HMCS Shawinigan, HMCS Charlottetown and NATO Allies monitor Russian Navy Vessels in Western Europe and Mediterranean Sea

News release

A Russian submarine is monitored by the crew of HMCS Shawinigan, as it transits through the Baltic Sea, on Thursday, August 29, 2024.

September 25 – Ottawa– National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

From August 29th to September 18th, 2024, while conducting vigilance activities alongside NATO ships, His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Shawinigan and Charlottetown monitored Russian submarines and surface ships.

Beginning August 29th HMCS Shawinigan monitored a Russian submarine and surface vessel through the Baltic and North Seas before handing over responsibility to His Majesty’s Ship (HMS) Iron Duke, of the Royal Navy on September 1st. HMCS Charlottetown, flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) assumed monitoring duties on September 17th from ESPS Cristobal Colon of the Spanish Navy, also part of SNMG2, and monitored the vessels for the remainder of their journey through the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

During this period HMCS Charlottetown also conducted monitoring activities of a separate Russian Federation Navy submarine and three surface vessels as they participated in Exercise OCEAN 24, a large-scale Russian exercise.

HMCS Shawinigan is currently deployed to Europe alongside HMCS Glace Bay on Operation REASSURANCE with Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1), working alongside allied NATO ships to safely dispose of historical ordnance in the region’s waters, in addition to participating in NATO enhanced Vigilance Activities.

HMCS Charlottetown is currently deployed on Operation REASSURANCE as the flagship for SNMG2, working alongside allied NATO ships to support regional maritime security in the Mediterranean.

The right of innocent passage provides standards and expectations for ships to follow while transiting the waters of another country. At all times the Russian vessels were observed to have complied with these standards and expectations.

Additional multimedia

A Russian submarine is monitored by the crew of HMCS Shawinigan, as it transits through the Baltic Sea, on Thursday, August 29, 2024.
A Russian submarine is monitored by the crew of HMCS Shawinigan, as it transits through the Baltic Sea, on Thursday, August 29, 2024.

Quotes

“I am immensely proud of the crew’s unwavering dedication and skill. Their ability to successfully apply their training in anti-submarine warfare and monitor surface vessels is a testament to their hard work and professionalism. In the face of complex challenges, their commitment to excellence shines through, showcasing the true spirit of our Navy. Together, we stand vigilant, ready to protect our collective waters and uphold our values.”

Commander Nicholas Buxton, Commanding Officer, HMCS Charlottetown and Maritime Task Force Commander, Operation REASSURANCE Maritime Task Force 24-02

"I am proud of His Majesty’s Canadian Ships Shawinigan’s crew for their dedication, flexibility and professionalism during the international monitoring effort that was recently conducted in concert with our NATO allies. The ship’s company continues to showcase on a global stage that sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy are some of the best in the world, and we will continue to remain focused on our mission alongside our NATO allies for the remainder of our deployment.”

Lieutenant-Commander Andrew Foran, Commanding Officer HMCS Shawinigan

“It fills me with a great sense of pride as the Maritime Task Force Commander to see our shipmates in His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Shawinigan contribute in such a meaningful way to the safety and security of our NATO allies and partners in Europe. Ships of the Royal Canadian Navy deployed on Operation REASSURANCE are ready for a wide spectrum of operations such as this one which provided invaluable maritime domain awareness, in addition to supporting and protecting Canadian and Allied interests. HMCS Shawinigan has rejoined HMCS Glace Bay and the other Alliance ships of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 and will continue its important work in Europe.”

Lieutenant-Commander Paul Morrison, Commanding Officer HMCS Glace Bay and Maritime Task Force Commander, Operation REASSURANCE Maritime Task Force 24-03

Quick facts

  • Canada has deployed Royal Canadian Navy ships on Operation REASSURANCE on a continuous, rotational basis since 2014, following Russia’s illegal invasion of Crimea.

  • Deploying Royal Canadian Navy ships in support of NATO provides Canada with the flexibility to execute a range of exercises and operations in real training environments with our Allies. This helps support the Alliance efforts in the Baltic region, including surveillance, monitoring, and diplomatic engagement.

  • SNMCMG1 is one of four Standing Naval Forces that operate under NATO Allied Maritime Command, headquartered in Northwood, United Kingdom.

  • NATO Standing Naval Forces are multinational, integrated, maritime forces made up of vessels from various Allied countries which 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 is Canada’s largest current international military operation. Under Operation REASSURANCE, the Canadian Armed Forces has deployed a Maritime Task Force, which contributes ships to the Standing NATO Maritime Groups; an Air Task Force, providing logistical support out of Prestwick; and a Land Task Force, including the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Latvia, for which Canada is the Framework nation.

  • HMCS Shawinigan and Glace Bay are Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs) with a ship’s company of approximately 45 personnel of all ranks for a total of 90 sailors. The MCDVs are a modular platform which can accommodate several types of mission-specific payloads offering the Royal Canadian Navy a large degree of flexibility in support of Allies.

  • SNMG2 is one of four Standing Naval Forces that operate under NATO Allied Maritime Command. These groups provide NATO with a continuous maritime capability for operations and other activities in peacetime and in periods of crisis and conflict. They help to establish alliance presence and deterrence, demonstrate solidarity, conduct routine diplomatic visits to different countries, support transformation and NATO interoperability, and provide a variety of maritime military capabilities to ongoing missions.

  • HMCS Charlottetown is one of 12 Halifax-class multi-role patrol frigates, that are considered the backbone of the Royal Canadian Navy.

Associated links

Contacts

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-904-3333
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

Search for related information by keyword: Military | National Defence | Canada | National security and defence | general public | news releases

Page details

Date modified: