CAF Most likely Headed to the Ukraine

While DND has yet to release any official plans, the government has not yet announced an expansion of Op REASSURANCE, CTVNews has learned that the CAF is preparing to send Canadian Troops to the Ukraine in a non-combat role, most likely to work alongside US forces in a training role.

CTVNews' source told CTV that "The government is still working out the details, but a training mission is one of the options on the table."

The Conservative government has been hinting at an expansion of Op REASSURANCE for weeks, even stating that its budget (with Op IMPACT's) will be kept quiet for security reasons. Canada is planning this mission to keep up its strong Anti-Putin stance and to help shore up the Ukrainian government.

Canada's Op REASSURANCE is currently comprised of:

Air Task Force:

• 4 CF-18 Hornet fighter jets, with Military personnel and support staff, deployed from January to April 2015 to Eastern Europe to maintain a Canadian presence among our NATO Allies.

NATO Baltic Air Policing 

• Stationed in Siauliai, Lithuania, 4 CF-18 Honet's along with 135 personnel and support staff were deployed from September to December 2014. 
• Part of NATO's peacetime role - to preserve integrity of European Airspace from Air attacks. This is provided for nations not having full range air defence assets of their own ( Albania, Luxembourg, Iceland, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia)

Air Task Force Romania 

• Stationed in Campia Turzii, Romania from May to August 2014 - 6 CF-18 Hornet's and approximately 200 personnel and support staff. 

Maritime Task Force: 

• Task Force HMCS Fredericton - Currently Deployed 
• Task Force HMCS Toronto - Deployed from July 2014 to January 2015 
• Task Force HMCS Regina - Deployed from January 2014 to August 2014

Land Task Force: 

Officially Deployed from May to December 2014 - however CAF personnel are deployed in the region under other* operations.

• Exercise ORZEL ALERT - Western Poland - 45 CAF Members, May 5-9 2014 
• Exercise SABRE STRIKE - Baltic States - 120 CAF Members, 9-20 June 2014
• Exercise PEGASUS KORSARZ - Poland - CAF led exercise, 23-27 June 2014 
• Exercise GNIEZNO - Poland - CAF led exercise, 2-6 July 2014 
• Exercise STEADFAST JAVELIN II - Latvia - 100 CAF Members, 2-8 September 2014 
• Exercise ANAKONDA - Poland 24 September to 3 October 2014 
• Exercise COMBINED RESOLVE III - Germany - 100 CAF Members, 16 September to 12 November 2014 
• Exercise IRON SWORD - Lithuania - 10 CAF Members  13-15 October and 2-14 November 2014
• Exercise FALCON - Poland 21-26 November 2014 
• Winter Warfare Training - Lithuania - 3rd RCR 8-12 December 2014 
• *Exercise ALLIED SPIRIT I - Germany 45 CAF Members 16-28 January 2015

HMCS Fredericton tailed by Russian Warships

HMCS Fredericton arrived in the Black Sea earlier this week to participate in NATO exercises with Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2). The voyage over went smoothly, but once it arrived things got interesting.

As soon as Fredericton joined with several other allied Nation vessels, two Russian Warships appeared within three nautical miles of the battle group.

The two Russian Warships followed the group for sometime until the SNMG2 group broke off into two separate formations, then the Russian ships went on their way.

DND has stated the the current exercises in the Black Sea are a response to Russian aggression towards the Ukraine.

It seems Russia is playing along nicely, and is pushing all the right buttons to put everyone on edge in the West.

This is the second provocation, last summer HMCS Toronto was 'buzzed' by a Russian warplane during its deployment to the Black Sea.

HMCS Toronto to receive US Navy Meritorious Unit Award

HMCS Toronto after returning from OP REASSURANCE in Jan 2015. Photo: CF Combat Camera, L/S Dan Bard. 

The top US Navy Admiral will present a US Navy Meritorious Unit Award to HMCS Toronto on February 20 2015.

Admiral Johnathan Greenert, will present the award to HMCS Toronto in Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 20th.

A Non-US naval force receiving this US Navy decoration is a rarity, and this marks only the 5th time such an instance has occurred in the past 45 years.

HMCS Toronto was part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, and provided continued support to the US lead operation in disrupting the flow of drugs, criminal activity, and terrorist activities in the US Central Command Area of responsibility.

Among the long list of accomplishments during HMCS Toronto's deployment which began back in February 2013, was seizing 6 caches of illegals drugs, including 1300 kilograms of heroin and 6 tons of hasish.

Original News Release:
http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=85661