Re: Royal Canadian Navy

by **Accer** Fri 19 Nov 2021, 11:07 am

No injuries reported after Canadian frigate catches fire at sea

Murray Brewster · CBC News · Posted: Nov 18, 2021

Royal Canadian Navy - Page 2 Hmcs-fredericton

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/frigate-fire-norway-nato-1.6254012

by **Spider** Thu 09 Dec 2021, 10:28 am

Loss of secret data puts navy's handling of storage devices under investigation — again

Murray Brewster · CBC News · Posted: Dec 09, 2021

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/navy-classified-electronics-lost-1.6277938

by Covert Fri 10 Jun 2022, 7:39 am

Commanding officer of HMCS Halifax removed from command

“This investigation is in relation to incidents that took place onboard the ship during a port visit in Swinoujscie, Poland, while deployed on Operation Reassurance. These incidents do not concern any sexual misconduct, harmful or inappropriate sexual behaviour.”

David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Jun 09, 2022

The commanding officer of a navy frigate currently conducting operations for NATO has been removed from his command.

But the Canadian Forces has invoked a high level of secrecy about what was behind the removal of the commanding officer of HMCS Halifax. It is refusing to even name the individual.

However, a March news release from the Royal Canadian Navy stated that Commander Dale St. Croix would be the commanding officer of the frigate.

HMCS Halifax left on its NATO mission on March 19.

National Defence released news of the commander’s removal late Thursday.

“Following several incidents onboard HMCS Halifax during Operation Reassurance, Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command, has temporarily relieved the Commanding Officer of HMCS Halifax of his duties so that an investigation into the details of the incidents may take place,” the statement noted.

“This investigation is in relation to incidents that took place onboard the ship during a port visit in Swinoujscie, Poland, while deployed on Operation Reassurance. These incidents do not concern any sexual misconduct, harmful or inappropriate sexual behaviour.”

The statement noted the action was deemed necessary to ensure the investigation could unfold while HMCS Halifax continued its deployment with Standing NATO Maritime Group 1.

Commander Paul Mountford, commanding officer of HMCS Charlottetown, has assumed command of Halifax in the interim. He will continue to command until the frigate returns home to Halifax in mid-July.

“The relieved CO of HMCS Halifax will serve in other roles within Maritime Forces Atlantic Headquarters in Canada until the conclusion of the investigation,” the statement added.

There was no explanation why Auchterlonie decided the name of the commanding officer should remain secret.

St. Croix has recently given interviews to the media and the Royal Canadian Navy has highlighted St. Croix’s leadership in media announcements and public-relations articles.

A April 5 article featured on National Defence’s website quoted St. Croix saying he and the crew were thankful for the support they received for their NATO mission. “We’ve received a lot of encouragement from people and politicians to business leaders, all telling us they’re proud of what we’re doing. It’s been very touching,” St. Croix was quoted as stating.

Removal of the commanding officer of a warship, particularly one at sea, is considered a significant action.

In January 2020, the navy removed both the commanding officer of HMCS Calgary and his second-in-command just months before the frigate was to take on a new mission in the Pacific. The commanding officer was removed because of problems the warship’s crew were having in preparing for the upcoming deployment to the Asia Pacific.

The second-in-command was relieved of his duties after he was found guilty of misconduct for his actions in disabling smoke and heat detectors in the ship’s wardroom so he could smoke. The disabling of those safety systems took place less than two weeks after a fire broke out in the engine room of HMCS Calgary.

No news release about the removal of the officers was originally issued, but details of the removal were leaked to the Times-Colonist newspaper in Victoria, which then reported on the navy’s decision.

The Royal Canadian Navy then named both individuals to media outlets.

Defence Watch

by Covert Wed 22 Jun 2022, 9:01 am

D-Day veteran recounts wartime experiences to school children

June 21, 2022

Royal Canadian Navy

by **Spider** Mon 27 Jun 2022, 9:19 am

HMCS Kingston and Summerside set off for Operation Reassurance

Published June 26, 2022

As HMCS Kingston and Summerside pulled away from Halifax Harbour and deployed for Operation Reassurance, there was no shortage of emotion from family members who came to see them off.

"It is a tough morning, especially with the kids," said Karla Broad who came to say goodbye to her husband who serves on the Summerside. "They don’t fully understand what’s going on but they understand that daddy is going to be gone for a long time.”

Lindsay Devost's husband also serves on the Summerside.

“It was fine until he went to give us our hugs," said Devost who added being away for a long time goes with the job, but saying goodbye is ever easy. "It is the first day that is the hardest. Just seeing his emotions and being away from us for the first time as a family of four.”

With her husband soon serving in the Baltic Sea and waters of North Atlantic, a mix of pride and concern swelled as the Summerside departed.

“All at the same time, very proud," said Devost.

Captain Julian Elbourne said the Kingston and Summerside will be working in support of Operation Reassurance.

"Probably one of the most important missions we have right now," said Elbourne who the Maritime Deployment Commander's Chief of Staff. "These ships will contribute to the mine countermeasure groups. Right now HMCS Halifax and Montreal are both deployed with NATO.”

“Both of these ships will join the northern group," said Elbourne. "And they will participate in exercises and mine counter measure removal and destruction.”

According to Captain Elbourne, mine removal has become a top priority for NATO in recent years. HMCS Kingston and Summerside will return to Halifax Harbour in mid-October.

CTV News

by **Spider** Fri 01 Jul 2022, 9:26 am

Royal Canadian Navy relieves Pacific fleet ship commander for 'inappropriate conduct'

The Canadian Press · Posted: Jun 30, 2022

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CBC News

by Covert Tue 12 Jul 2022, 7:44 am

Senior Canadian navy official removed from position over ‘inappropriate comments’

By Heidi Lee . Global News
Posted July 11, 2022

The Maritime Forces Pacific Formation Chief Petty Officer has been relieved from his appointment due to “inappropriate comments” he made, according to a statement released by the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) on Monday.

Timothy Blonde was removed from his duties after making inappropriate comments about a junior sailor’s appearance at a social event at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt on May 6, the statement says.

The Formation Chief Petty Officer is the most senior non-commissioned member appointment within Maritime Forces Pacific, according to RCN.

In the statement, Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, states he “no longer has confidence in Blonde’s ability to carry out his leadership duties, maintain discipline, and ensure the highest standards of ethics and values of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).”

Topshee noted that the investigation did not show that Blonde has violated the Code of Service Discipline or the Criminal Code of Canada.

However, he said the evidence showed his action was “unacceptable and incompatible with his duties and responsibilities as Formation Chief Petty Officer.”

Therefore, Topshee said the RCN decided that it is necessary to remove Blonde from his duties.

It is unclear what comments were made by Blonde and the nature of the comments.

Blonde will continue to serve in the RCN because no charges have been pressed, but RCN said Blonde will not be in a position of “senior leadership or influence where fostering trust with junior members is required.”

Last month, another leader of the navy, commanding officer Lt.-Cmdr. David Dallin of the HMCS Regina, was removed after an incident involving “inappropriate conduct,” the RCN announced on June 30.

Cmdre. David Mazur, commander of the Pacific Fleet, said the incident involved Dallin allegedly “behaving inappropriately” toward a student by abusing his powers.

Three weeks before that announcement, the captain of the HMCS Halifax, identified as Cmdr. Dale St. Croix, also was removed amid an investigation into what the navy said were multiple incidents aboard the ship during a port visit in Swinoujscie, Poland.

The June 9 announcement from the Canadian Forces made clear, however, that those incidents did not involve sexual misconduct.

The Canadian Forces has been criticized for its failure to address sexual misconduct and abuse of power within its ranks.
The report by former Supreme Court of Canada justice Louise Arbour released last month suggested the top ranks of the Canadian Forces are “incapable” of recognizing the “deficient” parts of a culture that keep sexual misconduct entrenched.

The report came after Global News first reported in in February 2021 on sexual misconduct allegations against military leaders, including former chief of the defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance.

— with files from Global’s Sean Boynton

Global News

by **Forcell** Fri 15 Jul 2022, 11:37 am

HMCS Halifax and Montréal return from European NATO mission

Published July 15, 2022

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Two Canadian navy ships returned to their homeport of Halifax Friday morning after deploying to central and eastern European waters as part of NATO’s Operation Reassurance.

Family and friends were on hand to welcome home HMCS Halifax and HMCS Montréal, along with their companies of 253 and 239 respectively, following months-long deployments.

HMCS Montréal departed Canada in January and HMCS Halifax set sail in March, amid growing tensions between Russia and the west around the invasion of Ukraine.

The Department of National Defense (DND) says this was the first deployment for HMCS Montréal as part of Operation Reassurance. The ship joined Standing NATO Maritime Group Two.

It was the third such deployment for HMCS Halifax, which formed part of Standing NATO Maritime Group One.

The ships were supported by embedded air detachments of CH-148 helicopters — marking the eighth time Cyclone helicopters have conducted flight operations as part of the operation.

“At this crucial time for Euro-Atlantic security, the crews of HMCS Halifax and HMCS Montréal have worked tirelessly to demonstrate Canada’s commitment to the rules-based international order and to the security of our Allies," said Minister of National Defence Anita Anand in a news release Friday.

"I join all Canadians in welcoming our personnel home, and in thanking them for their professionalism and contributions to our NATO Alliance.”

HMCS Kingston and Summerside are continuing Canada's commitment to Operation Reassurance. They will join NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1, part of NATO's high readiness continuous at sea presence.

CTV News

by **Spider** Sat 06 Aug 2022, 9:15 am

Fire safety system problems on new Arctic ship delays deployment on northern exercise

HMCS Harry DeWolf was left out of a major northern exercise because its fire suppression system wasn’t working properly

David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Aug 05, 2022

One of the navy’s new Arctic patrol vessels, scheduled to take part in a major northern exercise, is still in port in Halifax because of problems with its safety system designed to deal with on board fires.

Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships Margaret Brooke and Goose Bay left Halifax Aug. 2 for a two-month deployment in the Arctic as part of Operation Nanook. But HMCS Harry DeWolf was left in port because its fire suppression system wasn’t working properly, Royal Canadian Navy sailors told this newspaper. The problem on the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) was identified about a month ago, they added.

National Defence spokeswoman Jessica Lamirande confirmed the navy is dealing with issues with fire suppression system, which is required to be functioning properly for a ship to proceed to sea. To address the problem the entire system was inspected, and parts were either cleaned or replaced on HMCS Harry DeWolf.

“The issue was successfully identified during testing, and the solution is being implemented to ensure safety,” Lamirande noted. “We are now testing the system to ensure that it is functioning properly and that all systems will operate according to specifications. On completion of the tests, a determination of departure date for Operation Nanook will be made.”

Lamirande said “it is probable that HMCS Harry DeWolf will depart Halifax early next week.”

Although all Royal Canadian Navy sailors are trained firefighters, the fire suppression system onboard the AOPS is considered a key component to fighting fires at sea, she added.

Lamirande noted the problems have not been found on the other two Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships, HMCS Margaret Brooke and HMCS Max Bernays.

Operation Nanook 2022 is the inaugural voyage of HMCS Margaret Brooke. It will be the second northern deployment for HMCS Harry DeWolf, according to the navy.

The AOPS program has over the years faced delays and spending increases. Under the original timetable the first AOPS was to have been delivered in 2013, with Arctic operations set for 2015.

But the first ship, HMCS Harry DeWolf, wasn’t delivered to Canada until July, 2020.

In January 2015 the federal government announced it had awarded Irving Shipbuilding a $2.6 billion contract to build five AOPS. In 2018 that deal was expanded to add a sixth vessel. The DND currently lists the project as costing taxpayers a little more than $4.3 billion.

In 2017 the Senate Defence Committee raised concerns about the vessels’ capabilities. “This (concern) is based on the fact that these ships cannot operate in ice more than a metre thick, are slower than a BC Ferry, can only operate in the Arctic from June to October and will require a coast guard escort when in the northern waters,” the senators pointed out in their report. The senators also noted the ships “will lack significant force projection in the form of weapons system.”

“These limitations are troubling and raise the question of whether the taxpayers are receiving value for the monies spent,” the Senate report stated.

In the past, federal bureaucrats have been sensitive about news coverage of AOPS issues. In March 2019, officials with National Defence and Public Services and Procurement Canada warned Irving Shipbuilding this newspaper was asking questions about problems with welds on the AOPS. Irving, in turn, threatened this newspaper with legal action.

National Defence, however, later confirmed there had indeed been minor issues with welding on the AOPS and the article was published. No lawsuit was filed by Irving.

Defence Watch

by **Riverway** Fri 19 Aug 2022, 4:07 pm

Busted generator forces Canadian warship to quit mission to the High Arctic:

Aug 19, 2022

HALIFAX — One of Canada’s newest warships is being forced to abandon a mission to the Arctic because of a mechanical breakdown.

The Royal Canadian Navy confirmed today that HMCS Harry DeWolf was en route to join Operation Nanook in the Far North when one of its four diesel generators failed on Wednesday.

As a result, the ship is on its way back to its home port in Halifax for repairs.

The navy described the failure as an “isolated incident” that did not affect any crew members or other systems.

The voyage would have been the second trip to the Arctic for the vessel, the first Arctic offshore patrol ship built at the Halifax Shipyard as part of Canada’s national shipbuilding strategy.

The warship was delivered to the navy on July 31, 2020.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2022.

The Canadian Press

by **Forcell** Sat 27 Aug 2022, 11:29 am

Shipbuilding delays force Ottawa to spend $187M to extend lease on navy supply ship

Published Aug. 27, 2022

Royal Canadian Navy - Page 2 Mv-asterisk-1-6044871-1661599471621

The Canadian Press

by **Joker** Thu 01 Sep 2022, 7:31 pm

Latest breakdown on new Arctic ship blamed on failed diesel generators

Technicians found that a coolant leak in the two diesel generators had caused the problems.

David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Sep 01, 2022

The Royal Canadian Navy has found the reason for the latest mechanical breakdown on its new Arctic patrol ship and hopes to have the vessel back in operation in November.

HMCS Harry DeWolf, the navy’s first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, couldn’t make it to exercises in the far north in August because of the failure of its main diesel generators, critical for the vessel’s propulsion system.

HMCS Harry DeWolf left Halifax on Aug. 15 for the Operation Nanook exercise, but already one of its four main diesel generators was inoperable. Several days later, when the ship was off the east coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, another of the main diesel generators failed, forcing a return to Halifax.

Navy Lt. Rudee Gaudet noted in an email that technicians found that a coolant leak in the two diesel generators had caused the problems. HMCS Harry DeWolf will now enter a pre-scheduled maintenance period that will run until the end of October, and the repairs to the generators will be done then, she added.

The ship is expected back to conduct “force generation activities” in November and early December, Gaudet said.

The failure of the main diesel generators is just the latest is a series of mechanical problems for HMCS Harry DeWolf. The vessel was to have joined in on Operation Nanook in early August, but was left in port because its fire suppression system wasn’t working properly. Sailors told this newspaper that system had been out of service for about a month.

With the fire suppression system repaired, HMCS Harry DeWolf left Halifax, but then the generator problems emerged.

The Royal Canadian Navy stated that the failure was an “isolated incident.”

But, in October 2020, the Canadian Press reported HMCS Harry DeWolf was forced to return to port after its freshwater generator and communications systems failed. It was while the ship was docked that the crew also found the cooling pumps on two of the ship’s four diesel generators had broken, the news service reported.

In an emailed statement, LCdr Brian Owens noted “mechanical issues arise from time to time” in the navy’s ships and HMCS Harry DeWolf had been serving Canada extremely well since it was delivered in 2020.

The Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) program has over the years faced delays and spending increases. Under the original timetable, the first AOPS was to have been delivered in 2013, with Arctic operations set for 2015.

But that first ship, HMCS Harry DeWolf, wasn’t delivered to Canada until July 2020.

In January 2015, the federal government announced it had awarded Irving Shipbuilding a $2.6-billion contract to build five AOPS. In 2018, that deal was expanded to add a sixth vessel. National Defence currently lists the project as costing taxpayers a little more than $4.3 billion.

In 2017, the Senate Defence Committee raised concerns about the vessels’ capabilities.

“This (concern) is based on the fact that these ships cannot operate in ice more than a metre thick, are slower than a BC Ferry, can only operate in the Arctic from June to October and will require a Coast Guard escort when in the northern waters,” the senators pointed out in their report. “These limitations are troubling and raise the question of whether the taxpayers are receiving value for the monies spent.”

In the past, federal bureaucrats have been sensitive about news coverage of AOPS issues. In March 2019, officials with National Defence and Public Services and Procurement Canada warned Irving this newspaper was asking questions about problems with welds on the AOPS. Irving, in turn, threatened this newspaper with legal action.

National Defence, however, later confirmed there had been minor issues with welding on the AOPS and the article was published. No lawsuit was filed.

Defence Watch

by **RunningLight** Wed 28 Sep 2022, 3:38 pm

Canadian navy struggling with
personnel 'crisis': commander

Sept 27. 2022

OTTAWA — The Royal Canadian Navy has started deploying less-experienced sailors on operations and eliminating certain positions altogether as it struggles with an unprecedented personnel shortage.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, navy commander Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee said about 17 per cent of navy positions are vacant. That equals about 1,400 sailors that the navy needs to reach its full complement.

“Describing the current crewing and staffing shortages with ‘crisis’ is probably the right word across the navy,” Topshee said. “We need more people. We need them as quickly as we can get them.”

The shortfall comes amid a recruiting crisis across the Canadian Armed Forces, with officials recently admitting that the number of applicants coming forward each month is about half what the military needs to meet its targets this year.

That is expected to compound the military’s current personnel shortage, with thousands of unfilled positions across the whole of the Armed Forces at a time when it is supposed to be growing to meet increased demands at home and abroad.

Yet while Topshee emphasized the importance of bringing in a new generation of sailors, there is a particularly difficult pinch when it comes to a shortage of more experienced personnel such as petty officers, lieutenant-commanders and commanders.

Such personnel not only fill key roles on board Canadian warships but are also critical for training new recruits.

“When you’re short teachers, what do you do? You increase class sizes,” Topshee said. “So we’ve increased class sizes. What does that do? It diminishes the quality of the education across the board. But we’re taking the risk.”

At the same time, Topshee said new sailors are being deployed on operations with less experience and training than would otherwise be ideal. The hope is that the added experience at sea will offset any deficiencies from their in-class education.

“The truth is that we’re putting more junior people into operations because we’ve been very robust and effective there,” said Topshee, who took over as navy commander in May.

“We’ve got very good command teams and we’re counting on the command teams to provide the experience and mentorship to guide more junior people.”

The navy’s crisis is very similar to the struggle that the Royal Canadian Air Force has faced in having enough experienced pilots to teach in the classroom and lead missions in the air.

It is also forcing the navy to take a closer look at how it treats Canada’s sailors, along with an overall assessment of which jobs are critical to its operations ⁠ — and which could be eliminated.

Topshee recently announced that the navy was eliminating steward positions, whose primary roles included serving officers and providing logistical support on warships, and the commander indicated more such changes could be on the way.

“We’re looking at all of the occupations in the navy to say: ‘What does this look like?’” he said.

The navy is also looking at changing the way it assigns crews to ships to avoid burnout and additional stress, particularly when it comes to short-term deployments such as sea trials and tests that Topshee said are often very disruptive to sailors’ schedules.

The current shortfall also coincides with a marked effort by Armed Forces commanders — including Topshee — to change the military’s culture to make it more attractive as a workplace, in the hopes of increasing recruitment and retention rates.

The navy has struggled in recent months with several ship commanders being replaced, sometimes while at sea, due to investigations or complaints about their conduct.

While the navy has tried to better evaluate officers in terms of their conduct before assigning them to key leadership roles, “the unfortunate reality is no system is perfect,” Topshee said.

He nonetheless suggested that the spate of recent replacements was an indication of lower tolerance for inappropriate behaviour, a greater willingness to report such actions, and greater transparency.

“There was a case where I was on board a ship where the commanding officer … had been fired,” he said.

“But at the time, I was just like: ‘Oh OK, we're doing a change of command.’ So even on the ship, there were rumours that the CO wasn't doing so well. But we often wouldn't even say why something had changed.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2022.

The Canadian Press

by **Proctor** Tue 08 Nov 2022, 11:37 am

French Creek veteran tracked submarines around globe with Royal Canadian Navy

KEVIN FORSYTH / Nov. 8, 2022

Parksville Beach News

by **RazzorSharp))** Fri 16 Dec 2022, 5:35 am

Canadian navy lieutenant fined, reprimanded for vaping aboard ship

Published Dec. 15, 2022

Royal Canadian Navy - Page 2 Hmcs-calgary-1-5362243-1628092890798

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