Our Navy Today - Volume 6 Issue 3

On March 26 His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Montréal departed its homeport of Halifax and is now enroute to the Indo-Pacific region – delivering on Canada’s commitment to increase its annual naval deployments in the region from two to three frigates, boosting our presence particularly in the Indian Ocean.

During its deployment Montréal will be supported by Naval Replenishment Unit Motor Vessel Asterix. Two other Canadian frigates are set to deploy to the region at later dates.

Montréal, with an embarked CH-148 Cyclone helicopter detachment, is the first East Coast frigate to deploy on Operation Projection in the Indo-Pacific region. During the deployment, the ship will work in close coordination with partner and allied nations’ maritime forces, promoting peace and stability to support rules-based international order.

In addition to Operation Projection, HMCS Montréal will also participate in Operation Neon, Canada’s contribution to multinational efforts to monitor sanctions imposed on North Korea by the United Nations Security Council.

Naval Replenishment Unit (NRU) Asterix also departed Halifax on March 26 and is sailing alongside and supporting HMCS Montréal on its deployment to the Indo-Pacific region. The support NRU Asterix provides is critical to Montréal’s mission success and ensures that the RCN is ready to put the first of the two Protecteur-class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment vessels to work immediately upon delivery.

HMC Ships Moncton and Glace Bay return today! In early January the ships departed to participate in Op Projection West Africa where they took part in Exercise Obangame Express, before being re-tasked to support Op Globe on February 28.

The ships arrived in Haitian waters near Port-au-Prince and conducted presence patrols until March 20, at which time their mission concluded and the ships started for home.

HMCS Fredericton kept their skills sharp participating in Exercise Dynamic Manta 23 from February 27 to March 11. Eight of Canada’s partner nations were present including France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States and Italy, who hosted the exercise.

The serials were conducted off the coast of Sicily, Italy, in the Mediterranean Sea and enhanced interoperability in a number of advanced above and below sea warfare scenarios.

HMCS Edmonton continues its deployment on Op Caribbe in the Eastern Pacific, supporting U.S.-led enhanced counter-narcotics operations and tracking vessels of interest to help disrupt drug trafficking and organized crime in the region.

The RCN is upgrading its missile defences to better protect our ships against current and future air threats. The system, called ESSM Block 2, is expected to be fully operational by December 2025 and will sustain the Halifax-class ships’ ability to defend itself at home and abroad.

A new underwater drone called the Remote Mine-Hunting and Disposal System aims to make clearance diving safer and easier for the RCN’s dive teams operating in dangerous parts of the world.

The Canadian Surface Combatant project team recently completed a two-day full scale mock-up stress test of the bridge complex at HMCS Venture.

The bridge design was tested against a variety of scenarios with real-time input from sailors being collected and analyzed. The information will inform design iterations of the bridge so it is ready to execute the missions of today and tomorrow. 

Master Sailors with the Senior Engineering Watchkeeper qualification, who serve as the Engineer of the Watch in Halifax-class ships, are eligible to submit for a temporary up ranking to Petty Officer 2nd Class.

This up ranking is to recognize qualified sailors who accept significantly greater workload, responsibility, accountability, and their higher-than-usual operational tempo. More info is available in the NAVGEN “UP RANKING OF SENIOR ENGINEERING WATCHKEEPER (SEWK) TO PO2”

Join Commander Stephen Churm, Naval Reserve Special Advisor Workplace Relations, in an exploration of cognitive diversity, influencing culture change, promoting trauma informed person-centred approaches, and ally ship.

Sailors – Regular and Reserve Force – at all ranks and civilian employees at all levels are invited.

• Date: Wednesday, April 12th
• Time: Noon to 1:30 p.m. EST
• Location: Microsoft Teams