The Royal Canadian Navy announced this afternoon that HMCS Saskatoon and HMCS Yellowknife have departed CFB Esquimalt earlier this week for coastal patrols off the coast of B.C.
These operations will last until Mid-June according to DND. The operation will have several surveillance portions and coastal port visits.
Friday, May 22, 2015
Thursday, May 21, 2015
6 Previously Unreported RCAF CF-18 strikes against ISIS
Previous airstrikes by RCAF CF-18s according to DND:
On 15 May 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position east of Mosul using precision guided munitions.
On 15 May 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-18 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position east of Mosul using precision guided munitions.
On 13 May 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, two CF-188 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS infiltration route east of Al-Baghdadi using precision guided munitions.
On 13 May 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, CF-188 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position northeast of Mosul using precision guided munitions.
On 12 May 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, CF-188 Hornets successfully struck ISIS heavy engineering equipment south-east of Mosul using precision guided munitions.
On 12 May 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, CF-188 Hornets successfully struck ISIS heavy engineering equipment south-east of Mosul using precision guided munitions.
On 12 May 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, CF-188 Hornets successfully struck an ISIS fighting position south-east of Mosul using precision guided munitions.
On 12 May 2015, while taking part in coalition operations in support of Iraqi security forces, CF-188 Hornets successfully struck two ISIS fighting positions north-west of Tal Afar using precision guided munitions.
RCAF Bomb ISIS Target in Syria
The Royal Canadian Air Force has bombed more ISIS targets in Syria. This is only the second time since the extention and expansion of Canada's mission that CF-18s have engaged targets in Syria.
On Wednesday May 20, 2015, two RCAF CF-18s bombed an ISIS staging area north of Ar-Raqqah, Syria. No further details were released, other than the two fighter jets returned to base safely without incident.
On Wednesday May 20, 2015, two RCAF CF-18s bombed an ISIS staging area north of Ar-Raqqah, Syria. No further details were released, other than the two fighter jets returned to base safely without incident.
RCN Potential Future Frigate Fires First Test Missiles
The Royal Canadian Navy is considering a number of options for its multi-billion dollar rebuild of its fleet. The front runner in the design process is the DCNS FREMM (French: Frigate Europeenne multi-mission) Frigate. DCNS is hoping Canada will choose the FREMM for its Canadian Surface Combatant Fleet.
The French frigate Aquitaine (the first frigate of the multinational multi-billion dollar program) fired its first missiles; a European built Exocet MM40 surface-to-surface missile, as well as a naval cruise missile.
The testing took place on May 12 and May 19th respectively, and mark the first time a European surface ship has fired a European naval cruise missile.
The FREMM will be the future backbone of the French and Italian Navy's (Morocco is also an operator of the FREMM). The FREMMs are heavily armed warships, capable of carrying naval cruise missiles, Exocet MM40 anti-shop missiles, as well as MU90 anti-submarine torpedoes. All the FREMMs can accommodate a Caiman marine helicopter, as well as Special Forces units aqnd their equipment. France is expected to be operating 6 FREMMs by mid 2019. Italy's time table runs into the early 2020s. The FREMMs naval cruise missile provides a deep strike capability, with a range of several hundred kilometres. Morocco currently operates a single FREMM, and Egypt plans to operate two of the frigates to help in policing the Suez Canal.
France brought the Aquitaine to Halifax in 2013 to showcase it to the Canadian Government in hopes of selling the design plans. France has even said it would allow Irving to build the ships in Canada.
The FREMMs certainly seem to fit the need of the future Canadian Surface Combatant fleet.
The French frigate Aquitaine (the first frigate of the multinational multi-billion dollar program) fired its first missiles; a European built Exocet MM40 surface-to-surface missile, as well as a naval cruise missile.
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| Artists rendering of a FREMM Frigate - from naval-technology.com |
The FREMM will be the future backbone of the French and Italian Navy's (Morocco is also an operator of the FREMM). The FREMMs are heavily armed warships, capable of carrying naval cruise missiles, Exocet MM40 anti-shop missiles, as well as MU90 anti-submarine torpedoes. All the FREMMs can accommodate a Caiman marine helicopter, as well as Special Forces units aqnd their equipment. France is expected to be operating 6 FREMMs by mid 2019. Italy's time table runs into the early 2020s. The FREMMs naval cruise missile provides a deep strike capability, with a range of several hundred kilometres. Morocco currently operates a single FREMM, and Egypt plans to operate two of the frigates to help in policing the Suez Canal.
France brought the Aquitaine to Halifax in 2013 to showcase it to the Canadian Government in hopes of selling the design plans. France has even said it would allow Irving to build the ships in Canada.
The FREMMs certainly seem to fit the need of the future Canadian Surface Combatant fleet.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
CAF Deployed to Romania for Exercise SARMIS
Last week the Canadian Armed Forces deployed approximately 190 soldiers from 3 RCR, based out of Petawawa, Ontario to Romania to take part in Exercise SARMIS, which runs from May 15, 2015 to June 6 2015.
SARMIS, part of the larger OP REASSURANCE, is a multinational exercise focused on developing interoperability between NATO Allies. Canada is participating with units from Romania, the United Kingdom, and the United States at the Land Forces Combat Training Centre in Cincu, Romania.
SARMIS, part of the larger OP REASSURANCE, is a multinational exercise focused on developing interoperability between NATO Allies. Canada is participating with units from Romania, the United Kingdom, and the United States at the Land Forces Combat Training Centre in Cincu, Romania.
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| Members of the 3 RCR at the Drawsko Pomorski Training Area in Poland. April 2015. Photo: OP Reassurance/Land Task Force - CF Combat Camera |
CAF Divers in Estonia clearing WW1 & WW2 Ordnance
Last week DND released its information with regards to OP OPEN SPIRIT 2015 - where Canadian Armed Forces Divers are joining Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the US in Baltic waters - searching for and clearing unexploded ordnance from the world wars. The Operation started May 15, 2015 and runs to May 28 2015.
The CAF have sent 14 clearance divers and support personnel based out of Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) from CFB Halifax.
OP OPEN SPIRIT 2015's aims are to reduce the threat of unexploded ordnance throughout the Baltic Sea region. The region saw heavy fighting during both the First and Second World war, which included air bombardment, naval battles, mine-laying, and submarine warfare. As a result there are remaining ordnance which failed to detonate - causing a danger to maritime shipping and fisheries in the area.
The CAF have sent 14 clearance divers and support personnel based out of Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) from CFB Halifax.
OP OPEN SPIRIT 2015's aims are to reduce the threat of unexploded ordnance throughout the Baltic Sea region. The region saw heavy fighting during both the First and Second World war, which included air bombardment, naval battles, mine-laying, and submarine warfare. As a result there are remaining ordnance which failed to detonate - causing a danger to maritime shipping and fisheries in the area.
Navy used eBay to keep HMCS Preserver operational
The Ottawa Citizen's Defence Watch learned recently that Royal Canadian Navy personnel went to extreme lengths to keep HMCS Preserver operational over the last few years.
The Canadian Press, who supplied the information to Navy Commander Vice-Admiral Mark Norman showed that technicians were fighting a loosing battle to keep Preserver on duty.
Despite the fact that the Canadian Armed Forces announced in 2014 that Preserver and her sister ship Protecteur would be retired in 2015, personnel fought to keep them operational as long as possible, in several cases even using eBay to purchased used parts to repair the ship.
This extreme step was taken as the original manufacturers long ago stopped making spare parts - which led to a disproportionate amount of time being used to find replacements. In many cases when the military requires a part that is no longer produced, they upgrade the equipment in question, or find a manufacturer to produce a specified amount of the required part for the remaining lifespan of the equipment. In the Navy's case - for Preserver that was not an option because of its impending retirement.
An exact date for Preserver`s "Paying Off" (retirement) has not been set.
Many critics are calling for an interim solution to be found for the Royal Canadian Navy's supply gap - construction on the new supply vessels are not set to begin until 2017 - and will not be ready before 2019/2020.