RCN NR 12.018 - October 9, 2012
ESQUIMALT, B.C. - More than 1,000 personnel from Canada and the United States will be participating in a Task Group Exercise (TGEX) from October 9 to 22 off the West Coast of Vancouver Island. TGEX’s are designed to build and strengthen interoperability and effectiveness between Canada’s three military services and our allies.
“Canadians and Americans share many values and interests in security and emergency preparedness. Exercising together ensures our forces are able to operate effectively when called upon,” said Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence.
“Task Group Exercises strengthen Canada’s ability to work in a multi-national and joint environment on a wide range of potential operations and missions,” said Vice-Admiral Paul Maddison, Commander Royal Canadian Navy.
Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Ottawa, Algonquin and Victoria will meet at sea with United States Ships Ford, Momsen and Yukon. The ships will be joined by a CH-124 Sea King helicopter detachment from 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, and a CP-140 Aurora Long Range Patrol Aircraft from 407 Maritime Patrol Squadron.
TGEX’s build upon lessons learned from previous exercises and record new lessons to support future training and operations. This year’s training objectives include ensuring competency in conventional maritime warfare operations such as anti-submarine, anti-aircraft, and anti-surface warfare training. Live fire exercise will also occur.
Participating ships also use TGEX to exercise capabilities necessary to respond to a variety of threats, including defending themselves against small land based threats or small boats. HMC Ships will be using this exercise as an opportunity to conduct training of her ship’s company in preparation for future deployments.
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Note to Editors / News Directors:
For more information on the Royal Canadian navy, please visit: http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/cms/0/0_eng.asp
