CH-148 Cyclone Involved in Its First RCN Exercise

By: David Pugliese, Defence Watch 

SPARTAN WARRIOR 2016, a Canadian-led military training event, started today and will run until November 16, the Canadian Forces says.

It will take place off the east coast of Nova Scotia and along the eastern seaboard of North America, going as far south as the Bahamas.

Participants include Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Fredericton, St John’s, Athabaskan, Montreal, and Spanish replenishment ship (ESPS) Patino, with embarked Royal Canadian Navy personnel, the CF noted in its news release. Additional participating units include a destroyer, replenishment vessel, and submarines from the United States Navy. Aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force and USN will also participate. The ships will transit down the eastern seaboard of the U.S. and will end their training in the Caribbean Sea.

In addition, a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter will be involved in its first RCN exercise, continuing to test and evaluate its operational capability, the Canadian Forces noted.

A CH-148 Cyclone helicopter moves into position over the flight deck of Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Montreal, for deck evolutions on April 20, 2016 off the coast of Nova Scotia. Photo: Leading Seaman Dan Bard, Formation Imaging Services, Halifax, Nova Scotia HS2016-0332-048