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Vol. 2, No. 1 Spring 2008 Chief of the Maritime Staff

Sailors contributeto mission inAfghanistan

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Where have allthe old shipsgone?

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INSIDETHIS

ISSUE

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Boarding party member Leading Seaman Alexander Moore from HMCS Charlottetown prepares to board a drifting boat in theGulf of Aden as members of the crew wave to signal their distress. The Somali crew had been without food or water fordays. Stocked by Charlottetown with enough supplies and fuel to get them to their destination, the Somalis were able to getunder way. For more information on Charlottetown and her activities as part of Canada’s contribution to the war againstterrorism, see pages 4 and 5.

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Senior AdvisorCommander Jeff AgnewHead, Navy Public Affairs

Senior Editor and WriterDarlene BlakeleyMaritime Staff Public Affairs

Crowsnest is published quarterly on the authority of theChief of the Maritime Staff, Vice-Admiral Drew Robertson.Comments are welcome and can be sent to:Maritime Staff Public AffairsNational Defence Headquarters10ST, 101 Colonel By Dr., K1A 0K2or blakeley.d@forces.gc.ca

For the PDF version of this publication and for more information about the Canadian Navy, visit www.navy.forces.gc.ca

Canada to lead coalition task force in Middle East

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Canada will be the next country to leadCombined Task Force 150 (CTF 150), a navalcoalition task force currently operating in the

Middle East.The deployment, which will last from June until

September, includes three Canadian warships andmore than 850 sailors, soldiers and airmen and women.They will be assigned to monitor shipping and helpdetect, deter and protect against unauthorized activity.

The destroyer HMCSIroquois, based in Halifax, willact as the command platformfor the task force. HMCSCalgary, a frigate, andHMCS Protecteur, an auxiliaryoil replenishment ship, bothfrom Esquimalt, B.C., willround out this fourth rotationof Operation ALTAIR,Canada’s contribution to themaritime portion of the global

war on terrorism.Commodore Bob Davidson, along with his staff

aboard HMCS Iroquois, will lead the Canadian TaskGroup on its assigned mission.

“It is an honour to lead such a superb group ofCanadians on this mission,” says Cmdre Davidson.“Canada has a reputation of excellence in all that we doand this is no exception. Our sailors, soldiers and air-men and women are the best at what they do and Iknow that they will do an outstanding job on thisdeployment. I feel great about the mission and knowthat the three ships we send will be ready to get the jobdone.”

Cmdre Davidson explains that the mission is impor-tant to all Canadians. “Canada is a maritime nation andthe unhindered movement of trade at sea is of criticalimportance to our economy. Equally important in myview is the fact Canada is a rich nation and a memberof the G8. As such we have a responsibility to do ourpart to help bring stability to regions in need,” he says.

The destroyer HMCS Iroquois, which will lead thecoalition task force in the Middle East, encountersheavy seas during a recent exercise.

Continued on page 12Commodore Bob Davidson

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Aland-locked country like Afghanistan may seemlike an unusual place to find sailors, butapproximately 60 members of the Canadian

Navy are currently serving there in a variety of roles.“There is definite value to having sailors in

Afghanistan,” says Chief Petty Officer 1st Class RobertCleroux, Maritime Command Chief Petty Officer. “Theyfeel like they are part of the team. In Afghanistan, itdoesn’t matter if you’re army, air force or navy – it isone mission and everyone contributes.”

CPO1 Cleroux returned in late January from a five-day visit to Kandahar and a forward operating base(FOB) close by, where he met sailors and talked tothem about their mission. There were 10 sailors at theFOB, working in such diverse areas as human intelli-gence, defence and security, and cooking.

“The two petty officers working in human intelligencehave a dangerous job,” Chief Cleroux says. “They gath-er information by talking to people, listening to theirgripes, and building profiles of certain individuals.Basically, they are trying to identify potential bombers.Those working defence and security stand eight-hourwatches defending the FOB.”

For sailors, these are not typical jobs, and theyrequire additional training. Before heading overseas,they undergo months of training at army bases such asKingston and Petawawa, Ont., and Valcartier, Que. Butsince the sailors have volunteered for these positions,they already have the willingness and motivation neces-sary to undertake the challenge.

Sailors contribute tomission in land-lockedAfghanistan

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LCdr April Inglis, a lawyer with the Kandahar ProvincialReconstruction Team, exchanges information through an inter-preter (foreground) regarding issues of the Afghan justice systemwith Najee Bulah, left, Chief Justice of the Kandahar PrimaryCourt, and Abdul Jalil Moulawvi Zada, right, Chief Justice of theHigh Court of Kandahar.

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“Sailors are gaining new skills like weapons handlingand hand-to-hand combat – things they might not nor-mally learn in the navy. It has increased their confi-dence and really given them a chance to contribute,”Chief Cleroux says.

Chief Cleroux also spent time in Kandahar, where hesays sailors are “almost invisible – and that’s a goodthing”. “They are doing things like logistics, communica-tions and intelligence,” he says, “and because everyoneis wearing a tan uniform, the only way I can tell they aresailors is by the anchor on their name tag.”

Although the job is not always easy and losses takea heavy emotional toll, Chief Cleroux says moraleamong sailors is good. “Every sailor feels that they arepart of one team. They know the mission is importantand they feel they are contributing. They really appreci-ate the opportunity to be over there supporting thesoldiers.”

Petty Officer Second Class Diane Jalbert, above left, and Lieutenant-Commander Pierre Babinsky, are among the sailors currentlydeployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan.

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Stopping smugglers andsaving lives: warshipcontinues busy mission

Stopping drug and alcohol smugglers, rescuingstranded seamen near death, boarding suspi-cious vessels with suspected links to terrorism

– these are just a few of the tasks that HMCSCharlottetown and her crew of 250 sailors have beencarrying out over the past few months in waters of thePersian Gulf and Arabian Sea.

Charlottetown, one of Canada’s 12 patrol frigates, isapproximately half way through her mission as part ofOperation ALTAIR, Canada’s maritime contribution tothe continuing U.S.-led campaign against terrorismknown as Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

The ship left Halifax on November 1 under the com-mand of Commander Patrick St-Denis, and has beenmonitoring shipping, escorting commercial vessels, andhelping to detect, deter and protect against terrorist

activities in an effort to bring long term stability to thearea.

The ship and her crew have been busy – by the endof February they had carried out 55 approach opera-tions, five boardings and three dramatic sea rescueswhich saved 25 lives. One boarding unearthed 2,000cases of smuggled alcohol, while another discovered4.3 tons of hashish hidden in fuel tanks and under deckplanking.

“The ship has been very successful in putting a dentin illegal activity with ties to terrorism,” says Lieutenant-Commander Mike Davie, Charlottetown’s executive offi-cer. “We could not have accomplished this without theexcellent work of the ship’s company.”

Charlottetown is participating in operations off thecoast of Pakistan with six ships, five helicopters andmaritime patrol aircraft under her control in supportingmaritime security in the region.

LCdr Davie emphasizes that the security ofCanadians begins overseas. “Charlottetown’scontribution to Operation ENDURING FREEDOM is alongstanding part of our involvement in the campaignagainst terrorism,” he explains. “Our participationhelps defend our country and prevent future attackson Canada and her allies by working to eliminate ordisrupt these illicit activities which may in the endharm Canadians in other parts of the world or athome.”

Throughout the deployment, HMCS Charlottetownhas also conducted port visits designed to reinforceestablished regional relations and demonstrateCanada’s ongoing commitment to internationalsecurity.

HMCS Charlottetown is the fourth Canadian ship todeploy on Operation ALTAIR. The first ship wasHMCS Toronto, which deployed with the USS GeorgeWashington Carrier Strike Group from January to July2004. In April 2005, HMCS Winnipeg deployed for sixmonths with the 5th Fleet of the United States Navy.And the third ship, HMCS Ottawa, deployed fromSeptember 2006 to March 2007.

Charlottetown is expected home in May.

“The ship has been very successfulin putting a dent in illegal activitywith ties to terrorism.”

LCdr Mike Davie, Executive Officer, HMCS Charlottetown

Leading Seaman Michael Murphy, a member of Charlottetown’sforce protection team, observes the banks of the Suez Canalwhile going under the Mubarak Bridge.

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Clockwise from top right: HMCS Charlottetown crew membersbring a Pakistani sailor onboard after he and anothersailor were rescued from a drifting barge in the northern ArabianSea; HMCS Charlottetown at sea; a member of Charlottetown’sboarding party pries up deck boardswhile searching a dhow suspected ofsmuggling drugs; the bags of drugs thatwere found beneath the deck boards.

Using a decommissioned ship as a valuable trainingtool is just one use for those vessels that find them-selves surplus to the navy according to Lieutenant-Commander Chris Learn, a naval disposals expert.“There can be several reasons why certain vessels areno longer needed,” he says. “For example, they may nolonger be required operationally, they may havebecome obsolete, spare parts may no longer available,

or repairs costs may havebecome uneconomical.”

So what do you do with awarship that you don’t wantanymore? Weighing severaltons and with a rather unde-niable profile, you can’t hidethem very easily and youcan’t just leaving them lyingaround. Well the navy, aftercompleting a meticulous andoften lengthy administrativeprocess, can dispose ofthese vessels through CrownAssets, part of Public Worksand Government Services

HMCS Huron, a ship that once served as ananti-submarine warfare vessel during the ColdWar, now lies at the bottom of the ocean 150

kilometres off the west coast of Vancouver Island. HerIroquois-class sister ship, HMCS Algonquin, ironicallyusing the main deck gun which had once belonged toHuron’s own armament, fired the final blasts that senther over 2,000 metres to the bottom of the ocean onMay 14, 2007.

An ignoble end for a once proud warship, or the con-tinuation of a fine tradition of service, duty and honour?

Huron, the most recent Canadian Navy vessel to bedisposed of after decommissioning (a general term forremoving a vessel from active service), provided therealistic focal point for a large-scale naval training exer-cise which saw a variety of ships and aircraft bombardher with naval gunfire, missiles and strafing fire.

“In her final mission at sea, Huron completed herservice by providing valuable training for the next gen-eration of naval ships and sailors,” Captain (Navy) PaulHendry, commanding officer of HMCS Algonquin at thetime said after the event. “It was an honorable way tocontribute one last time to the future of the navy.”

Where have all the

old shipsgone?

Two decommissioned St. Laurent-class destroyer escorts awaitdisposal at HMC Dockyard in Halifax.

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Four Oberon-class submarines,ready for disposal, at HMCDockyard in Halifax.

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Canada. This group can then sell orrelease these vessels in a variety ofways.

“Some ships have been sold forscrap, while others have been sold foruse as artificial reefs,” says PatMacDonald, Disposal Coordinator, atNational Defence Headquarters inOttawa. “Another ship, HMCS Fraser(a St. Laurent-class destroyer escortthat served in the navy from 1957-1994), was transferred to a group inNova Scotia for preservation as amuseum. Some boats, mainly smallernon-warships, have been sold in oper-ational, de-militarized condition for fur-ther use.”

These ships can’t just be sold to any-one, however. “Factors such as whatcountry an interested party resides inand the intended use of a ship aretaken into consideration,” Mr.MacDonald explains.

In the case of major vessels, the return has variedwidely, with most selling in the $150,000 to $200,000range, although two have sold for more than $600,000each. The money goes to the Department of NationalDefence’s general coffers.

Before any vessel is disposed of, equipment that hasa purely military application and therefore cannot besold on the open market, as well as equipment that isrequired for further use is removed, according to Mr.MacDonald.

The navy also takes its environmental stewardshipvery seriously. Before offered for sale, all hazardousmaterials are either removed from decommissioned

warships or they are identified and their locations speci-fied in the ship’s environmental portfolio and accountedfor by an environmental assessment. These documentsare provided to the purchaser of the vessel.

“For example,” says Mr. MacDonald, “all known PCBsare removed from the ships while asbestos containingmaterials are left undisturbed but catalogued. Agenciessuch as Environment Canada will inspect a vesselbefore allowing it to be sunk in Canadian waters as adiving attraction. In the case of HMCS Huron, additionalcleaning and removal work similar to what would beperformed by a reef society was performed by DND,and the vessel’s condition was approved byEnvironment Canada prior to her sinking.”

Since 1991, 18 major war vessels have been dis-posed of, along with 68 other boats. Currently, there arethree destroyer escorts awaiting disposal: one at CFBEsquimalt, B.C., which will soon be sold to the ArtificialReef Society of British Columbia, and two others inHalifax whose final purpose has not yet been decided.There are also four decommissioned Oberon-class sub-marines, three of which will be broken up for scrap, andthe fourth which has tentatively been sold to a group inQuebec for preservation as a museum. A few smaller,non-ocean going boats will also be coming up for saleat both Esquimalt and Halifax.

Whatever the fate of these once-proud naval vessels,it is obvious that their usefulness persists, even afterthey are no longer needed by the navy. Recycled intoscrap metal, sunk as artificial reefs for divers to enjoy,or blasted to the bottom of the ocean in an importanttraining exercise, these old vessels continue to provetheir worth.

Sub-Lieutenant Jay Yates salutes the former HMCS Huronbefore she is sunk in a training exercise.

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This photo, taken by HMCS Algonquin’s bridge camera, shows HMCS Huron sinkbeneath the waves, 150 km off the coast of Vancouver Island.

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What do seven distinguished men and womenof diverse professional backgrounds fromacross the country have in common? They

are all currently serving as honorary captains in theCanadian Navy.

The appointment of honorary naval captains origi-nates in Britain in 1673 when it was not uncommon forthe King to appoint naval officers regardless of theirability to function at sea. The captains were selectedfrom gentlemen of the landlord class, who would havehad no training or experience. Typically, fathers andeldest sons would not qualify, as they needed to tend totheir businesses, so younger sons would don a navaluniform to serve the Crown. Captains would commanda ship for a prescribed period of time and then return tocivilian life.

Canada’s appointment of honorary naval captains isrelatively new. The Chief of the Maritime Staff,Canada’s top sailor, appoints them for a period of threeyears; however, extensions may be granted. Theappointment does not come with any real authority likeit used to in Britain, but honoraries are entitled to therights and privileges of the Canadian Forces’

Supplementary Reserve List.So why give a civilian, sometimes with little or no

naval background, the rank of a senior naval officer?These Canadians, well known in such areas as politics,business, journalism and the arts, have the unique skillsand connections to strengthen the navy’s ties toCanadian communities and to promote a better under-standing of maritime defence issues. They are quite vis-ible, attending in uniform significant naval andCanadian Forces events and ceremonies across thecountry, bridging the gap between military and civiliancommunities. In the years leading up to the CanadianNavy’s centennial in 2010, the number of appointmentsto honorary captain are expected to increase.

One of the seven honorary captains is Captain (Navy)Bill Wilson, and he describes the captains as “a mixedbag with completely different backgrounds but with anidentical objective: to contribute to our service in everyway we can.”

“Our men and women (in the navy) are the very best,and deserve nothing less than our complete personaland collective support,” Capt (N) Wilson says. He isone of the current honorary captains who does have a

The navy’s honorary captains

Bridging the gap between military and civilian communities

HCapt(N) Bill Wilson; HCapt(N) Sonja Bata; HCapt(N) Moise Tousignant; Cmdre Kelly Williams, Assistant Chief of the Maritime Staff;Cmdre Rene Marin, Special Advisor to the Chief of the Maritime Staff; HCapt(N) Cedric Steele; and HCapt(N) Vic Suthren. Missing:HCapt(N) Hugh Segal and HCapt(N) Myra Freeman.

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lifelong connection with the Canadian Navy, servingduring the Second World War and then staying on as amember of the Naval Reserve. “During my years withthe Naval Reserve I developed a great admiration andrespect for what the navy stood for as well as a greataffection for sailors. I personally have benefited in agreat many ways from having had the privilege of serv-ing in Canada’s Navy.”

As with most reservists he also had a “day job”, work-ing mainly at high levels within the transportation indus-try at Canadian Pacific. He has been an honorary cap-tain since 1992, and since his retirement from his civil-ian job the following year, has been able to maintainclose ties with the navy in Calgary through a wide vari-ety of events such as annual cadet inspections,changes of command and Battle of the Atlantic cere-monies. He also works with the Naval Museum ofAlberta which, having doubled in size since it opened in1988, will be moving to a new location later this year.

Like most honorary captains, Capt (N) Wilson alsoprovides an interface between the navy and the localcommunity, in his case connecting the mayor’s office,city council and the city’s namesake Canadian patrolfrigate HMCS Calgary. “I routinely arrange for a meet-ing with the mayor in chambers for visiting flag officersand I have periodically arranged timely meetings withthe editorial board of the Calgary Herald,” he says. “Ialso sit as a member of the Advisory Board of theCentre for Military and Strategic Studies at theUniversity of Calgary.”

The longest serving honorary captain is Capt (N)Sonja Bata, who has held the appointment since 1989.As a member of the board of directors of the Bata Shoeorganization, and with a vast number of ties to otherbusinesses including Alcan Aluminum, Canada Trustand the Canadian Commercial Corporation, she isuniquely positioned to tell the navy’s story to the busi-ness community.

“I firmly believe that a well-equipped navy is crucialnot only for Canada’s sovereignty but also our long-term prosperity,” Capt (N) Bata says. “We are a trading

nation surrounded by oceans and the free and unim-peded security of our maritime approaches is vital toour economy.”

Capt (N) Bata is also active in many volunteer organi-zations, and her military affiliations include the RoyalMilitary College of Canada, the Canadian ForcesLiaison Council and the Canadian Naval MemorialTrust. She believes strongly in the navy’s mission, andsays it is a “privilege” to serve as an honorary captain.

“In this capacity I strive to create greater awarenessof our naval activities in the minds of the private sectorand the public at large, particularly in central Canada,where people have less contact with ships and sailors,”explains Capt (N) Bata. “I sometimes have the opportu-nity to visit our ships and talk to our sailors. Theirenthusiasm to serve our country and their willingness totry to make the world a better place is most impressiveand encouraging for the future.”

Last year Capt (N) Bata was recognized for herextraordinary commitment to the navy when theGovernor-General of Canada presented her with theMeritorious Service Medal (Military Division). In part,her citation read: “Her devoted, selfless and profession-al advocacy has greatly benefited the navy and theCanadian Forces as a whole.”

These seven honorary captains are considered by thenavy to be valuable assets. “These prominent individu-als are proud of Canada’s navy and consider it bothsatisfying and challenging to share their passion withordinary Canadians across the country who may notknow much about the navy,” says Commodore KellyWilliams, Assistant Chief of the Maritime Staff. “Bybridging the gap between military and civilian communi-ties, they are providing a priceless service to both thenavy and their country.”

HCapt (N) Bill Wilson

HCapt (N) Sonja Bata

HCapt (N) Moise Tousignant

HCapt (N) Cedric Steele

HCapt (N) Vic Suthren

HCapt (N) Hugh Segal

HCapt (N) Myra Freeman

Current serving honorary captains

“These prominent individuals areproud of Canada’s navy andconsider it both satisfying andchallenging to share their passionwith ordinary Canadians acrossthe country...”

Commodore Kelly Williams, Assistant Chief of the Maritime Staff

What started out as a summer job has turnedinto “the opportunity of a lifetime” for thenew commander of Canada’s Naval

Reserve, Commodore Jennifer Bennett.Taking the helm at a change of command ceremony

on December 1 at HMCS Montcalm in Quebec City,Commodore Bennett is the first logistician and firstwoman to command the Naval Reserve as a formation.

“I take great pride in being a mentor and role model,”says Cmdre Bennett. “As the first logistician to hold thisappointment, there is a very positive message to thesupport trade community. While being the ‘first’ in any-thing comes with a whole set of responsibilities andincreased attention, it also means blazing a trail andfacilitating future employment and appointments forothers.”

Her new command position is also a point of familypride for Cmdre Bennett, as her father, Judge RossTaylor Bennett, held the position of Senior NavalReserve Advisor in the 1970s. “He was the commodorewhen I joined the Naval Reserve so I am now followinghis legacy. Some have reported that this is the first timethat a daughter has achieved the same flag rank as herfather.”

Cmdre Bennett, a native of Hamilton, Ont., first joinedthe Naval Reserve in 1975 as a communicator inHMCS Star. She transferred to the Naval ReserveOfficer Cadet program for training as a logistics officerand was commissioned in 1979. Service with MaritimeCommand has included staff positions with NavalReserve Training Centre, Officer Training Division,Katimavik, Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters andon the directing staff of the Canadian Forces StaffCollege. She has also served as commanding officer ofHMCS Malahat and Director Reserves in Ottawa.

Like many naval reservists, Cmdre Bennett also hasa civilian job: Head of School (principal) at Fern HillSchool, a private school in Oakville, Ont.

“It has been a challenge to work in two demanding

careers but I’ve had supportive employers and theexperience and training in my military career has beenbeneficial to my civilian career and my civilian employ-ers,” she says. “The military has provided me with arange of experiences and opportunities that have com-plemented my teaching career. The school communityhas been very supportive and my students are veryinterested in my naval career.”

As commander of the Naval Reserve, Cmdre Bennettplans to continue the work of her predecessor, CmdreRobert Blakely, and move forward with various initia-tives as a new strategic plan is launched. These willinclude increased recruiting, providing a naval presenceacross Canada, and ensuring that naval reservists arefit, well trained and ready for duty.

“We will be working to establish the Naval Reserve asan attractive career, continue to develop our training forfull and part-time sailors, increase the Navy’s profileacross Canada to ensure our public is informed of ourneed for a maritime force, continue to improve HRpractices and policies, and develop and improve theoperational readiness of our part-time and full-timesailors,” Cmdre Bennett explains. “My term will see the400th anniversary of Quebec City, the 2010 Olympicsand the Naval Centennial, so we will continue to workon the planning, training and requirements for these

major events.”For now, Cmdre Bennett is

ready to meet the challenge of hernew job. “Command is a hugeresponsibility, but it is also a greathonour.”

New Naval Reserve Commanderthrilled with “opportunity of a lifetime”

Commodore Bennett, foreground, with Lieutenant-CommanderBarry Walsh, commanding officer of HMCS Cabot, during arecent Naval Reserve exercise in St. John’s.

Commodore Bennett, right, during thechange of command ceremony withoutgoing Naval Reserve commanderCommodore Robert Blakely, left, andVice-Admiral Drew Robertson, Chiefof the Maritime Staff.

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In early January, HMCSProtecteur left her home port ofEsquimalt, B.C., for a two-

month task as the mid-Pacific tankerresponsible for replenishment at sea(RAS) to Canadian and allied navywarships.

This marks the second time in 10years that Protecteur, one of thenavy’s two auxiliary oil replenish-ment ships, has provided this service in the mid-Pacific.

The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean in the world,making refuelling at sea a necessity. “Many peoplehave no idea how vast it is and how difficult it is to getwarships across it without tanker support,” saysCommander Chris Peschke, Chief Staff OfficerOperations, Canadian Fleet Pacific. “These ships needthe right kind of good quality fuel that meets stringentmilitary standards.”

This fuel is not something easily obtained at any port.A ship re-supplied by Protecteur is guaranteed top qual-ity fuel, he adds. Food, medical, mechanical andadministration supplies are all also available on thisCanadian super store of the ocean.

Four decks of warehouse loaded with pre-packagedpallets of stores – everything from canned peaches toprinter paper is systemically piled, organized and strate-gically placed to ensure an efficient RAS.

“The idea is for Protecteur to go out full and comeback empty,” explains Cdr Stan Bates, CurrentOperations, Maritime Forces Pacific.

While RAS is Proctecteur’s primary duty, Cdr Batessays there is an another benefit to her mid-Pacificreign. “We get an opportunity to train and apply opera-tions with other partner navies.”

During the deployment Protecteur re-supplied anentire allied battle group, as well as a number of inde-pendent ships and Canadian frigates. The ship com-pleted a total of 13 replenishments, 11 with Americanallies. As well, over 9.2 million litres of fuel were trans-ferred during the operation, 6.8 million to the Americansand the remainder to Canadian frigates HMC ShipsVancouver and Ottawa, which were also operating inthe area.

In total, Protecteur traveled more than 8,600 nauticalmiles (over 16,000 kilometres) and used 1.8 millionlitres of fuel during the deployment.

With files from Lieutenant Marguerite Dodds-Lepinski andActing Sub-Lieutenant Jim Smith.

HMCS Protecteur, right, conducts a replenishment at sea withHMCS Calgary.

Canadian “superstore” providesreplenishmentat sea

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HMCS Protecteur at sea off the west coast.

Sailors at work aboard HMCS Protecteur, getting ready to con-duct replenishment operations.

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Feedback is always welcome and can be sent to blakeley.d@forces.gc.ca

Orca-class training vessel Renard, followed by RCMP rigid hull inflatable boats, conducts maritime boarding exercises near Victoria inlate January. The exercise was part of the RCMP Emergency Response Team’s Maritime Operations course. The navy routinely con-ducts exercises with other government departments, including the RCMP, to ensure the compatibility of skills and knowledge in theevent of local or national emergencies.

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Sharing Canadian values and doing “our share of theheavy lifting” is what the deployment is all aboutaccording to Cmdre Davidson. “Let’s remember that themission is foremost one of countering terrorism andbuilding the framework for peace and stability in theregion. It is an honour for Canada to be asked to leadthis combined force and we will do our best torepresent Canada as Canadians would want andexpect.”

CTF 150 is typically comprised of ships from suchnations as France, Germany, Pakistan, theNetherlands, the United Kingdom and the UnitedStates. It operates in the Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman,the Arabian Sea, Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.Canada will relinquish command of the task force toDenmark in September.

Continued from page 2

Canada to lead coalition task force in Middle EastHMCS Calgary,one of the shipsheading to theMiddle East, firesa Sparrow missileduring a recentexercise.