training, inspections will be conducted prior to accepting the tugs.

The new tugs will support the RCN’s current and future fleet on both coasts.  

Repatriation of the remains of the unknown soldier

Three Naval Reservists from HMCS Cabot recently participated in the repatriation of an unknown Newfoundland First World War soldier from Beaumont-Hamel, France, to St. John’s, N.L. The remains were burried at the National War Memorial in St. John’s on July 1, 2024. The repatriation honors Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who have no known grave.

Sailor 1st Class Michael Quinlan, Sailor 3rd Class Dean Turpin, and Commander Dave Botting, CO of HMCS Cabot, were part of the naval contingent for this historic event.

“I was proud to be selected for this opportunity and to honor those who have no known graves,” said S1 Quinlan, recognizing the sacrifices of soldiers and sailors alike.

Marine Careers Expo at Rendez-vous naval de Québec

The Marine Careers Expo will be held at this year’s Rendez-vous naval de Québec from July 4 to 7 at the Port de Quebec in La Cite-Limoilou.

We’ll be joined by the Canadian Coast Guards, US Navy, Royal Navy and Marine Nationale. 

Join us for a day of family-friendly activities! Meet our crew, tour some ships, explore interactive displays, and try your hand at being a sailor for a day.

More news 

Correcting the record on Stoker 1st Class Verne LeRoy Turner’s cause of death