Your Navy Today - Volume 3 Issue 1
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Friends and families on the jetty await their loved ones’ return as HMCS Halifax comes alongside after a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean region.
Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Halifax returned home January 22 after completing its six-month rotation on Operation REASSURANCE in the Mediterranean region.
Highlights of the deployment included serving as the flagship for Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 and participating in a number of cooperative engagements that focused on interoperability and capacity building with partners and allies. Cooperative engagements included DYNAMIC GUARD 19-2 in September, DYNAMIC MARINER 19 in October, and DOGU AKDENIZ 19 in November.
Additionally, Halifax conducted maritime security awareness patrols on Operation SEA GUARDIAN as part of NATO assurance and deterrence measures in the region.
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HMCS Fredericton set sail on January 20 with 251 sailors, airmen and women on board for a six-month deployment overseas on Op REASSURANCE.
HMCS Fredericton left Halifax January 20 and began its journey to the Mediterranean where the ship and crew will continue to support NATO assurance and deterrence measures for the next six months.
This deployment marks the 13th time a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) ship has participated in Operation REASSURANCE and the third time Fredericton has represented Canada on this mission, demonstrating Canada’s continued commitment to the Alliance.
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Two big thumbs up from Vice-Admiral Art McDonald, Commander Royal Canadian Navy (left), and Command Chief Petty Officer David Steeves (right), during a ceremonial keel laying for the first Joint Support Ship in Vancouver on January 16.
Vice-Admiral (VAdm) Art McDonald, Commander RCN, and Chief Petty Officer 1st Class David Steeves, the Command Chief Petty Officer, were on hand as the future HMCS Protecteur received its lucky coin January 16 at the Seaspan Vancouver Shipyards.
The ceremonial keel laying event for this first of two Joint Support Ships is the latest in a number of milestones for Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy over the past year.
“Today’s ceremony marks another critical milestone in the renewal of the Royal Canadian Navy fleet via Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy,” said VAdm McDonald.
“Once delivered, these warships will be strategic assets that will once again afford Canada the sovereign capacity to deliver–even in harm’s way–an enduring at-sea replenishment and joint sustainment capability, as well as significant humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capacity.”
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Friends and family wave farewell to the crew aboard HMCS Shawinigan as it departs for a three-month deployment on Operation PROJECTION West Africa.
HMC Ships Glace Bay and Shawinigan departed Halifax, N.S., on January 26 for a three-month deployment in support of Operation PROJECTION West Africa.
Operation PROJECTION West Africa is one component of Canada’s commitment to global maritime security efforts. While deployed, the ships will conduct security patrols, build and maintain relationships with regional partners in the Gulf of Guinea, and participate in two cooperative engagements focused on capacity building.
Throughout 2020 the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of The Battle of the Atlantic.
Video Gallery
- "It was sort of your best memory and your worst memory all rolled into one." The Battle of the Atlantic began west of Ireland on September 3, 1939, with the sinking of SS Athenia by a German submarine.
- “Our job was to protect the merchant ships, and don’t forget they were carrying everything to Britain. They didn’t fly airplanes full of goodies, they had to go by water.”
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Her Majesty’s Ship Belfast in London, England, is permanently moored on the River Thames next to Tower Bridge and is operated by the Imperial War Museum.
The Canadian flag recently flew over Her Majesty’s Ship Belfast in London, England, to honour RCN contributions during the Second World War, particularly during the Arctic convoys by the Western Allies to Russia.
The Canadian flag was flown at the mast of the museum ship from December 20, 2019, until the end of the year to celebrate and commemorate the participation of the RCN in the battle of North Cape for which Belfast was awarded a Battle Honour.
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HMCS Whitehorse
HMCS Whitehorse recently sent a contingent of the ship’s company, including the Command team, to the City of Whitehorse for a visit to its namesake city.
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The Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm attacked the German battleship Tirpitz with heavy and medium-sized bombs at Alten Fjord, Norway, on the morning of April 3, 1944.
Lieutenant-Commander Roy Sydney Baker-Falkner from Saanich, B.C., and his Naval Air Wing shared 14 dive-bombing hits, crippling the infamous German battleship Tirpitz.
Baker-Falkner was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on July 25, 1944, “for undaunted courage, skill and determination in carrying out the daring attack” on Tirpitz.
On November 25, 2019, the Federal Court of Canada approved a settlement for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Department of National Defence sexual misconduct class action. This settlement affects people who experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, or discrimination based on gender, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation.
To learn more about the approved settlement, visit the class action website at www.caf-dndsexualmisconductclassaction.ca/ or call 1-888-626-2611.
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Royal Canadian Navy reservists from HMCS Cabot pitched in on Operation LENTUS January 21 by digging out this home after a record snowfall hit Newfoundland.
Sailors from HMCS Cabot, the Naval Reserve Division in St. John’s, Nfld, were knee-deep in snow last month, helping their neighbours dig out from the record-setting blizzard that hit the region on January 17.
The 18 naval reservists were part of Operation LENTUS, the CAF’s response to natural disasters in Canada. Nearly 425 CAF members were deployed to the area.
- HMCS York kicked off the new training year by celebrating last year’s accomplishments with awards and promotions!
- HMCS St. John’s ship’s company tells us about the best part of their roles in the RCN!
- Is this part of your daily routine? Watch a crew member from HMCS Fredericton as she preps her bunk before departure. An organized bunk is an organized mind!
- It’s vital that people reach out and talk about issues that are affecting them and their mental health.
- Diving into the Diving Trades at the RCN!
- Check out this video of HMCS Fredericton’s departure on Operation REASSURANCE!
- Learn about the three key roles Naval Electronic Sensor Operators fulfill in modern naval warfare!
- Captured a rainbow during this precise manoeuvre! This is a great shot of embarked CH-148 Cyclone, call sign Kingfisher, during an inflight refueling on Op REASSURANCE.
- Crew members on board HMCS Halifax fire C8A3 carbine rifles during small arms firing drills.
- The Ice Canoe Team from HMCS Montcalm is raring to kick off this season right.
This family-friendly event is a great way to get active for a cause that supports our military families. In its first three years, the Navy Bike Ride has had over 4,500 participants and has raised nearly $20,000.
Proceeds from the Navy Bike Ride go to help those in need through two organizations dedicated to the well-being of sailors and CAF members: the Royal Canadian Naval Benevolent Fund and Support Our Troops.
Last year, support from donors directly assisted four ill and injured members of the RCN. Money raised supported these sailors in adapting to their new normal and reintroducing an active lifestyle through recreational and sporting activities with the Soldier On program.
Choose between the Family Route (10K) or the Challenge Route (40K) through Ottawa and Gatineau.
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