Crowsnest www.navy.forces.gc.ca Vol. 7, No. 1 Spring 2013 HMCS Toronto departs for Arabian Sea HMCS Toronto departs Halifax January 14. Photo: Cpl Chris Ringius By Laura Armstrong In addition to congratulating the crew, VAdm Maddison also thanked the crew’s family members who gathered amilies, friends and members of the Atlantic fleet at the send-off, for undertaking extra stress and burden assembled January 14 to say goodbye to HMCS while their loved ones are at sea. “This is all about one FToronto sailors departing for the Arabian Sea. team, one crew, one family,” he said. “It’s not just about “This is an important deployment,” Vice-Admiral Paul the sailors’ forward deployment, it’s very much about the Maddison, Commander Royal Canadian Navy, told the families here in Halifax.” crew just before the ship sailed. “You will be forward- It was an emotional day for the frigate’s 225 personnel deployed on-station for Canada in a part of the world said Commander David Patchell, Toronto’s commanding where there’s a lot going on at sea. Toronto will be officer, as the crew is not expected to return until mid- expected to carry the load, alongside our allies, in the July at the earliest. “It’s sad to depart so we’ll sail, we’ll mission against terror, against any illicit activity at sea.” do exercises this afternoon, we’ll have some quiet time Senior Advisor Crowsnest is published quarterly on the authority of the Commander Hubert Genest Commander Royal Canadian Navy, Vice-Admiral Paul Director, Navy Public Affairs Maddison. Comments are welcome and can be sent to: Directorate of Navy Public Affairs Senior Editor and Writer National Defence Headquarters Darlene Blakeley 11ST, 101 Colonel By Dr., K1A 0K2 Directorate of Navy Public Affairs or [email protected] For the PDF version of this publication and for more information about the Royal Canadian Navy, visit www.navy.forces.gc.ca. Cover page: Leading Seaman Jacob Russell and two children pose in front of the main gun on HMCS Regina during a stop in Manila, Philippines, on Valentine’s Day. For more information, see page 7. Photo: Sidney Snoeck - Project Pearls 2 ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY www.navy.forces.gc.ca This is all about one team, one crew, one family. where the crew can reflect, and then we’ll get right to it.” There’s always concern when deploying, Cdr Patchell “added, but there is a need for Canada to be abroad, representing Canadian interests. His crew, he said, are ready for their time at sea. “We have the best sailors on board who are thinkers, and we are ready to react to any contingency.” Toronto will replace HMCS Regina, which deployed to the Arabian Sea region in August. Although Toronto will remain in the area as part of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) for about 13 months, crew members from Kinnie Cpl Ronnie Photo: HMCS St. John’s will replace the current crew this Leading Seaman Alexandra Schumacher stands with her daughter summer. and father just before the departure of HMCS Toronto from Halifax. Canada is one of 26 nations that contribute naval assets to CTF 150. Toronto’s task during this Canadian government.” deployment is to detect, deter and protect against For those left at home, the Halifax and Region Military terrorist activity by patrolling and conducting maritime Family Resource Centre (MFRC) does all it can to keep security operations in the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of families well informed about Toronto’s progress, said the Oman, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. MFRC’s Emily Hatcher. “When a ship leaves, our role is Furthermore, her presence in the area gives the to set up a family network. It gives military families government a ship overseas to rely on should experiencing this deployment to come together and get unexpected incidents occur, explained Cdr Patchell. to know one another…because sometimes the best “Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Toronto is a multi- support is being around people who are experiencing purpose frigate, fully combat capable, but also capable the same type of thing.” of any humanitarian assistance missions, combat, non- Communicating with the crew, at least, is getting combat or evacuations operations called upon by the easier thanks to advances in technology, she added. “Back a few years ago, one of the main ways to communicate would have been actual mail. Now, with email capabilities and internet and video teleconferencing, families have the opportunity to not only communicate with their loves ones, but to see them.” HMCS Toronto sails with Brazilian Navy Ship Liberal in the Mediterranean Sea January 25 en route to the Arabian Sea region. UPDATE: As of March 1, HMCS Toronto had joined CTF 150 and successfully completed her first patrol. Photo: Cpl Malcolm Byers Photo: www.navy.forces.gc.ca ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY 3 On-station with HMCS Toronto Top: Heavy seas and brooding skies greet HMCS Toronto as the frigate heads through the Mediterranean Sea in late January. Middle left: Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class James Mahoney, HMCS Toronto’s chief bos’un. Middle right: Crew members practise casualty clearing. Bottom: Crew members take part in boarding party training. Photos: Cpl Malcolm Byers 4 ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY www.navy.forces.gc.ca Sailors conduct exchange visits with Israelis By Lieutenant (Navy) Mitchell Dingwell GULF OF AQABA – Shalom. Not a common greeting on board Royal Canadian Navy ships. Recently however, five Canadian sailors from HMCS Toronto conducted a short DND Photo: exchange with counterparts from the HMCS Toronto, left, sails with Israeli Navy ships in the Red Sea. Israeli Navy in the Red Sea. Toronto sent five sailors to Israeli exercise (SAREX). During the one another, especially since many Navy Ship Kidon, while Kidon sent exercise, the ships tracked a of these situations occur in less than seven sailors to Toronto. These “stricken” patrol vessel before ideal weather conditions. exchanges are an important way for evacuating mock casualties to “It was an exceptional opportunity navies to interact with one another. Toronto for triage and treatment by to work with our friends in the Israeli It gives excellent insight into the members from both navies. Navy, sharing ideas and medical operating procedures of allies so While conducting the SAREX, procedures that can benefit both that when they are called upon to both Toronto and Kidon conducted countries,” said Commander David work together in an operational maneuvering serials with each other. Patchell, Toronto’s commanding capacity, they are aware of what is It is vitally important that vessels officer. “These types of exercises happening on the other vessel and working together be comfortable clearly demonstrate Canada’s know what to expect. maneuvering in close proximity to capacity and willingness to operate Sub-Lieutenant Drew with our friends. The MacLeod was one of the Israeli Navy was sailors selected to travel extremely professional to Kidon. “It is really and welcoming in amazing to see how working with Toronto. In much really transcends an ever changing and cultures,” he said. “The dynamic security language of warfare is environment, it is vital quite international. It was that we are capable of also nice to have the working side by side opportunity to have lunch with our allies from with them and get a taste around the world.” of Israel.” While the sailors were conducting their exchange, both ships, along with an Israeli patrol boat, conducted a The starboard lookout search and rescue Malcolm Byers Photo: Cpl aboard HMCS Toronto. Follow HMCS Toronto on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HMCSToronto www.navy.forces.gc.ca ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY 5 HMCS Regina disrupts probable drug exchange This interdiction is a blow On May 5, 2012, Regina’s sister ship HMCS Charlottetown, also disrupted a drug exchange and for terrorists who seek to fund recovered 600 pounds of hashish. “I am very proud of the way my team and equipment their activities through the came together to deliver this opportunity to disrupt suspected drug smuggling,” said Commander Jason transportation of narcotics on Boyd, commanding officer of Regina. “This is a great the high seas. way to begin 2013, and I am confident that CMF [Combined Maritime Forces] units will effectively continue to disrupt the movement of illicit cargo in “hortly before her departure from the Arabian the area.” Sea region, HMCS Regina disrupted a Commodore Charles McHardie, Royal Australian Ssuspected drug transfer off the coast of Yemen Navy, currently heads the combined Australian and January 11. Canadian staff in command of CTF 150. “The disruption “Just after midnight, while patrolling international of the transfer of illicit cargo is a victory for those who waters of the coast of Yemen, HMCS Regina’s work to create a lawful and stable maritime unmanned aerial vehicle observed a dhow transferring environment,” he said. “This interdiction is a blow for large bales to a small motorized skiff,” said Lieutenant terrorists who seek to fund their activities through the (Navy) David Dallin, Regina’s combat officer. “When transportation of narcotics on the high seas.” the ship approached and fired a flare to illuminate the Cmdre McHardie said the close cooperation between area, the skiff fled the area, dropping approximately Canada and Australia both at sea and within the 15 bales of probable narcotics in the water as it fled. headquarters has been extremely beneficial. “This is a Despite a thorough search of the area, none of the good outcome and all contributors should be extremely bales were recovered as they are believed to have proud of their efforts in this operation.” sunk.” CTF 150 is one of three task forces operated by CMF, Regina had been conducting maritime interdiction and a 27-nation naval partnership which exists to promote counter-terrorism operations in the Gulf of Aden as part security, stability and prosperity across approximately of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150.